newsnotes

TCPS tutorial
The Interagency Advisory Panel on Research Ethics (PRE) has launched its online introductory tutorial for the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS). The tutorial is a self-administered educational tool directed to research ethics board members, researchers, administrators, research participants, analysts and members of the general public. It covers the goals of the policy, the context of an ethics framework, ethics review, free and informed consent, privacy and confidentiality, conflict of interest, and inclusion in research. The tutorial also includes three research ethics case studies, a self-evaluation tool, and a certificate of completion. The tutorial can be accessed at www.pre.ethics.gc.ca.

Call for nominations
The federal granting agencies CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC have issued a public call for nominations for membership on the Interagency Advisory Panel on Research Ethics. Further detail on this call for nominations is available at http://pre.ethics.gc.ca/english/publicparticipation/
callfornominations/callfornominations_20040401.cfm. The deadline for nominations is May 7.

Innovation Challenge Awards
NSERC is seeking nominations (up to two per university) of master’s and PhD students in their last year, or recent graduates, in the natural sciences, engineering, or computer science who have conducted research and who have ideas about how to transform that research into a commercial product or service. Three prizes are available: a $10,000 main prize and two $5,000 runner-up prizes. Full program details are available at www.nserc.gc.ca/innovation. The deadline for nominations is May 15.

Workplace Health and Safety
Applications for an 18-month postdoctoral fellowship in workplace health and safety are invited by SafetyNet, a multi-year research program of innovative, interdisciplinary research projects in workplace health and safety located at Memorial University. Applications from individuals with a WHS background in one or more of the following areas are particularly encouraged: resource-based industries, small business, industrial hygiene and/or industrial engineering. The value of the fellowship is $42,000 per annum with additional support for travel and research expenses. For additional details, see www.safetynet.mun.ca/
postDocFell.htm The deadline for application is May 17.

New CRYSTAL Initiative
NSERC will provide up to $200,000 a year over five years to each of six multidisciplinary centres for research in youth, science teaching and learning at Canadian universities. These centres are to be established in collaboration with education, science and engineering faculties and will be charged with developing new links with agencies, governments and individuals active in Canada’s education and science promotion communities. Complete program details are available at www.nserc.ca. The deadline for submission of letters of intent from those wishing to develop proposals for the new centres is May 29.

Synergy Awards
NSERC invites nominations for the 2004 Synergy Awards for Innovation. There are four different award categories which recognize and reward innovation and superior collaborative research in the natural sciences and engineering between universities and partner companies. Winning universities receive a $25,000 NSERC research grant while industry partners receive a synergy sculpture. Complete competition details are available at www.nserc.gc.ca/synergy. The deadline for nominations is May 31.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
The Canadian Foundation for the Study of Infant Death invites applications for research into Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Grants may be awarded in any discipline (nursing, medicine, epidemiology, psychology, biology, sociology) which is concerned with the causes, effects and/or prevention of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. All awards are of one year’s duration with a potential for renewal upon re-application. Further information is available at www.sidscanada.org/segal_research_grants.htm. The deadline for applications is June 4.

Climatic and Atmospheric Research
The Canadian Foundation for Climate and Atmospheric Sciences (CFCAS) has now opened its 2004 grants competition with a call for research proposals (maximum grant $300,000) and a call for letters of intent for major initiatives. Proposals are particularly encouraged in the areas of arctic, northern and cryospheric climate science; high impact weather, including drought; climate change and its impact on the physical environment; and research involving the use of new technologies and analytical methods for the monitoring and prediction of atmospheric and oceanic conditions. Detailed guidelines for both project grants and strategic initiatives are available at www.cfcas.org. The deadline for submissions is June 4 (note the change of deadline date from May 28 as indicated in the pre-announcement issued earlier by CFCAS).

Imminent Deadlines
June 15
Canada Foundation for Innovation – new opportunities fund.

Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) (US) – research grants program (request for grant application).

June 30
International Information Science Foundation (IISF) – visiting researcher support program.

March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation – Basil O'Connor starter scholar research award (invited applications).

Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute - India studies fellowships program.

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) – aid to research and transfer journals.