Submit Applications for Engagement Program (Canada)

The ENGAGEMENT program allows citizens who are unfamiliar with research to become familiar with the scientific method, or even to appropriate it. The question proposed by the citizen (hereinafter referred to as the Citizen Question) serves as a starting point to form a Duo with a researcher around a subject of common interest. The Duo co-constructs a project plan and its implementation, drawing on both citizen and academic knowledge and openness to new research perspectives.

Objectives

• ENGAGE is a science culture initiative with the following specific objectives:
  • To actively involve citizens in a scientific process based on a question that interests them.
  • To support the development of new citizen research and participatory science practices and help stimulate diverse research in Québec.
  • To promote the democratization of scientific knowledge within Québec society.

Focus Areas

• Startup Phase- The Startup phase focuses on the development of a participatory science process around the Citizen Question. The citizen is introduced to the scientific method, while the researcher is familiarized with a citizen’s perspective. This phase involves:
  • The integration of the citizen into the research team;
  • Co-construction of the proposed Plan with the citizen, with a view to its implementation.
  • Adaptation of research approaches and methodologies in line with the proposed Plan.
• Action Phase- The main thrust of this phase is:
  • The implementation of the Plan with the aim of increasing scientific knowledge related to the Citizen Question.
• Sharing Phase- This final phase provides support for:
  • Events, activities and initiatives for knowledge mobilization and exchange, particularly with the general public, in order to share their experiences, their findings and the new knowledge generated by their project.

Funding Information

• The maximum funding awarded to a Duo for each phase is as follows:
  • Startup phase: $15,000 for one year
  • Action phase: $30,000 for one year
  • Sharing phase: $15,000 for one year

Eligibility Criteria

• Teams eligible for the program are composed of two individuals who form a Duo, as follows:
  • A citizen
  • A researcher
• Eligibility of the citizen
  • Under the ENGAGE program, to be eligible, a citizen must submit a Question to the program by completing the short online form and meet all of the following criteria:
    • Be of legal age at the time of submitting their Question to the FRQ;
    • Be a Canadian citizen OR a permanent resident of Canada;
    • Reside in Québec;
    • Not be enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate or postgraduate university program or have a doctoral degree at the competition deadline and during the Startup phase;
    • Not qualify for research statuses 1, 2, 3, 4a or 4b as defined in the CGR;
    • Never have been granted research status 4c, 4d or 4e as defined in the CGR;
    • Not work as highly qualified personnel in a research institution (e.g., research professional, lab technician);
    • Never have been convicted of a fraudulent offence related to financial management.
• Eligibility of the researcher
  • To be eligible, a researcher wishing to be part of a Duo must have one of the following statuses as defined in the CGR:
    • Status 1: University researcher
    • Status 2: Clinical university researcher
    • Status 3: College researcher

For more information, visit QRF.