Trailblazer Award Criteria CSPC 2024

The Nominee must have catalyzed change that has had a positive and significant impact on the Canadian Science, Technology, Innovation and Society through at least one, and up to three, of the following areas:

• Policy making: has demonstrated novelty and creativity, leading to a significant impact on public policy, policy making for science, innovation and society, and/or the use of science in policy making.
• Advancing research: has made bold contributions to research in science policy, innovation policy and/or the relationship between science and society.
• Mobilizing knowledge: has made significant contributions to mobilizing and disseminating knowledge to communities across the country. 
• Community-building: has made a transformative impact in bridging the various stakeholders of science, innovation and/or social policy, building a more cohesive and connected science, technology and innovation community.
• Championing/advocating: has contributed in innovative and creative ways to promote and raise the profile of science policy, innovation policy and/or social policy.
• Capacity-building: has contributed in training, mentoring, inspiring, or developing the next generation of scientists, science communicators and/or policymakers by spearheading change through an inclusive and collaborative approach.
• Enhancing productivity/economic development: has enabled a culture of productivity, economic development, or entrepreneurship.
• Enhancing social innovation: has made distinct and transformative impacts and contributions to making human and natural systems more adaptive, sustainable, and resilient. 
• Public Engagement/Education: has contributed in encouraging public engagement with science enterprises and discussions, strengthening public understanding of science, public trust for science, citizen scientist, and science communication and journalism, or all other areas where science and society and public intersect.

Nominations will be evaluated by the Awards Selection Committee, composed of leaders in the Science, Technology, Innovation, Social and Policy ecosystem. Nominations are evaluated based on the following criteria:

1. Impact Statement: Describe how the Nominee’s work has (1) catalyzed change, and (2) impacted Canadian Science, Technology, Innovation and Society. Please use quantitative and/or qualitative data to demonstrate the significance and transformation of the Nominee’s impact (No more than 800 words).
   Specifically describe:
   • The depth and breadth of the impact.
   • The novelty and creativity of the Nominee’s work.
2. Relevance to Area(s) of Impact: Describe how the work and the impact of the Nominee’s contribution are relevant to each selected Area of Impact (see above) (No more than 300 words for each Area of Impact).
3. Role of Nominee in Impact: Elaborate on the role of the Nominee in contributing to the impact and results achieved (No more than 300 words per Area of Impact referenced).
4. Leadership and Dedication: Describe how the Nominee has shown leadership, dedication and sustained commitment to the overall advancement of science, technology, innovation and society (No more than 400 words).

Please note: Statements made in the nomination form may be used to describe the winner during the awards ceremony.

• Nominees must be residents of Canada or Canadian citizens living abroad.
• Nominees can be at any stage of their career.
• Nominees can be from any sector, including industry, government, academia, not-for-profit organizations, media, etc.
• All scores and feedback provided by the Awards Selection Committee will not be disclosed for any reason.
• Upon Nominees’ consent, the CSPC reserves the right to profile any Impact Statement in all Conference materials and CSPC website before, during, and after the event.
• The CSPC and the Awards Selection Committee members will not release any confidential information from the nomination form.
• The current CSPC Board, staff, Award Committee volunteers, and members of the Awards Selection Committee cannot nominate anyone nor be nominated.
• Self-nominations are NOT accepted