This award recognizes an individual under the age of 35 who proposes an innovative and compelling evidence-based policy proposal that will make a positive impact to Canadian society, economy, and/or environment. Proposals should be connected to one or more of the themes/topics for the 2024 CSPC Conference listed below:

CSPC 2024 Conference Themes and Topics:

Empowering Society: The Transformative Value of Science, Knowledge, and Innovation.

Track 1: Science, Knowledge, and Policy
Track 2: Science, Knowledge, and Society
Track 3: Innovation Policy and Economic Development
Track 4: Science, International Affairs and Security
Track 5: Science and the Next Generation
Track 6: Grand Challenges

For a detailed description of the conference topics, please visit here.

Eligible recipients for the Science Policy Youth Award include all individuals under 35 years old who are residents of Canada or those Canadians living abroad, regardless of their field of study or work. The CSPC is fully committed to the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion and encourages all qualified participants to apply.

The Science Policy Youth Award winner will be recognized prominently at the 16th Canadian Science Policy Conference (CSPC 2024), at the Gala Dinner which will be held during the conference in Ottawa. The Science Policy Youth Award winner will receive free admission to CSPC 2024 along with accommodation for two nights at the designated hotel for the conference. The award winner will also receive a trophy and certificate from CSPC. Travel support will be available for eligible students. Please see the previous Award Winners ceremony here.

The required elements for a successful application are listed below. Upon submission, please ensure your application is fully completed and that it adheres to the stated word limit. Please note that the use of AI in drafting policy proposals and/or in completing this application is strictly prohibited. Citations for sources of evidence should follow IEEE style with square brackets for in-text citations. Citations are not included in the word count.

Proposals will be reviewed anonymously by the award selection committee. 

Application Elements

1. Applicant’s Personal Information
2. Brief Biography (In 150 words or less)
3. Proposal Inspiration (In 150 words or less)
4. Connected Conference Theme(s)
5. Title of Policy Proposal (In 10 words or less)
6. Need/Opportunity for Action (In 300 words or less)
7. Proposed Solution/Policy Change (In 600 words or less)
8. Novelty/Creativity of Proposed Solution/Policy Change (In 300 words or less)
9. Lay Abstract (In 200 words or less)

Rules and Eligibility

1. Applications must be made by an individual under the age of 35 at the time of submission.
2. Applicants must be a resident of Canada or a Canadian citizen studying or working abroad.
3. Policy proposals must have an expected positive impact for Canada.
4. Scores and feedback provided by the Award Selection Committee will not be disclosed for any reason.
5. All applicants give the right to the CSPC to profile their submission in all conference materials or CSPC website before, during, and after the event.
6. The CSPC and the Awards Selection Committee members will keep the personal  information of applicants confidential.
7. The current CSPC Board, management, staff, volunteers and members of the Awards Selection Committee, may not apply for the Science Policy Youth Award.

If you have any issues in submitting your proposal or any questions regarding the submission, please email awards.prix@sciencepolicy.ca.

Proposals will be scored on the basis of the following criteria:

• Effective use of evidence – 25%
• Expected impact of the proposal – 25%
• Novelty and creativity – 25%
• Presentation and clarity of writing – ability to be understood by a general public audience – 25%