The Climate Action Scholarship Program, a collaborative initiative by the Advisory Committee on Climate Change (referred to as “the Committee”) and the Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ), is launching for its second consecutive year. This program aims to support the development and implementation of public policies to address climate change in the province of Québec. It is specifically designed for doctoral students seeking innovative ways to enhance the impact of their research through the application of scientific insights in policymaking.
The Committee operates as an independent public entity with a clear mission. Its primary role involves providing counsel to the minister responsible for climate change mitigation. This counsel encompasses guidance on the direction, programs, policies, and strategies needed to effectively combat climate change. The Committee’s recommendations and opinions are made publicly available and transparent. In fulfilling its mandate, the Committee remains attuned to the ever-evolving landscape of scientific and technological knowledge, as well as established scientific consensus, ensuring that its advice is based on the latest scientific understanding of climate issues.
Quebec is currently grappling with the pressing issue of global warming and has set ambitious targets for decarbonization within the next three decades. In this context, the Advisory Committee on Climate Change, as part of its mission, serves to provide counsel to the Minister responsible for the fight against climate change. This advisory role includes offering guidance and recommendations on the strategic directions, programs, policies, and strategies aimed at combatting climate change. The Committee’s advice is shaped by the dynamic landscape of scientific and technological knowledge, as well as established scientific consensus in the field of climate change. It operates as a permanent, independent organization.
To actively engage with the next generation of climate change researchers and experts, the Committee, in collaboration with the Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ), has established a scholarship program. This program offers $12,000 scholarships to doctoral students across various academic disciplines, providing them with a unique opportunity to contribute to the future of climate action in Quebec. Under this initiative, selected students will leverage their research expertise to generate new scientific insights that support the Committee’s science advisory activities.
The Committee and the FRQ are eager to encourage a diverse range of projects encompassing both technological and social dimensions of climate change. These projects may address issues related to individual and community health, artistic approaches in shaping environmental perspectives, as well as the mobilization and encouragement of climate action. Regardless of the research framework, the knowledge produced is expected to yield scientific findings that inform public policy. Such contributions are likely to have profound societal benefits, given the urgency of addressing climate change.
The scholarship program is open to doctoral students enrolled at Quebec universities and can be held concurrently with other awards. Successful applicants will be required to complete a four- to six-month project, culminating in the submission of a final deliverable. This deliverable may also be made available to the public through publication on the Committee’s website.
The scope of potential projects is broad, spanning various disciplinary fields pertinent to the fight against climate change. This includes research areas such as greenhouse gas emissions reduction, adaptation strategies to climate change impacts, greenhouse gas sequestration, and efforts to mobilize action on climate-related issues. The overarching objective is to engage diverse perspectives on the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change, thereby complementing the Committee’s work. It is hoped that these projects will facilitate collaboration with civil society groups, integrate traditional knowledge, and contribute to a just transition towards a sustainable future.
For this second edition (2023-2024), the priority themes are:
- Improving or developing adaptation strategies in Québec;
- Improving or developing new mitigation measures in various emissions sectors in Québec;
- Renewable energy development and energy conservation in a context of decarbonization;
- Just transition and equity in the fight against climate change in Quebec;
- Indigenous issues and perspectives;
- Citizen mobilization;
- The promotion of the role of cities in climate action;
- Québec’s climate action from an international perspective.
Benefits
The scholarship has a value of $12,000. This scholarship may be held concurrently with other funding, as its amount and duration are equivalent to a scholarship supplement. A first payment of $6,000 is made at the start of the period referred to in the scholarship announcement and a second payment of $6,000 is made after approval of the final deliverable by the Committee.
Requirements For The Quebec Government Climate Action Scholarship Programme
The following are eligible for this competition:
- Students enrolled in a doctoral program at a Québec university at the competition closing date.
To be eligible, students must also have the support of their research director, who must give consent via their FRQnet portal certifying that:
- The proposed project integrates well with the applicant’s workload and that it can realistically be completed in 4 to 6 months (e.g., compatible with their other tasks, complementary to their thesis work);
- The student is enrolled at a Québec university at the competition closing date.
Selection
Applications are evaluated in two phases.
Phase 1 – Preselection: A preselection process is applied to all eligible applications by a panel composed of members of the Advisory Committee on Climate Change, or any other person appointed by the Committee or suggested by the FRQ according to the rules in force at the FRQ, to select the projects that meet the Committee’s needs, with a focus on the themes of the competition. An employee of the FRQ participates as an observer in this initial selection phase.
Preselection Criteria:
Quality of the academic record: 25%
- Relevance of the applicant’s academic background in relation to this scholarship program and the chosen theme;
- Level of excellence of the applicant’s academic background in terms of grades, scholarships and awards.
Project relevance: 50%
- Project’s potential contribution to the achievement of the Committee’s objectives;
- Alignment with the theme or themes of the competition;
- Integrated knowledge of the climate issue addressed in the project in its various dimensions;
- Capacity to translate the expected research results into concrete proposals, solutions, recommendations or public initiatives.
Potential feasibility of the project and of the production of the deliverable by the applicant: 25%
- Realistic nature of the proposed timeline;
- Knowledge of the issues and challenges related to public decision-making and public policy implementation and interest in such issues and policies;
- Stage in the doctoral program.
Phase 2 – Scientific evaluation: A limited number of applications that passed the preselection phase then undergo scientific evaluation by an intersectoral panel composed of individuals known for their climate change expertise and selected according to the rules in force at the FRQ and in light of the program’s evaluation criteria. An employee of the Committee participates as an observer in this second selection phase.
Scientific Evaluation Criteria:
Quality of the academic record: 35%
- Research ability (scientific experience and achievements);
- Level of excellence of the applicant’s academic background in terms of grades, scholarships and awards.
Scientific quality of the project: 50%
- Clarity and coherence of the perspective, research problem, methodology and objectives;
- Scientific quality and rigour of the proposed deliverable.
Potential for integration of the scholarship project into the applicant’s academic and personal career path in conjunction with the completion of the applicant’s degree: 15%
To be recommended for funding, the application must: 1) include all required documents; 2) be deemed relevant to the themes of the competition; 3) obtain a minimum overall score of 70% in the scientific evaluation.
Method of Application
The 2023-2024 electronic application form is available on the website in the applicant’s FRQSC Portfolio (Société et culture is the managing agency for this program). The completed form must be submitted electronically by the competition deadline date and time.
Please see Section 3.6 of the Common General Rules for information regarding the language of submitted forms and documents.
Refer to the Presentation standards for PDF attachments in the FRQnet E-portfolio to properly format any documents to be attached to the application.
5.1 Required documents
1) The electronic form with the following sections completed:
- Project summary (max. 500 words);
- Project description (max. three pages) and bibliography (max. one page) with the following elements:
o Research problem, perspective, methodology and objectives;
o Relationship of the research project to the chosen theme;
o Nature and contents of the final deliverable;
o Contribution of the project and the deliverable to the Committee’s mandate and Québec climate policy;
o Implementation plan with timeline.
- Academic background: study programs and training environments;
- Integrated presentation of the applicant’s background explaining why the chosen theme and the scholarship program are consistent with the applicant’s academic and personal career path. Include a section that describes the degree of advancement in the doctoral program;
- Relevant experience and scientific achievements;
- Recognitions: scholarships, awards, etc.
2) Official transcripts (see notes in Section 5.2 for details)
3) Where applicable, the following documents must be included in the “Other documents” section of the form:
- Submitted, in press and accepted articles: All submitted articles must be accompanied by a letter of acknowledgement from the publisher. Articles accepted for publication or in press must be accompanied by a notification from the publisher. The applicant must be identified by name, or the article in question will not be considered in the application evaluation.
- Applicants seeking to avail themselves of an exception:
o Official document attesting to the duration of parental leave or sick leave, such as a medical certificate or copy of the child’s birth certificate;
o In the case of a major family obligation or a person with a disability, provide documents attestant to the situation.
4) United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
In accordance with the Québec research and innovation investment strategy 2022-2028 (SQRI2) and the Québec Government Sustainable Development Strategy 2023-2028 (SGDD 2023-2028) and in line with their 2022-2025 strategic plans, the FRQ are seeking to promote the role of science and the scientific community in attaining the SDGs.
To that end, applicants are asked to indicate, if appropriate to their project, the contribution of their research to attaining the SDGs in the “Contribution to the sustainable development goals” section of their application form. This section will not be sent to the evaluation committees. Please consult the FRQ SDG Guide for further details.
5.2 Important notes related to official transcripts
Any transcripts that are missing, unofficial, not certified as a true copy, or out-of-date will render the application ineligible.
Copies of all academic transcripts are required, for all university studies pursued by the applicant, whether completed or not. This includes transcripts from exchange programs or courses (equivalencies), where applicable.
What makes a transcript official may differ from one academic institution to another. Nonetheless, to be deemed official by the FRQ, each transcript must:
Be issued by the university institution in question;
AND
Include elements indicating that it is an official transcript for that academic institution. This may be the seal or stamp of the issuing institution AND/OR the registrar’s signature AND/OR the notation “Official Transcript”, etc.
THE PRESENCE OF A WATERMARK will not render a transcript unofficial, as long as it meets the requirements specified above.
If there is any doubt about the authenticity of a transcript, the Fonds reserves the right to verify with the applicant or the institution concerned.
A transcript delivered in a sealed envelope by the registrar’s office can be opened and its contents scanned.
Other documents to attach, if applicable, along with the transcripts:
- Document explaining the current grading system for transcripts from institutions outside North America. This letter must clearly explain the grading system used, so that the transcripts can be properly understood;
- Letter of explanation from the institution (registrar’s office or equivalent administrative body) if no transcript is issued. The letter must state the reasons for the missing transcript. The Fonds reserves the right to verify the validity of the reasons given;
- If no transcript is issued but the applicant is unable to obtain a letter from the university, a letter of explanation written by the applicant, endorsed by the department director at the host institution, explaining the absence of the transcript.
5.3 Important notes related to submitting the application:
All required documents must be included with the application for it to be considered eligible. Documents that are illegible or low-resolution and those that do not make it possible to determine eligibility will not be accepted.
Official documents submitted in a language other than French or English must include a certified translation. Other documents submitted in a language other than French or English must be accompanied by a basic translation.
No appendices or documents other than those required will be shared with the evaluation committee. Applications cannot be updated after the competition deadline.
Application Deadline: October 12, 2023
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