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NEW: We will be holding information sessions on January 7th聽(downtown) and January 9th聽(Macdonald Campus). Refreshments will be served, please聽聽if you plan to attend. 聽
Info on the downtown event聽and the Mac campus event
2025 Application
Executive Summary聽
The 看片视频 Sustainability Systems Initiative, Brace Water Centre, and the Sustainable Growth Initiative's new Transdisciplinary Catalyst Grant provides seed funding to interdisciplinary teams to develop ambitious research programs that will become the face of sustainability research of 看片视频.
One-year, non-renewable, up to $20,000 per award ($140,000 available in total). The deadline to apply is January 25, 2025.
In 3-5 years, it is hoped that these projects will evolve to secure large (> $10M) grants. Selected projects will be incubated by the MSSI to try to reach this goal together. This grant is the spark that will lead to a bonfire. With this funding, teams will be required to produce the two following deliverables:
- Host a symposium on the topic and co-author a white paper with conference participants.
- Develop a roadmap for project longevity including grant applications.
The funding for this grant comes from the MSSI, Brace, and the SGI. To reflect this partnership, of the seven grants, one grant will be awarded to a project concerning water research, and one will be awarded to a project concerning sustainable business.
The MSSI Paradigm聽聽
The MSSI is not a granting agency, and this is not a 鈥渞egular grant鈥�. Through synthesizing the outcomes of consultations that were held during the winter of 2024, and performing a literature review on practices in transdisciplinary research, the MSSI developed this program as the most effective way to achieve its vision: creating societal change for a sustainable future through research.听聽
Your success and impact are also success for the MSSI. The MSSI will serve as a partner and project coordinator to each team to facilitate success. Studies on what makes TD research effective show that a leadership role can be crucial for creating collaborations, building trust, and increasing engagement. The MSSI will organize per semester status meetings, leverage internal units (such as Grant Officers, Communications, University Advancement, Research and Innovation, etc.), assist with event planning, and act as a liaison with external partners.听聽
One north star that guides MSSI funding calls is creating projects that can go on to receive for large-scale (>$10M) grants, such as New Frontiers in Research (NFRF) and Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF). These are pathways for the MSSI to achieve its vision by creating long term research programs. The criteria of these grants mirror MSSI values: transdisciplinarity, societal impact, and bridging the science and policy interface. Through collaborating with Research and Innovation, the MSSI will coordinate and leverage 看片视频鈥檚 internal resources to develop the grant applications.听聽
Why Transdisciplinary?聽
Today鈥檚 global problems are too complex to be tackled using the traditional university structures of faculties and departments. True sustainability solutions are holistic, encompassing the environmental, social, and economic dimensions necessary to ensure meaningful translation and broad adoption. Advances in science and technology offer unprecedented opportunities to develop products and processes that are both clean and profitable. They are, however, insufficient unless they are framed within a societal context, and unless they consider aspects such as human and environmental health, social and economic well-being, and both legal and geopolitical implications.听聽
Transdisciplinary research initiatives tackle challenges with direct and immediate relevance to society, through the integration of knowledge from different science disciplines and (non-academic) stakeholder communities. 鈥疪esearch of this type aims to identify and achieve goals that are common to many partners across society and, in contrast to inter- and multidisciplinary research, regularly involves individuals from non-academic sectors).
Successful transdisciplinary programs are not built overnight, but are often structured in 3 core phases:3聽
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Problem identification and formation of a common research area.听聽
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Co-production of solution-oriented and transferable knowledge.听
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Embedding co-produced knowledge through transdisciplinary reintegration.听
The MSSI Transdisciplinary Catalyst Grant addresses the first phase of transdisciplinary research: problem identification and team formation. By providing the resources to establish partnerships, finalize project scoping, and host an event or symposium with relevant collaborators and audiences, this grant serves to build the foundation of a long-term TD research program.听
About the聽Brace Water Centre
Water is at the core of sustainability, critical to healthy economies, societies, and ecosystems. There is an urgent need to bring different groups together to address shared water challenges through multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches. In partnership with the Brace Water Centre, one Catalyst Grant will be awarded to support transdisciplinary water research. Proposals should align with Brace鈥檚 vision to develop innovative scientific and social solutions to global water challenges. Potential areas of interest include: Water governance, security & management; Health, water quality & pollution control; Water-energy-food nexus; Global water cycle, Climate adaptation and resilience; and Water technology & innovation. At least one co-applicant should be a Brace Water Centre member. To apply for membership please visit their website.
About the Sustainable Growth Initiative
In today's world, business plays a pivotal role in addressing sustainability challenges and driving positive societal change. By acting as agents of economic transformation, they can influence practice and policy to create meaningful impacts on environmental and social well-being. In collaboration with the Sustainable Growth Initiative (SGI) at the Desautels Faculty of Management, a Catalyst Grant will be awarded to support transdisciplinary research on sustainable growth for businesses. Key areas of interest include but are not limited to sustainable finance and business operations, decarbonization and the green transition, sustainable mobility, and sustainability in Africa. Proposals should align with SGI鈥檚 mission to develop innovative and socially impactful solutions that help businesses and leaders transition toward a more sustainable and equitable economy.
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The idea must be bold and new, have potential to make a significant impact on a sustainability problem/challenge and align with the MSSI vision. Its nascent state or boldness should render it premature for other funding.听聽
The Applicant(s)聽
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Each proposal requires at least two 看片视频 faculty members from different departments as co-applicants聽
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One co-applicant must be designated to manage the fund聽
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If submitting multiple applications, one can serve as fund manager to one application only.听聽
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All co-applicants must be MSSI Members. If you are not a member, you can join by聽applying on our website.听
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看片视频 (non-faculty) and external applicants can be included as collaborators聽
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All applicants must be in good standing with the MSSI (terms and conditions of previously awarded funding have all been met)
Eligible Expenses聽
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HR compensation (stipends, salaries and benefits for students/post-docs)聽聽
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Symposium hosting expenses (Travel, food, etc.)聽
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Symposium development expenses聽聽
Selection criteria聽聽
To reflect the co-sponsorship of the Brace Water Center and the Sustainable Growth Initiative, one grant will be awarded to a project concerning water research, and one will be awarded to a project concerning sustainable business.
Projects are evaluated on the idea (originality, potential for impact on a sustainability problem), the team composition (interdisciplinary, appropriate expertise and existing/proposed external collaborators), and how equity, diversity and inclusion considerations have been integrated across the development of this project.听聽
The TD Catalyst Grant Review Committee reviews the applications and makes recommendations to the Executive Committee for final approval.听聽
Reporting requirements聽聽
There are three deliverables grant recipients must produce.听聽
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A co-authored white paper from the symposium on the research topic聽
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A project maturation plan. The MSSI will continue to act as project coordinators after the funding period expires to continue developing this project. Grant deadlines, potential partners, and other funding sources should be identified as well as a brief outline of future research.听
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A brief exit report (template to be provided). As this is the first time the MSSI offers this program, feedback will be useful for future iterations.听聽聽
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All material and information submitted to the competition should be non-confidential as a high-level synopsis of funded projects may be made available on the MSSI website and in other communications output. Applicants are responsible for taking the necessary steps to protect any intellectual property associated with the project.听聽
Successful applicants are expected to become active members of the MSSI community, present their work at MSSI events, and on request, act as reviewers in future competitions and provide material to help promote sustainability research at 看片视频.听
To apply
Proposals should be submitted using this form.
Note that reviewers will likely not be experts in your field. Therefore, provide a strong description of the research project in lay terms, situating it in the context of literature/prior research conducted.
The review process will be completed in February 2025 and funds will be allocated shortly thereafter.
Projects are evaluated on:
- The idea (originality, potential for impact on a sustainability problem)
- Team composition (interdisciplinary, appropriate expertise and existing/proposed external collaborators)
- Equity, diversity and inclusion considerations across the development of the project/team
Proposal Submission
Please submit your completed application to mssi [at] mcgill.ca, copying all co-applicants.
Non-conforming applications (including resum茅s greater than the specified length) will be returned for modification and resubmission up to the competition closing date.
A confirmation receipt will be sent via email within one business day. Please contact the MSSI If you haven鈥檛 received a receipt within this timeframe.
The application deadline is January 25th, 2025.
