Funding Opportunity

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CIHR launched its Café Scientifique program as an outreach initiative that would provide answers to questions of popular interest to the general public. As a result, over 240 CIHR Café Scientifiques events have been funded to provide educational and informal discussions regarding popular health topics. CIHR Cafés are typically held in bars or cafés, and involve a panel of experts who specialize in the topic at hand. The primary point of these events is accessibility: to be a member of the audience, you don't have to have a science degree. You need to be interested in learning and asking questions.

Through its Café Scientifique program, CIHR organizes its own Café events but also establishes partnerships with non-profit organizations, universities, research centres, science centres and museums across Canada. If successful, these Café Scientifique partners can expect to receive $3,000 in funding to host their own Café. Please note: these funds can be used to host more than one Café.

In order to be funded, Cafés must meet the following criteria:

• the subject must be a health research-related issue of interest to the general public;
• a brief description of the Café must be provided along with an explanation of the importance of the topic itself;
• the name and description of the institution that will be hosting the event (to whom the payment will be made) must be provided;
• all Cafés must respect CIHR's guidelines for participants and organizers;
• through relevant experience, the organizers must show how they will be able to meet the Café's goals (including a realistic budget forecast and communications plan);
• there must be at least two CIHR-funded researchers on the panel of experts;
• CIHR support must be appropriately recognized through use of promotional material prior to and at the event itself;
• after the event, the organizers must be willing to evaluate the Café's success and demerits by distributing a CIHR survey to participants;
• a point of contact for all communication purposes must be provided (including phone number, fax number and e-mail address);
• a person who has signing authority to claim CIHR funding must be identified;
• the tentative date, time and location for the Café must be provided (the event has to take place prior to June 30, 2011).

For more information, please read the attached document. You must apply for funding using CIHR's ResearchNet website. Click on "Find Funding" on the left navigation, and then go to the "Other" section of funding opportunities. CIHR's Café Scientifique Program will be listed there. The deadline for applications is midnight, June 25, 2010.

For questions or further information, please contact:
Peter Maitland
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
160 Elgin Street, 9th Floor
Address Locator 4809A
Ottawa ON K1A 0W9
peter.maitland@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

All submissions will be evaluated by a CIHR appointed jury and decisions will be announced at the beginning of September 2010.

CIHR Café Scientifique Program Evaluation Criteria