Competition

* Unless explicitly noted, all times indicated for deadlines are for the appropriate NL timezone (NST or NDT)

RIS will be offering support with application development for this opportunity. Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact Jennifer Stevens (v5js@mun.ca) or Amanda Crompton (ajcrompt@mun.ca) early during the development process to discuss the services available to them.

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) are collaborating to advance scientific knowledge to achieve Canada’s zero plastic waste targets and inform the advancement of plastics science policy and regulatory measures.

The NSERC – ECCC Call for proposals on Plastics Science and Innovation for a Cleaner and More Sustainable Future aligns with Canada’s Plastics Science Agenda and the Government of Canada’s Science assessment of plastic pollution. This is an important element of Canada’s comprehensive Zero Plastic Waste agenda.

This call focuses on research that advances the science around plastic designs and alternatives, the sustainable use of plastics, and plastic waste diversion and recovery. It builds on a previous collaboration to support research to detect and characterize plastics in the environment and the exposure and effects of plastics on wildlife and human health.

Researchers must submit a letter of intent by May 15, 2025, 8:00 p.m. (ET).

Application deadline (only if invited by NSERC and ECCC):  September 18, 2025, 8:00 p.m. (ET)

If you have any questions, please contact RP-Initiatives-PR@nserc-crsng.gc.ca.

In addition to the external funding agency’s submission procedures, this opportunity must also be submitted for Departmental, HSS Faculty, and Research Initiatives and Services (RIS) institutional reviews and approvals via Memorial's Researcher Portal (RP). In order to facilitate the HSS Faculty’s administrative review, please ensure "Heather C. O'Brien (Grants Facilitator)" and “Matthew Milner (Grants Facilitator)” are added as "Team Members" on your RP file. 

In accordance with University-wide approval protocols, all tabs of the RP file must be completed, the completed application must be uploaded to the “Attachments” tab, all supporting documentation including support for cash and in-kind commitments and/or letters of support must also be uploaded, and “Submit” must be pressed prior to the HSS internal deadline listed below. HSS cannot guarantee completion of an administrative review for application files that are incomplete and/or are submitted after the HSS deadline. For more detailed submission instructions and information, please consult the HSS Research Support Services website.

If you plan to apply to this competition or other research funding opportunities (as either PI or CI), e-mail an HSS Grants Facilitator, Heather C. O’Brien (HSSResearchAdmin@mun.ca or 864-8603) or Matthew Milner (HSSResearchGrants@mun.ca or 864-8050), to notify the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of your intent to apply. E-mailing the intent to apply as early as possible will help to facilitate an efficient review. A Grants Facilitator can answer any questions you may have about internal or external submission procedures and may also be able to help with proposal development.