Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Funding Call
Equity, diversity and inclusion are a top priority for BrainsCAN and through its EDI Action Plan, BrainsCAN is committed to meaningful and action-driven considerations of EDI within its research practices and culture. In this way, BrainsCAN seeks to foster a diverse membership that reflects the Canadian society and global environment it serves through research impact.
BrainsCAN is working to improve the participation in cognitive neuroscience of Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, members of racialized groups, Black people and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
This funding opportunity aims to improve knowledge and understanding of EDI and help remove the barriers and challenges faced by equity deserving groups. Ultimately, BrainsCAN wishes to provide a research environment enabling all researchers, students and staff the opportunity to reach their maximum potential in an accountable space where they feel they belong.
Support from persons not from equity deserving groups is crucial. Acting as allies, they can help remove the burden of change from those most affected. Their participation in this funding call is strongly encouraged.
Opportunities under BrainCAN's EDI funding call
BrainsCAN is offering funding under two streams. Stream 1 will fund staff, graduate students and researchers working within cognitive neuroscience research to attend EDI-specific training, events and conferences or host external EDI trainers/knowledge holders at Western. Stream 2 offers the opportunity for individuals, teams or pre-existing university groups with an interest in EDI to develop new, exciting and innovative initiatives for increasing the equity, diversity and inclusiveness of our cognitive neuroscience research environment or wider. Teams could be a mix of staff, faculty and graduate students from a variety of groups, departments and central services, however, the impact delivered should fall within the cognitive neuroscience research space, although can reach wider to other research disciplines and departments. Ambitious and innovative initiatives are encouraged.
Total funding available: $110,000
Maximum request per application for Stream 1: $3,000
Maximum request per application for Stream 2: $30,000
Stream 1 is for individuals working in cognitive neuroscience research, either in a research or technical/admin support role. This stream is aimed at helping individuals improve their knowledge and understanding of EDI through funding individual attendance at EDI-specific training courses, conferences and events. Funding will also be provided for external trainers/knowledge holders to deliver training at Western University for a lab team or wider group working within cognitive neuroscience. All activities must take place within 12 months of award of funding.
Researchers, graduate students and staff members working in cognitive neuroscience research are eligible to apply, providing they can demonstrate that funding will benefit equity, diversity and inclusion in the wider community. For example, requests to attend a training course must show how this will benefit the cognitive neuroscience community, either through a dissemination event or embedding what has been learned into new attitudes/behaviours/policies and/or procedures in research and support teams.
A maximum of $3,000 is available per application for Stream 1
Stream 2 is for new, innovative ideas for enhancing equity, diversity and inclusion within Western/its affiliates and should be bold and ambitious, with the potential to have a long-term impact. Individuals or teams can apply, with a mix of researchers, graduate students and staff from across the university, however, the impact delivered must be within the cognitive neuroscience research space, although can reach wider to other research disciplines and departments. At least one applicant must work within the field of cognitive neuroscience either in research or a research/technical/admin support role.
Match funding is welcomed under Stream 2, creating the potential for larger, broader projects applicable across wider areas of the university.
A maximum of $30,000 is available per application for Stream 2, with a spend deadline of December 31st 2025.
This funding is not intended for initiatives, activities or training already being funded at Western via other sources.
How to Apply
Before applying, please read the call guidance document (link below). This will provide further guidance and details of eligible costs.
To apply for funding under Stream 1 – EDI Training, please complete the Stream 1 application form (link below) and email to bcnedi@uwo.ca by 12PM on January 25th 2024.
To apply for funding under Stream 2 – Innovation for EDI, email a brief description of your idea and the list of applicants to bcnedi@uwo.ca as soon as possible and at least 6 weeks before the application deadline. If your idea fits the criteria, you will be invited to apply using the Stream 2 application form (link below). Please email the completed application form to bcnedi@uwo.ca by January 25th 2024.
Important Dates
- Stream 2 - Description Deadline: December 14, 2023
- Application Deadline: January 25, 2024
- Expected Results: April 2024
Resources
Contact Information
Further information can be found in the guidelines document. If you have questions, please contact brainscan@uwo.ca.
