Science Horizons Youth Internship Program - A Guide to Completing the Funding Application Form

Provided here are general guidelines for consideration when completing the application for funding from the Science Horizons Youth Internship Program (Science Horizons). Applicants are encouraged to carefully read the program information on the Science Horizons website, become fully aware of the program’s components, and be confident that the organization can meet all requirements for program participation. Individual coaching for the completion of an application is not provided as this could give applicants an unfair advantage.

Environment Canada (EC) sponsors the Science Horizons program in response to the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Strategy. EC receives $1.116 million dollars annually from which up to 93 funding agreements are awarded (a maximum of $12,000). This funding is used as a wage subsidy toward the total wages and employment-related costs of an intern who the organization hires to work on an environmental project. The projects chosen for funding are those which are found to have a direct link to the science priorities or mandate of EC. This is combined with consideration of those projects which will give an intern the highest amount of experience, skill and knowledge in preparing them for starting their careers or returning to advanced studies.

All applications are submitted electronically. Upon submission, the applicant will receive a confirmation email containing the completed application. If the applicant needs to amend any of the submitted information, this can be done by emailing science.horiz@ec.gc.ca. The applicant will find a reference number at the top of the confirmation email. This number should be used for any further communication regarding the application once it has been submitted.

Information listed on the application about the proposed project must relate directly to the project work the intern will be involved in rather than information about a larger project in which the intern will become involved.

Each application is evaluated by an EC scientist. The two key components that the evaluator looks for is: 1. How the project directly links to the EC science priority or EC’s mandate, and 2. How the intern’s involvement in the project will develop scientific knowledge, skill and experience which will help prepare them for launching their career path.

Questions about the program can be emailed to science.horiz@ec.gc.ca.

Thank you for your interest in the Science Horizons progarm.

1. Science Priority

Proposed projects must be clearly aligned to either one of the 5 listed areas of environmental science or to EC’s mandate. A link to this mandate is provided on the website. Select the science priority which most directly links to the project.

2. Region

Select the geographic region in which the project will be conducted. If multiple regions are involved, choose that region in which the majority of work will take place.

3. Organization Information

When listing the organization’s name, use the legal name of the organization. If the applicant is a post-secondary institution, list the name of the institution first, followed by a department name, etc.; all other information in this section is self-explanatory.

4. Project Information

Project Start & End Dates – The project the intern will participate in must take place during the Government of Canada’s fiscal year (April 1 to March 31) and be a minimum of 6 full months in duration. Environment Canada cannot guarantee that funding decisions will be made by April 1 so organizations should take this factor into consideration as they plan their project start and end dates.

Project Description – (500 word maximum) In the project description, thoroughly explain how it links to either the science priority identified or to EC’s mandate. By doing so, project evaluators can determine why EC would see a benefit in funding such a project.

Project Mentor – Science Horizons requires that a mentor be involved with the intern during the project. Identify the name of the mentor and explain (200 word maximum) why this person is best suited for contributing to the intern’s experience.

Intern Duties & Learning Experience – (both 200 word maximums) Explain what the intern will be doing in the project and list what scientific knowledge, skill and experience will be developed by the intern through project involvement.

Targeted Employment Outcomes – Three options are provided from which to choose; these options are in keeping with the purpose of the Science Horizons program. Organizations should consider hiring the intern at the end of the internship, help the intern find other meaningful employment or encourage the intern to return to school for advanced studies.

Intern’s Educational Requirement– Identify what level of post-secondary achievement the intern needs for participation in the project. All interns must have fully completed and graduated from a post-secondary program.

Location of Project & Field Work– List where the intern will be working.

5. Financial Information

List only those costs that are directly associated with the project in which the intern will be working. Do not list costs for a larger project of which the intern’s involvement is a part. Central organizational administration costs are not to be listed.

Wage & Mandatory Employment Related Costs – Science Horizons is a wage subsidy program; therefore an organzation granted funding is expected to use the majority of the funding to off-set the intern’s wages and mandatory employment related costs, i.e. benefits costs for Employment Insurance, Canada Pension Plan or Quebec Pension Plan.

Operating Costs– Eligible operating costs all relate directly to the intern. These include: travel, training, rental of premises, utilities related to a rented premisis, materials and supplies, and expenditures related to research and technical studies.

Total Project Costs– A sum of the following: 1. Wages, 2. Mandatory Employment Related Costs, and 3. Operating Costs.

6. Sources of Project Funding

Applicant organizations must show that they have available a minimum 30% contribution toward the total project costs. This percentage can come from the organization’s own resources, from a combination of the organization’s own resources and partner funding from other sources, or from only that provided by other sources. The 30% can be in cash, in-kind or a combination of both.

Science Horizons Contribution – List the amount requested in Science Horizons funding.

Proposed Employer Contribution (funds from all sources) – List the total amount the organization has available for the project and then break this down by Cash and In-Kind.

Other Contributors to This Project – If cash or in-kind contributions from other sources add to or make up the Proposed Employer Contribution, list the legal name of the organization (no acronymns), the amount of the contribution and whether it is cash or in-kind.

By following these guidelines, the evaluation of applications can be conducted in a fair and complete manner. If applications are found to be vague in explanation or do not contain the required information, the application will not be recommended for funding approval.