FAQ - Frequent Asked Questions

A: CREATE-FWNET is a value-added graduate program. Which includes core content for Water and Nexus topics, opportunities for networking with other students and collaborators, professional development and career guidance, and industry experience.

A: FWNET accepts graduate students at the Master’s and PhD levels. Prospective students and researchers must be interested in working on a project related to the food and water nexus with any supervisor at USask. Students from collaborated institutions are required to have a CREATE-FWNET co-supervisor at their respective institution*.

CREATE-FWNET is not just for natural science and engineering students; social scientists are welcome, too! We commit to accepting 70% of NSE (Natural Science and Engineering) and 30% non-NSE.

*Collaborated institutions: University of Guelph, University of Regina and University of Waterloo.

• University of Guelph
• University of Regina
• University of Waterloo

A: Yes, the acceptance to the CREATE-FWNET program depends on acceptance to a graduate. You may apply to CREATE-FWNET before receiving your university acceptance, but you will not be admitted until your program and academic advisor are confirmed.

A: This depends on how many semesters you have already completed in your graduate program. Ideally, applicants will join CREATE-FWNET at the beginning or within the first year of their program to ensure adequate time to complete the required program components. If you have been studying for more than three semesters (one year), please contact the CREATE-FWNET Program Coordinator to discuss your individual case.

A: Yes! A new year of CREATE-FWNET begins with the Fall semester, kicking off with the experiential course. Most students start their program at this time, but students can join CREATE-FWNET at any time and still participate in the courses when they become available.

A: To apply for CREATE-FWNET, please visit our ‘Apply’ page, download and complete the application form, and submit the form with a CV and transcript (unofficial is fine) in one (1) PDF document to Viviana, the CREATE-FWNET Program Coordinator.

A: As trainees enter the program, it is recommended that they read

1) the Privacy Act document (https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/NSERC-CRSNG/Policies-Politiques/atip-aiprp_eng.asp) 

2) Fill out the intake form that is sent out by email to be officially counted by the funded agency (mandatory).  

A: Students and fellows receive NSERC scholarships through national competitions; they are selected according to established selection criteria. The method for choosing CREATE trainees varies from university to university, as may the selection criteria. Universities categorize these funds as they see fit.

In the case of USask, it is considered a scholarship and partial funding to cover new or existing grad students.

A: FWNET covers up to 50% of grad students' annual stipend (up to $20,000 for MSc and $25,000 for PhD), the expenses to attend the field course, and the annual workshop for out-of-province students. In addition, there is funding for conference registration, attendance, and publication costs on a competitive basis.

A: The supervisor is responsible for any costs associated with research; FWNET does not cover additional grad fees, credits, or tuition.

A: All questions about CREATE-FWNET can be emailed to Viviana at fwnet@usask.ca,  the CREATE-FWNET Program Coordinator. She can answer most of your questions or direct you to the correct person for the job. There will also be plenty of opportunities to have your questions answered in person at the core courses.

A: Understanding that NSERC partially funds the student stipend or scholarship, the payments can be suspended if students are not engaging or advancing in the CREATE-FWNET program. We will review case by case and allocate additional time if needed to ensure the student's success in each part of their program. We have a proposed timeline for students to distribute the workload and avoid problematic circumstances. 

A: Email the CREATE-FWNET Program Coordinator a short bio and a photo of yourself, and she will add them to the Team page.

A: Sharing a bio and/or photo on our website helps our collaborators (and potential employers) get to know you, your background, and your research interests.

A: If you are participating in the CREATE-FWNET courses but do not attend the University of Saskatchewan, as part of your application, you will complete a form corresponding to an inter-institutional agreement so you can be assigned an NSID to be able to access our courses. Contact the Program Coordinator for details.

A: You do not need to pay anything to the University of Saskatchewan. The program will cover fees associated with the CREATE-FWNET core course under the collaboration agreement between universities.

A: Yes, the CREATE-FWNET program is separate from the graduate program in which you are enrolled at your university. It includes completing the required components; please refer to the program layout page for details.

A: CREATE-FWNET will fund travel and accommodation for students to attend the field course in Lethbridge, Alberta, and the annual meeting at the University of Saskatchewan (for out-of-province students). You are encouraged to use Concur or submit a visitor expense claim form with receipts and boarding passes to the Program Coordinator to proceed with the reimbursement process. Please refer to How do I access my Concur? - ConnectionPoint KB - Wiki (usask.ca) to learn more.

A: The annual workshop will allow you to be in the same place with as many collaborators and CREATE-FWNET students as possible. It will be an opportunity to practice your networking and presentation skills and catch up with all the ongoing research. We are still working out the details of this event, and the updates will be posted on our home page.

A: Yes! We need to report to NSERC any change in the status or appointment of participants so that continued eligibility to hold an NSERC grant may be verified.

The grantee and/or the lead university will inform NSERC, well in advance, of significant changes to the status of the grantee (or another participant if it will have a significant impact on the capacity to meet the training program objectives), such as changing status from full time to part-time, or upon permanent departure from the university.

A: Yes! The participants agree to acknowledge NSERC support in all communications relating to the CREATE initiative, such as research publications, news articles, presentations, etc.

Acknowledgement of NSERC support for your research or other science-related activities lets Canadians know where the government spends their money and fosters an appreciation of the important role funding plays in making good science happen. Grantees and award holders are required to acknowledge NSERC funding. Whenever possible, please acknowledge, verbally or in writing, your NSERC funding in both English and French. For further information consult the NSERC Official Language Policy and the Frequently asked questions on the acknowledgement of funding in both official languages.

Please also make it clear that NSERC supported your project and is not a product of NSERC

A: Acknowledgement message

Recipients should include the NSERC signature or symbol along with the following acknowledgement message:

“We acknowledge the support of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).”

“Nous remercions le Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et en génie du Canada (CRSNG) de son soutien. ”

Note: If multiple funding agencies and partners have supported your research project, all sources of funding and support should be listed.

Acknowledgement in peer-reviewed publications

Please quote the funding reference number:

We acknowledge the support of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), [funding reference number xxxxxx].

Cette recherche a été financée par le Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et en génie du Canada (CRSNG), [numéro de référence xxxxx].

Acknowledgement in social media

Make sure to tag us on your social media posts so we can share them!

Twitter:@NSERC_CRSNG

Facebook:@nserccanada

Instagram:@nserc_crsng

LinkedIn: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)

A: As FWNET-CREATE training activities occur, it is expected from trainees:

• Register and report attendance to courses, events and seminars
• Provide information about contributors (NSERC acknowledgement)
• Report publications
• Report oral and poster presentations
• Apply for funding to attend and report conferences
• Report awards received
• Report other stipends or scholarships received
• Shared your success stories

A: As part of the responsibilities of the grant management, we must report back to NSERC regarding the CREATE program, and among the multiple success metrics they established, the trainee participation rate is one, where less than 70% of active students is considered low and could have financial impacts.

A: As trainees exit the program, it is required to:

1) Fill out the reporting form

2) Fill out the exit form 

3) Keep us informed of their employment after finishing the program (1 or 2 years)

A: Yes! If you have been awarded a scholarship that fully covers your student salary, you can still participate in FWNET and fulfill all the program components. Considering that your student salary is paid from your scholarship, we will only cover the expenses related to participating in FWNET courses.

A: If your organization is interested in collaborating with CREATE-FWNET, please email us at fwnet@usask.ca.

A: Collaborators can participate by presenting modules during the introductory course or seminars, providing an internship, and/or attending the annual meeting to network with students. Collaborators can also serve on the committees supporting the CREATE-FWNET program's development. We appreciate any and all contributions!