Prospective Students
A: Water Health is a value-added graduate program, which includes a major focus on freshwater ecosystem health and water security. The program’s foundation involves opportunities for unique technical training and cultural schools, and professional development through internships and exchanges, networking and mentorship.
A: The Water Health program accepts graduate students at the Master’s and PhD levels. Prospective students and researchers must be interested in working on a project related to freshwater ecosystem health and water security. Students are required to have a Water Health co-supervisor at their respective institution.
A: Yes, acceptance into the Water Health CREATE program is contingent on acceptance to a graduate program at a collaborating institution. You may apply to the program 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 the Water Health CREATE 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 Water Health CREATE Program Coordinator to discuss your individual case.
A: Yes! A new year of the Water Health CREATE begins in the Fall semester when most students will start their programs; however, students can join the Water Health CREATE at any time and will participate in the program components when they become available.
A: To apply for the Water Health CREATE, please visit our ‘Apply’ page, download and complete the application form, and submit the form with a CV and unofficial transcript in one (1) PDF document to Katherine Raes, the Water Health CREATE 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 funding agency (mandatory).
A: The Water Health CREATE covers up to 50% of grad students' annual stipend (up to $11,500 for MSc (max. 2 years) and $13,000 for PhD (max. 4 years)), the expenses to attend the summer and cultural schools, and costs associated with exchanges and internships. In addition, there is funding for conference registration and attendance on a competitive basis.
A: Any costs associated with research are the responsibility of the supervisor; the Water Health CREATE does not cover any additional grad fees, credits or tuition.
New and Current Students
A: All questions about Water Health CREATEcan be emailed to Katherine at katherine.raes@usask.ca , the 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 is partially funding the student stipend or scholarship, the payments can be suspended if students are not engaging or advancing in the Water Health CREATE program. We will review case by case and allocated additional time if needed to ensure the students success in each part of their program. We have a proposed timeline for students to distribute the workload and avoid problematic circumstances.
A: Email a short bio and a photo of yourself to the Water Health CREATE Program Coordinator, and she will add it 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 Water Health CREATE 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 Water Health CREATE core course under the collaboration agreement between universities.
A: Yes, the Water Health CREATE 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: Water Health CREATE will fund travel and accommodation for students to attend the summer and cultural schools. 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: 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.
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)
YouTube: NSERCTube
A: As CREATE Water Health 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 consider 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)