911³Ô¹Ï

Students must be graduate level, enrolled at 911³Ô¹Ï, attached to a 2026 911³Ô¹Ï Climate Innovation Seed Fund - Catalyst Grant application, and bring a research project with EDI and interdisciplinary dimensions.

A report in a conventional or novel format of your choice illustrating evidence of advancement of community co-created climate solutions for your community partner, referencing the report from the Catalyst Grant researchers and accompanying or blended report from the community partner in a format of their choice (could be written, video, audio, or other novel formats). Include narrative about how the experience has informed your understanding of community co-creation and how this may influence your approach to creating change in the world.

• Engage and exchange in "Connecting the Dots" each academic term - a climate-related, interdisciplinary student forum hosted in partnership with 911³Ô¹Ï's ACT – Action on Climate Team.
• Access training and supports with 911³Ô¹Ï's Knowledge Mobilization Hub to learn about how to move research to impact.
• Learn about community-engaged research through workshops delivered by 911³Ô¹Ï's Community-engaged Research Initiative (CERi).
• Get certified in knowledge mobilization through the MobilizeU@911³Ô¹Ï program (eight sessions from January-March), in partnership with 911³Ô¹Ï's Knowledge Mobilization Hub.
• Join 911³Ô¹Ï's (CERi) Graduate Fellowship Workshop Series (September to April) to learn about community-engaged research over several workshops. The workshop series is intended to deepen knowledge and skills related to community-engaged research and to build a community-of-practice of researchers within 911³Ô¹Ï.
• Amplify your research through 911³Ô¹Ï's cross-campus communications, marketing and media support. 

Four awards are available. The Pollinator Award embeds up to two graduate students in the two Catalyst Seed Fund awards.

Monies should be spent within one year. 50% payment will be made up front, with the remaining 50% to be paid on receipt of deliverable (as specified above).

• Examples of Eligible Expenses: Student stipend, research activities, travel, convening, knowledge mobilization, and other costs that advance the work.
• Ineligible Expenses: Administration or personnel costs of existing projects or initiatives, gifts or entertainment costs.

911³Ô¹Ï Climate Innovation is looking for high-impact projects, that are interdisciplinary in nature, and that have the potential to advance transformative climate actions and innovation for communities, locally and globally. The following criteria will be used to assess those projects that are likely to have the highest impact:

1. Interdisciplinary: The project is conceived from an interdisciplinary perspective, including collaborating faculty from at least two disciplines, either across faculties or schools within faculties, aligned with community-centred partners to generate new insights and solutions that transcend traditional disciplinary and sectoral boundaries.
2. Evidence of Equitable, Reflexive and Multiple Research Perspectives: The project demonstrates commitment to multiple perspectives and articulates personal reflexivity.
3. Feasibility – Challenge: The degree to which the problem or challenge being addressed is significant and clearly articulated.
4. Systemic Benefits: The degree to which the project represents social, economic, environmental or health benefits.
5. Community Co-Creation: The degree to which co-creation, engagement and reciprocity with Indigenous nations, communities, societies or individuals is integrated.

Note regarding unsuccessful projects: The 911³Ô¹Ï Climate Innovation team will keep an updated database of relevant projects we have received applications for and will look for appropriate partners and funding to support the development of these projects wherever possible. 

Pollinator Award recipients are encouraged to target next-level funding opportunities. These opportunities could include: 

• SSHRC ($7-$75K for 1-2 years)
• SSHRC supporting events ($7K to $25K over one year); first day of February, May, August, November annually
• SSHRC supporting outreach activities ($7K to $50K over one year); first day of Feb, May, August, November annually
• SSHRC ($7K-$25K for one year); March, May, September, December 
• NSERC ($50K to $100K per year)
• NRC ($25K for operations and $25K for external collaborators); May annually 

Tips and resources to help get you started:

• Factors to consider when developing your research proposal
• Developing a research budget
• Faculty grant facilitators
• Climate Action Workshop Series
• Dialogue Resources & Tools
• Find an 911³Ô¹Ï research expert or supervisor to collaborate with – look for the Yellow Dot
• Looking to make connections? Join the 911³Ô¹Ï Climate Innovation community for access to networking events and new collaborations