Centre for Learning and Teaching

Science Case Studies Grant


Previous Grant Recipients

See information about previous grant recipients and the projects they funded!

  • Submission Deadline
  • Focus of Grant
  • Eligibility
  • Amount of Award
  • Requirements
  • Submission Checklist
  • Submission Process
  • Selection Criteria
  • Contact

Submission Deadline

Submissions for this grant typically occur in the Fall (September-December).

Fall deadline to submit is November 18, 2024.

Focus of Grant

The focus of this grant is to encourage the creation and use of case studies by educators in Dalhousie science courses to support engaged learning and promote the application of fundamental science.

The Objectives of this Grant include:

  • Enhancing the learning experience of students in science courses at Dalhousie University
  • Fostering engagement, interest, and curiosity about scientific topics through active, discursive, and hands-on learning experiences
  • Improve students’ knowledge retention into upper year courses
  • Contextualizing scientific understanding within the discipline and across disciplines
  • Applying scientific knowledge to real-word applications
  • Connecting science within social context
  • Supporting Dalhousie teaching and learning strategic priorities to transform teaching and learning for the whole student (across all modalities) including, but not limited to:
    • Advances Dalhousie’s Diversity and Inclusiveness Strategy, Indigenous Strategy, and/or African Nova Scotian Strategy
    • Incorporates Indigenous and anti-colonial approaches to learning, and/or develops deep and meaningful relationships with the people of the Mi’kmaw Nation
    • First-year undergraduate education
    • Undergraduate research
    • Experiential and work-integrated learning (including field work and community engaged learning)
    • Active learning
    • Expands global reach
    • Interdisciplinary approach

Eligibility

Each project team must be led by a full-time faculty member to ensure the long-term sustainability of the project, however non-academic staff and limited term and part-time faculty members may be co-applicants. Limited-term faculty who are project leads must have at least one year remaining in their contract term. Student co-applicants are strongly encouraged but not required.

To be eligible your course should be offered by the Faculty of Science or the Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology or Microbiology & Immunology.

Amount of Award

One award of $1,000 is available.

Requirements

  1. Applicants must complete the Science Case Studies Grant Application Form. Completed forms can be submitted directly to clt@dal.ca.
  2. A detailed budget is required with justification for each item. See below for more information about what kinds of items are eligible for funding through this grant.
  3. If you are planning to seek assistance from an Educational Developer from the CLT as part of your project, please include confirmation in writing that assistance will be available from that individual during the time frame required, prior to submitting your proposal. 
  4. Statement of support from the head of the relevant teaching unit department, school, Faculty) that includes a description of any additional resources (e.g., funding, release time, equipment, etc.) to be provided to the project and a description of the value of the project, in particular the pedagogical impact on students. If a department head is an applicant for the grant, please provide a letter of support from your Associate Dean or Dean of your Faculty.
  5. Completion of a final report is required 18 months after receipt of funding for all successful grants. The completed Science Case Studies Grant Final Report Form can be submitted directly to clt@dal.ca.

Examples of items that are commonly funded through this grant:

  • Student support (e.g., research assistant, programming, development)
    • This should be inclusive of an hourly wage (e.g., $24.00 or $30.50 for undergraduate and graduate students respectively) + 13.662% (6% vacation pay + 7% benefits, i.e., EI/CPP).
  • Honoraria for consultations, and/or community engagement-related expenses
  • Technology that contributes substantially to the project and is not already available elsewhere, or where alternatives are not available
    • Projects that submit budgets that are largely requesting funds to purchase technology will only be considered in special circumstances where research has been conducted to ensure that:
      • The tool is the only possible solution
      • The tool can be demonstrated to contribute substantially to the project
      • There are no institutional plans to consider a Dalhousie-wide site licence for such a tool
      • The department or faculty is able to commit to maintaining the tool to ensure continued use and impact

Funding will NOT be provided for the following items

  • Conferences: registration travel, accommodations, etc.
  • Technology already available elsewhere, or where alternatives are available
  • Office supplies
  • Phone charges
  • Publishing fees
  • Faculty and staff salaries

Submission Check-List

Applicants are encouraged to submit well-defined proposals that will demonstrably enhance teaching and learning. 

To be submitted as part of the grant application, using the Science Case Studies Grant Application form:

  1. Names of project lead and co-applicant(s), employment status of project lead, Faculty/Department, contact information, and brief bio (as it relates to the nature of the project)
  2. Project Title
  3. Brief Abstract (maximum 150 words) to be used for promotional purposes if the applicant is successful
  4. Case Study Plan (Not to Exceed 2000 words) that includes:
    • Brief description of the case including the inspiration for the case, how this story sustains the case, and the concepts covered by the case.
    • Outline of Rationale and goals for the project – please address the following questions:
      • What challenges do you/your students face in your course?
      • How will the use of case studies help resolve this issue(s)?
      • What is your plan for implementation? (Include the name and year-level of the course in which you will use the case study, whether this is to be used as an activity or assessment, for students in groups or for individual work.)
    • Outline how the project will enhance student learning in your course
    • Sustainability of project

The following must be appended to your Science Case Studies Grant Application Form:

  • List of sources consulted from the literature
  • Detailed project timeline
  • List of additional departmental or other resources
  • Teaching Unit Support - Letter from Head of Department
  • Detailed Budget

Submission Process

Grant applications must be submitted as one full package, using the Science Case Studies Grant Application Form.

Electronic submission applications can be emailed to: clt@dal.ca. Unless given permission, applications must be in a single .pdf formatted document. Specifics for electronic submissions include:

  • Email’s subject should be: “Science Case Studies Grant Submission [YEAR]”.
  • File name must follow the format [LAST NAME OF PROJECT LEAD, SCIENCE CASE STUDIES GRANT, YEAR].
  • Co-applicants: Indicate if you are submitting on behalf of the project lead in the email body.

If you encounter technical issues or have any questions, please contact the Centre for Learning & Teaching at clt@dal.ca or by phone at (902) 494-1622.

Selection Criteria

  • The case will significantly contribute to student engagement in a science course.
  • The case has a clear focus and aim (i.e., the case proposed identifies a key issue or problem to be addressed and outlines realistic and achievable outcomes.)
  • The case promotes the application and transfer of classroom knowledge to real life.
  • The case encourages interdisciplinary collaboration and integration.
  • The project supports Dalhousie’s teaching and learning strategic priorities to transform teaching and learning for the whole student (across all modalities) including, but not limited to:
    • Advances Dalhousie’s Diversity and Inclusiveness Strategy, Indigenous Strategy, and/or African Nova Scotian Strategy
    • Incorporates Indigenous and anti-colonial approaches to learning, and/or develops deep and meaningful relationships with the people of the Mi’kmaw Nation
    • First-year undergraduate education
    • Undergraduate research
    • Experiential and work-integrated learning (including field work and community engaged learning)
    • Active learning
    • Expands global reach
    • Interdisciplinary approach
  • The proposed budget is fully justified and in line with the aims and timeline of the project.
  • The project has the support of the applicant's Dean or Department Head.

Contact

Any questions or requests for feedback on proposals in development may be directed to Kate Thompson (thompskm@dal.ca).