Purpose

Through the thematic programme on science communication and debate using novel communication platforms, the Novo Nordisk Foundation wants to contribute to engagement and interest in natural science and technology and to facilitate a qualified public debate on topics within natural science.

Eligibility

The applicant must be active in natural science education and/or outreach within the Danish Realm.

During the grant period, the applicant must be a leader at or responsible for a project at a public institution and/or nonprofit organization (the administering institution), including educational institutions, research institutions, associations or municipalities in Denmark. Private companies and producers may apply for grants for noncommercial projects with nonprofit aims.

The application must identify any co-applicants and collaboration partners.

The Foundation has three calls for applications in the autumn 2019 application round for grants for natural science education and outreach. A person may only be the main applicant for one application in this application round. Co-applicants are not subject to similar rules. Projects which fall within the call for Project grants for natural science education and outreach or the thematic call Mathematics in natural science and technology. Read more on the general rules for applications in the information and guidelines for applicants.

Project field

Applicants may apply for grants for projects that communicate natural science and technology to non-scientific target groups in creative and engaging ways.

Projects may use novel communication platforms, events and collaborations that:

• contribute to inspiring and engaging people in scientific topics;
• raise awareness of challenges relevant to society within natural science research, health, the development of technology, energy production, climate and sustainability;
• facilitate public, fact-based and critical debate on natural science and technology; and
• counteract fake news and increase the dissemination of reliable sources of natural science knowledge.

The target groups may be children, young people and/or the general population. All types of media and instruments may be used and must be made available to target groups outside the education system. For example, applicants may apply for grants for science journalism, television and documentary productions, podcasts, animated videos, communication through social media, lectures, theatre, festivals or debate events.

Funding

A total of up to DKK 30 million is available in autumn 2019, for grants between DKK 100,000 and DKK 6 million for projects lasting up to 6 years.

The project may be an independent, delimited project or a part of a larger project that is also supported by other partners.

Applicants may apply for a grant for the following expenses in the project:

• salaries for employees or affiliated personnel at all staffing levels, including project management;
• salaries for substitutes or paying the salaries of replacements for early-childhood educators and teachers so that they can develop and/or participate in projects;
• researchers in permanent positions at universities and university colleges may apply for funds to pay for substitutes for the time they use in a development project if the project extends beyond the description of their duties in their position (such as communicating natural science research for target groups outside the university or university college);
• operating expenses: direct expenses for developing, implementing and operating projects, including materials and equipment;
• administrative support (up to 5% of the applicant’s overall budget and included in it) to cover administrative expenses directly related to the project being based at an administering institution; and
• evaluation in connection with development projects.

The Novo Nordisk Foundation will not award grants for:

• commercial activities;
• buildings; and
• overhead (such as rent, electricity, water and maintenance).

Applicants who have applied for or been awarded co-funding must state this in the application.

Application process

The application must be completed and submitted using the Foundation’s application system (NORMA). The application system is in English, but applications may be submitted in either Danish or English. The language chosen will not influence the assessment of the application.

It is important that applicants read all information and guidelines for applicants since they contain detailed information on the application process. The box on how to apply at the top of this page has a link to the information and guidelines for applicants.

Assessment criteria

The Foundation’s Committee on the Thematic Programme in Education and Outreach: Science Communication and Debate Using Novel Communication Platforms will assess the applications based on the following criteria:

• the extent to which the project is in accordance with the purpose of the call for applications;
• the capacity and qualifications of the applicant and their institution;
• the quality of the project;
• the relevance and importance of the proposed project;
• the project plan, method and feasibility of the project to be implemented, including a plan for evaluation and knowledge dissemination;
• the expected benefit for the target group and in the form of knowledge-building;
• the capacity and qualifications of any co-applicants and collaboration partners; and
• if relevant to the application, the embeddedness, originality, scalability and opportunities for disseminating the project throughout Denmark.

Information and Guidelines

Read more about the application process in the “Information and Guidelines for applicant”.
Find the presentation from the information meetings in Copenhagen and Vejle here.