Annual Conference Equity in Nutrition Travel Award

The Canadian Nutrition Society (CNS) is committed to advancing equity, justice, and belongingness and fostering a positive and inclusive environment for all members. CNS is also committed to supporting the Canadian nutrition community in participating in research and practice that effectively engages with and addresses structural determinants and inequities. This includes addressing barriers to participation in the Society and its events. Please see CNS’ full statement: CNS Commitment to Advancing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

The CNS Annual Conference will take place in Montréal, Québec from May 8-10, 2025. CNS will offer 10 Equity in Nutrition Travel Awards to equity deserving groups to attend the annual conference. Should additional funding support be received, CNS may increase the number of awards.

Eligibility

• Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC), LGBTQ2S+ and / or people with disabilities
• Full-time student in an accredited undergraduate, graduate, or professional academic or clinical training program related to nutrition at a Canadian institution or within 8 months (2024/05 - Present) of Degree Received Date. Post-Doctoral Fellows within 8 months of Degree Received Date (2024/05 - Present) are welcome to apply; note that priority will be given to full-time students in an accredited undergraduate, graduate, or professional academic or clinical training programs.
• Submitted an accepted abstract by the January 31, 2025 deadline for the CNS Annual Conference*
• Confirmation from supervisor that no other sources of travel funding is available
• Commitment to attend the full conference 
• Did not receive a Travel and Registration Award in 2024

* CNS will issue a call for late-breaking /encore abstracts from mid-February to mid-March. These abstract submissions will only be eligible for an Equity in Nutrition Travel Award if additional travel awards are available to be offered (i.e., the 10 awards have not already been distributed).

Award Package

Equity in Nutrition Travel Award recipients will have conference registration fees waived and up to $1200 of travel support to attend the CNS Annual Conference. The monetary amount will be based on distance required to attend the conference. 

• 300km or less = $600 of travel and accommodation support
• 301-1000km = $800 of travel and accommodation support
• 1001-4000km = $1000 of travel and accommodation support
• 4001km+ = $1200 of travel and accommodation support
   

To apply:

1. Have all your items ready and prepared to upload to the abstract submission form. This includes:  

• a signed letter (on letterhead) from your supervisor confirming
     a) you are a trainee with full-time status enrolled in a nutrition-related program or within 8 months of having received your degree and
     b) you do not have access to other funds to support your conference attendance 
  This document must be uploaded at the time of abstract submission. It will only be shared with the EDI review committee that is tasked with selecting the Equity in Nutrition Travel Awards and will be treated as confidential. 

• A personal statement (300 words or less) that demonstrates the financial need, how attendance at the conference will benefit your current program of study / future career pathway, and how you will use the experience to ultimately benefit CNS and/or the field of nutrition.
  This statement must be provided at the time of abstract submission. It will only be shared with the EDI review committee that is tasked with selecting the Equity in Nutrition Travel Awards and will be treated as confidential. 

2.  Submit an abstract to the CNS Annual Conference by January 31, 2025. On the abstract submission form, you will be asked if you wish to be considered for any awards. Please check all that apply, including the Equity in Nutrition Travel Award if you are eligible and wish to be considered for this award. 

Note: All abstracts will undergo a blind review for acceptance and eligibility for the various abstract awards.  Abstracts that are also being submitted for consideration of an Equity in Nutrition Travel Award will undergo a separate review by the CNS EDI subgroup to identify the 10 Equity in Nutrition Travel Award recipients.

Equity in Nutrition Travel Award Adjudication process

Abstracts that are submitted for consideration of an Equity in Nutrition Travel award will be reviewed by a subgroup of the CNS Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion subgroup. These applications will be treated as confidential.

Review Criteria:

1. Meets all eligibility criteria:

• Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC), LGBTQ2S+ and / or people with disabilities
• Full-time student in an accredited undergraduate, graduate, or professional academic or clinical training program related to nutrition at a Canadian institution or within 8 months (2024/05-Present) of Degree Received Date.  Post-Doctoral Fellows within 8 months of Degree Received Date (2024/05 - Present) are welcome to apply; note that priority will be given to full-time students in an accredited undergraduate, graduate, or professional academic or clinical training programs.  
• Submitted an accepted abstract by the January 31, 2025 deadline for the CNS Annual Conference Poster Program *
• Confirmation from supervisor that no other sources of travel funding is available
• Commitment to attend the full conference

2.    Personal Statement - (300 words or less) that demonstrates:

• Confirmation of financial need
• How attendance at the conference will benefit current program of study / future career pathway
• How the experience may benefit CNS and/or the field of nutrition.

In identifying the 10 recipients, the reviewers will strive to select a slate of incumbents who are representative of:

• A range of diversity groups (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC), LGBTQ2S+ and / or people with disabilities)
• A range of training levels (undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral trainees)
• The various conference streams (clinical, public health, regulatory, biomedical)