Annual Conference Equity in Nutrition Travel Award
The Canadian Nutrition Society (CNS) is committed to advancing equity, justice and belongingness and to 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, including barriers to participation in the Society and its events.
Learn more in the CNS Commitment to Advancing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
2027 Equity in Nutrition Travel Awards
The CNS Annual Conference will take place in Winnipeg, Manitoba, from April 29–May 1, 2027.
CNS will offer 10 Equity in Nutrition Travel Awards to support members of equity-deserving groups in attending the Annual Conference. If additional funding becomes available, CNS may increase the number of awards offered.
Eligibility
Applicants must meet all of the following requirements:
- Identify as Black, Indigenous, a Person of Colour (BIPOC), LGBTQ2S+ and/or a person with a disability.
- Be a full-time student in an accredited undergraduate, graduate, professional academic or clinical training program related to nutrition at a Canadian institution, or have received their degree within 8 months of the February 1, 2027 abstract submission deadline (degree received on or after June 1, 2026).
- Post-Doctoral Fellows who received their degree on or after June 1, 2026 are also eligible to apply. Priority will be given to full-time students enrolled in accredited undergraduate, graduate, professional academic or clinical training programs.
- Submit an abstract to the CNS Annual Conference by February 1, 2027 at NOON ET, with the abstract subsequently accepted for presentation.*
- Provide confirmation from their supervisor that no other sources of travel funding are available.
- Commit to attending the full conference.
- Have not received a CNS Travel and Registration Award between 2022 and 2026.
Late-Breaking/Encore Abstracts
*CNS will issue a call for Late-Breaking/Encore abstracts from mid-February to early March. These abstracts will only be eligible for an Equity in Nutrition Travel Award if additional awards remain available after the initial 10 awards have been distributed.
Award Package
Equity in Nutrition Travel Award recipients will have their conference registration fees waived and will receive travel and accommodation support based on the distance required to attend the CNS Annual Conference.
|
Distance to Conference |
Travel & Accommodation Support |
|---|---|
|
300 km or less |
$600 |
|
301–1,000 km |
$800 |
|
1,001–4,000 km |
$1,000 |
|
4,001 km or more |
$1,200 |
How to Apply
Step 1: Prepare Your Supporting Documents
Before beginning your abstract submission, prepare the following documents:
Supervisor Letter
Provide a signed letter on letterhead from your supervisor confirming that:
- you are a full-time trainee enrolled in a nutrition-related program or received your degree on or after June 1, 2026; and
- you do not have access to other funding to support your conference attendance.
The letter must be uploaded at the time of abstract submission.
Personal Statement
Provide a personal statement of 300 words or less describing:
- your financial need;
- how attending the conference will benefit your current program of study and/or future career pathway; and
- how the experience may ultimately benefit CNS and/or the field of nutrition.
The statement must be provided at the time of abstract submission.
Confidentiality
The supervisor letter and personal statement will only be shared with the CNS Equity, Diversity and Inclusion review subgroup responsible for selecting Equity in Nutrition Travel Award recipients. Application materials will be treated as confidential.
Step 2: Submit Your Abstract and Select the Award
Submit your abstract to the CNS Annual Conference by February 1, 2027 at NOON ET.
During abstract submission, you will be asked whether you wish to have your abstract considered for any CNS awards. Please select all awards for which you are eligible, including the Equity in Nutrition Travel Award if you wish to be considered.
Important
All abstracts will undergo a blind review for conference acceptance and eligibility for applicable CNS abstract awards.
Applications for the Equity in Nutrition Travel Award will undergo a separate review by a subgroup of the CNS Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee to identify the award recipients.
Adjudication Process
Applications submitted for consideration for an Equity in Nutrition Travel Award will be reviewed by a subgroup of the CNS Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Applications will be treated as confidential.
Review Criteria
Eligibility
Reviewers will confirm that applicants meet all eligibility requirements, including:
- membership in one or more of the identified equity-deserving groups;
- eligible student, trainee or recent graduate status;
- submission of an abstract by the February 1, 2027 at NOON ET deadline and subsequent acceptance for presentation;
- confirmation that no other travel funding is available;
- commitment to attend the full conference; and
- no previous CNS Travel and Registration Award received between 2022 and 2026.
Personal Statement
The personal statement will be reviewed based on:
- demonstrated financial need;
- how attendance at the conference will benefit the applicant’s current program of study and/or future career pathway; and
- how the experience may benefit CNS and/or the field of nutrition.
Selection of Recipients
In identifying the 10 recipients, reviewers will strive to select a group that reflects:
- a range of equity-deserving groups, including Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC), LGBTQ2S+ and/or people with disabilities;
- a range of training levels, including undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral trainees; and
- the various conference streams, including clinical, public health, regulatory and biomedical nutrition.