Internal Submission Deadline: May 15, 2015

Objectives
• To create a vibrant and multidisciplinary network of partnerships amongst researchers, government agencies and community groups
• To provide Insight by mobilizing knowledge from social sciences perspectives to improve our understanding of water’s role in Canadian society and economy.
• To strengthen connections by facilitating a multidirectional flow of knowledge amongst researchers and partners to promote more efficient and sustainable water management.
• To provide high-quality training experiences for students and practitioners with interests in water policy decision-making and management.

WEPGN seeks a diverse array of projects and is open to a broad range of social science based research approaches to the following themes and areas:

Water and the Economy
This research will contribute to improving our understanding of water’s multi-faceted contributions to Canada’s economy. Priority research concentrations for this theme include: enhancing our understanding of the valuing of water’s ecological goods and services; innovative policy instruments to promote efficient water use.

Institutions and Community
This research will build knowledge about stakeholders' interactions with water-use institutions and identify features of institutions and governance processes that will protect Canada’s water resources efficiently, effectively and fairly. Priority research concentrations for this theme include: addressing First Nations’ and vulnerable communities’ water challenges; distributed governance, collaboration and water-resilient communities.

Knowledge and Decision-Making
This research will build knowledge from communities' experiences with water challenges and how different ways of knowing can contribute to improved decision-making and governance. Priority research concentrations for this theme include: managing threats to drinking water (e.g. agricultural runoff, fracking); integrated models to support improved decision-making.

Value
Up to a maximum of $35,000 annually

Duration
2.5 years (September 2015 – March 2018)

Deadlines
Application due at ORS – May 15, 2015
Application deadline – May 29, 2015 by 11:59 pm