Scholarships and funded projects

The RIISQ is proud to announce the four projects funded under its sixth call for proposals – titled ‘How to develop a systemic approach to water-related risks in a context of climate and geopolitical upheaval?’ – led by RIISQ members from three Quebec universities (INRS, UQAC, and UQAM):

• Systemic Impacts of Floods and Other Climate Hazards on Drinking Water Supply of Private Wells – Geneviève Bordeleau, INRS
• Roles of Municipal Elected Officials in the Communication and Risk Management of Hydrometeorological Hazards – Danielle Maltais, UQAC
• From Disruption to Anticipation: The OPI as a Lever for Flood Risk Governance between Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac and Gatineau – Daniel Germain, UQAM
• Re-establishing a Connection to Nature Among Youth Exposed to Floods: An Open Innovation Approach – Ève Pouliot, UQAC

The four selected projects stood out for their innovative and ambitious interdisciplinary and intersectoral approach. They involve 17 scientists from seven Quebec universities, one CEGEP, one high school, six cities, and seven RIISQ partners. Their research results will not only enhance the expertise of the regions involved in the projects but will also provide a scientific basis for discussions and decision-making across Quebec, Canada, and internationally.

Funding amount and project duration – As part of this call for proposals, a total of $800,000 is available to fund projects up to a maximum of $200,000 per project provided by the RIISQ, for a period of three (3) years, from January 2026 to January 2029.

Context – Over the past five years, the members of RIISQ have worked on several major fooding events in Québec (in 2019, 2020 and 2023). Such extreme climate events are increasing as is the need for appropriate food management (see glossary) and its improvement. Floods are systemic (cf. “systemic risks”, glossary) and complex, as they combine with other hazards such as extreme meteorological phenomena (e.g. forest fres, rainfall defcits or excesses) and an already complex socio-political context whose consequences are increasingly worrying for organizations, communities and individuals.

Discussions during the RIISQ symposium on October 7, 2024, led to three main conclusions :

• The new food zone mapping announced by the Québec government for the year 2025 will a have major impact on the organizations, communities and individuals concerned that has yet to be fully understood;
• In a context of systemic risks, the psychosocial, fnancial and health impacts on communities and stakeholders are increasing and becoming more and more worrying;
• To avoid working in silos, authorities must adopt an all-encompassing, cross-sectoral, even transdisciplinary vision to promote and reinforce a systemic approach for quality risk management.

As a result, the RIISQ launched its sixth call for proposals (AP6) to strengthen intersectoral collaboration in preparing for, adapting to, managing and responding to systemic risks associated with hydrometeorological hazards in Québec. Vulnerable populations are the ones most afected by the impacts of climate change. It is therefore essential to take into account the driving forces of inequality and processes of inclusion in the management of climate disruptions at all stages (before, during and after fooding events) in order to reduce the impact on vulnerable populations.

Call for Proposals documents:

• Application Guide
• Project Proposal Form
• Budget
• Abridged CV template

Important dates:

• Launch of the 6th RIISQ call for Proposals: April 3, 2025
• Project networking workshop: May 1, 2025
• Application deadline: June 29, 2025
• Submission of letters of commitment deadline: July 27, 2025
• Results announcement: October 27, 2025
• Project start date: January 5, 2026
• Project eligibility period: January 5, 2026 to January 4, 2029 

Details coming soon.

Details coming soon.

Details coming soon.

Details coming soon.