Eligibility

• Applicant requirement
  • Must be a full-time graduate student in McMaster Engineering, either domestic or international, at the time of application and the time of travel
  • May not have received the award previously
  • May not be used in combination with other GSA or Engineering travel awards
  • The award cannot be used for expenses related to fieldwork
  • Must be able to demonstrate interest, involvement, and/or commitment to equity issues in STEM
  • Preference will be given to PhD students and those nearing graduation, but all will be considered
• Eligible Conferences
  • Society of Women Engineers Conference
  • American Indigenous Science and Engineering Society (AISES) Conference
  • CSforALL Summit
  • Canadian Indigenous Science and Engineering Society National Gathering
  • National Society of Black Engineers Convention
  • Any other conference that fulfills the requirements of the EDI award

Selection criteria

• The selection criteria are based on the applicant’s motivation for attending the conference, the personal and professional benefits articulated, and the demonstrated experience with equity, allyship, and advocacy in STEM.

Requirements

• Award recipients must travel within the fiscal year of the award May 1 – April 30th.
• The conference or workshop must be approved by the Women in Engineering Committee prior to travel, and the conference may not be changed.
• Travel expenses must comply with the McMaster Travel Policy, and only expenses with appropriate receipts will be covered.
• Awardees should familiarize themselves with the travel policy prior to their trip.
• A 5-minute (maximum) video or written blog with at least one photo must be provided to the committee at the time expenses are declared to receive the award.
• The blog/video should:
  • Highlight the conference experience
  • Provide new ideas to be implemented at McMaster
  • May include interviews with participants or personal reflections
• McMaster Engineering may feature submissions on the Fireball Diaries Student Stories Platform or in future promotion of the travel award.
• The awardee agrees to:
  • Participate in the committee on an ongoing basis to help develop internal equity and inclusion policies
  • Participate in other events, where possible, including potential panel discussions organized by EGS or the Faculty

Submission Guidelines

• Before filling out the application form, please have the following information prepared:
  • Applicant information
  • Statement of motivation and personal/professional benefits (max 200 words)
  • Description of equity, allyship, and advocacy experience (max 200 words)

Recognition

• Travel grant
• Feature the recognition on the EGS website, newsletter, and social media

How to apply

• To apply for the EDI travel award, please complete your submission using this link:Submit Application
  

Deadline for submission

• The deadline for the EDT Travel Award is June 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST.

Note: Please ensure your details are accurate before submitting, as no changes or modifications will be considered after submission.

For further queries or information, please send an email to egsaward@mcmaster.ca.