Since they were launched in 2005, Nature's awards for mentoring in science have rewarded outstanding research mentors in Britain, Germany, Japan, Australia and South Africa. The competition is held within one country each year, in the belief that mentoring reflects not just notions of good scientific practice and creativity that are universal, but also scientific traditions and cultures that are, at least to a degree, national. (For details of past competitions, see http://go.nature.com/Rccbo4. For our guide to outstanding mentoring, see Nature 447, 791–797; 2007.)

This year's competition is taking place in Canada. Two prizes of Can$10,000 (US$9,900) will be awarded, one for a mid-career mentor and one for lifetime achievement in mentoring.

Nominations are now open, with a closing date of 30 June 2010. The prizes will be awarded at the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies annual meeting in Toronto, Ontario, in November.

Contenders may nominate themselves or be nominated by colleagues and ex-colleagues. Nominations for a candidate must include independent testimonials from at least five researchers who have been mentored by the nominee, not all over the same period. Full details and nomination forms can be found at http://go.nature.com/CKbeC4.

We look forward to hearing about Canada's outstanding mentors.