Wyss Fellowship Program

The Wyss Foundation, a private charitable foundation dedicated to land conservation in the InterMountain west, is accepting proposals for its 2011 fellowship program.

Nonprofit organizations working on land conservation issues in eastern Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico are encouraged to apply to host a fellow.

The two-year fellowship program is designed to provide training and campaign experience for future conservation leaders. Sponsoring organizations contribute staff time to mentor and monitor the fellow's work and cover overhead expenses as well as 20 percent of the fellow's salary and benefits. The Wyss Foundation will provide host organizations with a grant for project expenses and travel as well as the remaining 80 percent of the fellow's salary and benefits.

Host organizations are responsible for selecting and hiring the fellow in consultation with foundation staff. Current employees of the sponsoring organization are not eligible for the program.

Visit the Wyss Foundation Web site for complete program information and application instructions.

Coral Reef Conservation Fund

Administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in partnership with the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program, the Coral Reef Conservation Fund provides grants to public-private partnerships working to reduce and prevent degradation of coral reefs and associated reef habitats (e.g., seagrass beds, mangroves, etc).

Funding is available for conservation projects in Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Projects must implement watershed management plans and local action strategies designed to improve water quality, enhance coral reef ecosystem resilience, and improve the management of protected marine areas that harbor key coral reef ecosystem components and functions.

Funding is also available for activities that support the priority goals and objectives with respect to international coral reef locations identified in NOAA CRCP's International Strategy.

Amount: $20,000 - $70,000 (matching required)

Date due: December 15, 2010

For more information, click here.

NSF Major Research Instrumentation

The Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI) serves to increase access to shared scientific and engineering instruments for research and research training in our Nation's institutions of higher education, museums, science centers, and not-for-profit organizations. This program especially seeks to improve the quality and expand the scope of research and research training in science and engineering, by providing shared instrumentation that fosters the integration of research and education in research-intensive learning environments. Development and acquisition of research instrumentation for shared inter- and/or intra-organizational use are encouraged, as are development efforts that leverage the strengths of private sector partners to build instrument development capacity at academic institutions.To accomplish these goals, the MRI program assists with the acquisition or development of shared research instrumentation that is, in general, too costly and/or not appropriate for support through other NSF programs. Instruments are expected to be operational for regular research use by the end of the award period.

For the purposes of the MRI program, proposals must be for either acquisition or development of a single instrument or for equipment that, when combined, serves as an integrated research instrument (physical or virtual). The MRI program does not support the acquisition or development of a suite of instruments to outfit research laboratories/facilities or to conduct independent research activities simultaneously.

Amount: $100,000 - $4m

Due date: January 27, 2011

For more information, click here.

6th Annual Coastal Conference in partnership with Oregon Sea Grant

The 6th Annual Heceta Head Coastal Conference will be held in partnership with the Oregon Sea Grant on October 28 - 29 at the Florence Events Center.  The them for this year's conference is "Oregon's Ocean: Working Waterfronts". 

For more information, click here.

Discovery Research K-12 (STEM focus)

The Discovery Research K-12 (DR K-12) program seeks to enable significant advances in student and teacher learning of the STEM disciplines. Projects funded under this solicitation begin with a research question or hypothesis about how to improve preK-12 STEM learning and teaching and then develop, implement, and study effects of innovative educational resources, models, or technologies. DR K-12 invites proposals that meet a variety of educational needs, from those that address immediate challenges facing preK-12 STEM education to those that anticipate the future when expectations, roles and resources are likely to be aligned in different ways. DR K-12 especially encourages proposals that challenge existing assumptions about learning and teaching within or across STEM fields, envision needs of learners in 10-15 years, and consider new and innovative ways to support learning. 

Project goals, designs, and working strategies should be informed by prior research and practical experience drawn from all relevant disciplines and they should focus on concepts and skills that are central to STEM disciplines. Tthe DR K-12 program has the more focused goal of fostering the creation of a new generation of resources, models, and tools that take full advantage of the capabilities of information and communications technologies to enhance the education of K-12 learners. The DR K-12 program accepts proposals for exploratory projects, full research and development projects, and synthesis projects, as well as for conferences and workshops related to the mission of the program.

Amount: Varies

Date due: Letter of Intent (11/05/10); Full proposal (01/06/11)

For more information, click here.

NOAA Pacific Northwest Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Program

This Federal funding opportunity meets NOAA’s Mission Goal to protect, restore and

manage the use of coastal and ocean resources through ecosystems-based management. Proposals should address one of the three areas of interest: (1) Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences for Students; (2) Professional Development for Teachers related to Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences; (3) Exemplary Programs combining Teacher Professional Development with long-term classroom-integrated Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences for their Students.

Amount: $60,000

Date due: October 8, 2010

For more information, click here.

NASA Undergraduate Opportunity

NASA is offering undergraduate students an opportunity to test an experiment in weightless science as part of the agency's Reduced Gravity Education Flight Program. Proposals are due by Oct. 27.

The program, managed by the Johnson Space Flight Center in Houston, provides aspiring explorers a chance to propose, design and fabricate a reduced gravity experiment. Selected teams will get to test and evaluate their experiment aboard a microgravity aircraft. The specially modified jet aircraft flies approximately 30 roller-coaster-like climbs and dips to produce periods of micro and hyper-gravity, ranging from weightlessness to three times the force of Earth's gravity.

"This project gives students a head start in preparing for future ventures by allowing them to do hands-on research and engineering in a truly reduced gravity laboratory," Program Manager Douglas Goforth said.

Interested teams also should submit a letter of intent by Sept. 22. This step is optional, but serves as an introductory notice that a team plans to submit a proposal for the competition. All applicants must be U.S. citizens. Full-time students must be at least 18 years old.

NASA will announce the selected participants on Dec. 8. The actual flights will take place in summer 2011. Selected teams may invite a full-time, accredited journalist to fly with them and document the experiment and gravity-defying experience.

With this program, NASA continues its tradition of investing in the nation's education programs with the goal of strengthening the future workforce.

For more information, click here.

Climate Literacy

The goal of this funding opportunity is to support K-12 education projects that advance inquiry-based Earth System Science learning and stewardship directly tied to the school curriculum, with a particular interest in increasing climate literacy. To address this goal, this solicitation will support service-learning and professional development projects related to NOAA's mission in the areas of ocean, coastal, Great Lakes, weather and climate sciences and stewardship. A successful project will catalyze change in K-12 education at the state, regional and national level through development of new programs and/or revision of existing programs to improve the environmental literacy of K-12 teachers and their students. A successful project will also leverage NOAA assets, although use of non- NOAA assets is also encouraged. The target audiences for this funding opportunity are K-12 students, pre- and in-service teachers, and providers of pre-service teacher education and in-service teacher professional development. There is a special interest in projects that address reaching groups traditionally underserved and/or underrepresented in Earth System science. One group that has been identified as underserved is elementary level teachers and students. This funding opportunity has two priorities, which are equal in their importance for funding. Priority 1 is for innovative proof-of-concept projects that are one to two years in duration, for a total minimum request of $200,000 and a total maximum request of $500,000. Priority 2 is for full-scale implementation of educational projects that are three to five years in duration, for a total minimum request of $500,001 and a total maximum request of $1,500,000.

Amount: Varies (see priorities noted above)

Date due: January 12, 2011

For more information, click here.

Office of Naval Research STEM initiative for K-12 & Higher Education

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) mission is to: foster an interest in, knowledge of, and study in science, technology, engineering and mathematics nationwide to ensure an educated and well-prepared workforce, which meets the naval and national competitive needs. In support of this mission, the following five goals have been identified:

• Inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. [Grades K-10]
• Engage students in STEM-related hands-on learning activities using Navy content. [Grades 3-12]
• Educate students to be well-prepared for employment in STEM disciplines in the Navy or in supporting academic institutions or the Naval contractor community. [Higher Education]
• Employ, retain and develop Naval STEM professionals. [Higher Education, Professional Development, Faculty]
• Collaborate across Naval STEM programs to maximize benefits to participants and the Navy.

The purpose of this announcement is to receive proposals in support of the Office of Naval Research’s mission of scientific outreach and education in working to develop the next generation of scientists capable of providing support to the continued development of critical technologies in support of the Department of Defense.

Amount: $200,000/year for 3 years

Date due: September 30, 2011

For more information, click here.

University Research Instrumentation Program (Department of Defense)

The Department of Defense (DoD) announces the Fiscal Year 2011 Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP), a part of the University Research Initiative (URI). DURIP is designed to improve the capabilities of U.S. institutions of higher education (hereafter referred to as “universities”) to conduct research and to educate scientists and engineers in areas important to national defense, by providing funds for the acquisition of research equipment. This announcement seeks proposals to purchase instrumentation in support of research in areas of interest to the DoD. A central purpose of the DURIP is to provide equipment to enhance research-related education. Therefore proposals must address the impact of the equipment on the institution’s ability to educate students, through research, in disciplines important to DoD missions.

Amount: $50,000 - $1,000,000 (equipment grants)

Date due: September 14, 2010

For more information, click here.

Engaged STEM Learning: From Promising to Pervasive Practices

Engaged STEM Learning: From Promising to Pervasive Practices
March 24-26, 2011
Miami, Florida
Call for Proposals Deadline: August 31, 2010

Project Kaleidoscope (PKAL), in partnership with AAC&U, announces the 2011 Network for Academic Renewal conference, Engaged STEM Learning: From Promising to Pervasive Practices. This interactive, hands-on conference will help campuses adapt, scale up, and sustain effective practices in STEM teaching and learning.

The conference is designed for participants who wish to develop faculty and institutional leadership in STEM reform, broaden student participation and success in STEM fields, better assess engaged STEM learning in both the majors and general education, and connect the revitalization of STEM learning with ongoing campus work in Liberal Education and America’s Promise (LEAP).

We invite proposals on five key themes:

• Expanding the STEM Pipeline through Student Success
• Creating Integrative and Interdisciplinary STEM Environments
• Assessing STEM Learning
• Enhancing STEM Learning through Technology
• Scaling Up and Sustaining Pedagogies of Engagement

Learn more about this conference and the call for proposals online.

For more information, please call 202-387-3760 or write to network@aacu.org.

Community Salmon Fund grants program

Administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Community Salmon Fund (CSF) is a small grants program designed to stimulate smaller-scale, community-oriented habitat restoration and protection projects in support of salmon recovery in Washington State.

CSF provides funding through a competitive application process for projects that have a substantial benefit to watershed health and are consistent with local and/or regional salmon recovery plans. Projects are required to have a strong community involvement component as a way to encourage landowners, business owners, and the community at large to become engaged in salmon recovery.

Amount: $75,000

Date due: June 22, 2010

For more information, click here.

BLM-WA Migratory Bird Monitoring and Inventory, Sandy, Oregon

This project will support long term monitoring of bird populations and demographics which will in turn provide valuable information to federal agencies in making future land management decisions.

Amount: $100,000

Date due: June 7, 2010

For more information, click here.

Native Plants Conservation Initiative Grants

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is soliciting proposals for the Native Plant Conservation Initiative grants cycle.

The NPCI grant program is conducted in cooperation with the Plant Conservation Alliance, a partnership between the foundation, ten federal agencies, and more than 270 non-governmental organizations.

There is a strong preference for "on-the-ground" projects that provide plant conservation benefit according to the priorities established by one or more of the funding federal agencies and to the Plant Conservation Alliance strategies for plant conservation. In 2010, NPCI is particularly interested in projects that focus on the effects of climate change. Projects that include a pollinator conservation component are also encouraged.

Amount: Varies

Date due: July 1, 2010

For more information, click here.

Science Education Partnership Award

National Center for Research Resources encourages applications to its Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) program for the development and evaluation of innovative research education programs to improve PreK-12 research career opportunities and the community's understanding of the health science advances supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded clinical and basic research. SEPA encourages dynamic partnerships between biomedical and clinical researchers and PreK-12 teachers and schools and other interested organizations. Particular importance will be given to applications that target PreK-12 and/or ISE/media topics that may not be addressed by existing curriculum, community-based or ISE/media activities.

Amount: $250,000

Date due: June 22, 2010

For more information, click here.

Pulling Together Initiative

Administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Pulling Together Initiative seeks proposals designed to help control invasive plant species, mostly through the work of public/private partnerships such as Cooperative Weed Management Areas. PTI grants provide an opportunity to initiate working partnerships and demonstrate successful collaborative efforts such as the development of permanent funding sources for Weed Management Areas.

To be competitive, a project must prevent, manage, or eradicate invasive and noxious plants through a coordinated program of public/private partnerships; and increase public awareness of the adverse impacts of invasive and noxious plants.

Amount: Varies

Date due: June 30, 2010

For more information, click here.

Instrumentation & Facilities Program Grants (NSF)

The Instrumentation and Facilities Program in the Division of Earth Sciences (EAR/IF) supports meritorious requests for infrastructure that promotes research and education in areas supported by the division. EAR/IF will consider proposals for acquisition or upgrade of research equipment that will advance laboratory and field investigations, and student research training opportunities in the earth sciences. The maximum request is $750,000. The maximum request for upgrade of research group computing facilities is $75,000.

EAR/IF will consider proposals for development of new instrumentation, analytical techniques, or software that will extend current research and research training capabilities in the earth sciences. EAR/IF will consider proposals for support of national or regional multiuser facilities that will make complex and expensive instruments or systems of instruments broadly available to the Earth sciences research and student communities. EAR/IF will consider proposals for support for early career investigators to facilitate expedient operation of new research infrastructure proposed by the next generation of leaders in the Earth Sciences. This opportunity allows for submission of a proposal for Acquisition or Upgrade of Research Equipment that includes budget line items associated with support of a new full-time technician who will be dedicated to manage the instrument(s) being requested. Any request for technical support under this opportunity is limited to 3 years' duration and a declining schedule of maximum annual funding as follows. Support is available through grants or cooperative agreements awarded in response to investigator-initiated proposals.

Amount: $750,000

Due date: July 19, 2010

For more information, click here.

Oregon Sea Grant Aquaculture Research Opportunity

The Oregon Sea Grant is seeking proposals for the aquaculture research competition which is designed to support the development of environmentally and economically sustainable ocean, coastal, or Great Lakes aquaculture by funding research, outreach and management. Proposed projects must support the goals stated in Sea Grant's National Strategic Plan (2009-2013) Focus Area of Safe and Sustainable Seafood Supply: a sustainable supply of safe seafood to meet public demand; a healthy domestic seafood industry that produces, processes, and markets seafood responsibly and efficiently; and informed consumers who understand the importance of ecosystem health and sustainable harvesting practices to the future of our domestic fisheries, who appreciate the health benefits of seafood consumption, and who understand how to evaluate the safety of the seafood products they buy. Sea Grant's National Strategic Plan is available at http://www.seagrant.noaa.gov/other/admininfo/documents/0209_stratplan.pdf . These goals are consistent with those of the NOAA Aquaculture Program.

If you plan to submit a proposal, you are encouraged to contact Steve Brandt or Julie Risien at Oregon Sea Grant (seagrant.admin@oregonstate.edu 541 737-2714) if you want to discuss your ideas in relation to National Sea Grant Goals. There is no preliminary proposal stage. Full proposals are to be submitted via the state Sea Grant program. For investigators in Oregon, submit full proposals online via the Oregon Sea Grant proposal submission Webnibus: http://seagrant.oregonstate.edu/funding/webnibus.html.

Amount: Varies

Date due: May 25, 2010

For more information, click here.

Oregon Sea Grant opportunity

Oregon Sea Grant would like to alert you to an upcoming RFP that will be released by the National Sea Grant Program for aquaculture research. We anticipate the release of the RFP in the coming week with a relatively short turn-around time for submission of full proposals.

We will send out another email once the announcement of federal funding opportunity is published in the Federal Register and post the information on our website at http://www.seagrant.oregonstate.edu

Climate Change & Citizen Science

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuge System and National Conservation Training Center, in partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the National Wildlife Refuge Association, are inviting applications from organizations interested in initiating the Nature of Learning program in their communities.

The Nature of Learning is a community-based environmental education initiative that seeks to use national wildlife refuges as outdoor classrooms to promote a greater understanding of local conservation issues.

For 2010, the program theme is Climate Change and Citizen Science. Grants of up to $10,000 each will be awarded to support education projects focused on the causes and effects of climate change on refuges and to build citizen science partnership programs.

Academic institutions or nonprofit organizations, including "Friends" organizations, cooperative and interpretive associations, Audubon chapters, youth organizations, etc. are eligible to apply. Programs must involve a partnership among a local school(s), community group (e.g., a Friends Organization, nature clubs), and a national wildlife refuge.

Amount: $10,000

Date due: June 14, 2010

For more information, click here.

Math & Science Partnerships (MSP)

The Math and Science Partnership (MSP) program is a major research and development effort that supports innovative partnerships to improve K-12 student achievement in mathematics and science. MSP projects are expected to raise the achievement levels of all students and significantly reduce achievement gaps in the mathematics and science performance of diverse student populations. In order to improve the mathematics and science achievement of the Nation's students, MSP projects contribute to what is known in mathematics and science education and serve as models that have a sufficiently strong evidence/research base to improve the mathematics and science education outcomes for all students. NSF's MSP program coordinates its effort with programs of the U.S. Department of Education in the expectation that effective innovations in mathematics and science education will be disseminated into wider practice.

Through this solicitation, NSF seeks to support five types of awards:

• Targeted Partnerships focus on studying and solving teaching and learning issues within a specific grade range or at a critical juncture in education, and/or within a specific disciplinary focus in mathematics or the sciences;
• Institute Partnerships - Teacher Institutes for the 21st Century focus on meeting national needs for teacher leaders/master teachers who have deep knowledge of disciplinary content for teaching and are fully prepared to be school- or district-based intellectual leaders in mathematics or the sciences;
• MSP-Start Partnerships are for awardees new to the MSP program, especially from minority-serving institutions, community colleges and primarily undergraduate institutions, to support the necessary data analysis, project design, evaluation and team building activities needed to develop a full MSP Targeted or Institute Partnership;
• Phase II Partnerships are for prior NSF MSP Partnership awardees to continue implementation on specific innovative areas of their work where evidence of the potential for significant positive impact is clearly documented. The intent is that there will be focused efforts to carry out the necessary research to advance knowledge and understanding in the specific area(s); and
• Research, Evaluation and Technical Assistance (RETA) projects (a) study the relationships among MSP activities and student learning using theoretically informed, methodologically rigorous methods; (b) develop and validate instruments of teacher or student knowledge that MSPs and others can use to assess the impact of their work, or (c) provide technical assistance to MSP projects to help them rigorously evaluate their work.

Amount: Varies depending upon type of project

Date due: July 8, 2010

For more information, click here.

Fostering Interdisciplinary Research on Education (FIRE)

FIRE is a new strand of the Research and Evaluation on Education in Science and Engineering (REESE) program (NSF 09-601) and it is anticipated that after this first competition, FIRE will be incorporated into the REESE solicitation. The FIRE program seeks to facilitate the process by which scholars can cross disciplinary boundaries to acquire the skills and knowledge that would improve their abilities to conduct rigorous research on STEM learning and education.

The primary goal of the strand is to facilitate the development of innovative theoretical, methodological, and analytic approaches to understanding complex STEM education issues of national importance and, by so doing, make progress toward solving them. A secondary goal of the strand is to broaden and deepen the pool of investigators engaged in STEM educational research. In order to address this goal, investigators must pair with a mentoring scientist in a to-be-learned field of interest. Proposals therefore have both a research and a professional development component. Investigators may apply at any point in their post-graduate careers.

Amount: $400,000 (across two years)

Date due: May 20, 2010

For more information, click here.

Acres for America

Acres for America, a partnership between Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, annually provides funding for projects that conserve large landscape-level areas that are important habitat for fish, wildlife, and plants through acquisition of interest in real property.

The goal of the Acres for America program is to offset the footprint of Wal-Mart's domestic facilities on at least an acre-by-acre basis through acquisitions of interest in real property. Endorsement of a proposed acquisition by appropriate federal, state, and local government agencies and by nonprofit organizations that the land is of high conservation value is a primary program consideration. Preference will be given to acquisitions that are part of published conservation plans, State Wildlife Action Plans, or Endangered Species Act Recovery Plans.

Amount: Varies

Date due: April 1, 2010 (Pre-proposal)

For more information, click here.

Eastern Oregon Noxious Weed Projects

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the Eastern Oregon Noxious Weed Projects grant program. Wild and scenic river corridors are popular recreation areas and support a wide array of threatened, endangered, and sensitive plant, animal, and fish species. In recent years, invasive exotic plant species (noxious weeds) have been on the increase in the river corridors, their tributaries, and associated federal and non-federal lands. Preventing, monitoring, and controlling the spread of noxious weeds is vital to the protection and conservation of native plants and animals inhabiting these wild and scenic river corridors as well as to the preservation of these lands' inherent natural beauty. This project focuses on weed control efforts on these lands by implementing coordinated detection and treatment projects including biological control, surveying and inventorying, and preventing and/or limiting the spread and impact of noxious weeds which compete with, and displace, desirable native domestic plant species.

Amount: $155,000

Date due: March 26, 2010

For more information, click here.

Climate Change Education Partnership (CCEP)

The Climate Change Education Partnership (CCEP) program seeks to establish a coordinated national network of regionally- or thematically-based partnerships devoted to increasing the adoption of effective, high quality educational programs and resources related to the science of climate change and its impacts. Each CCEP is required to be of a large enough scale that they will have catalytic or transformative impact that cannot be achieved through other core NSF program awards. The CCEP program is one facet of a larger NSF collection of awards related to Climate Change Education (CCE) that has two goals: (1) preparing a new generation of climate scientists, engineers, and technicians equipped to provide innovative and creative approaches to understanding global climate change and to mitigate its impact; and, (2) preparing today's U.S. citizens to understand global climate change and its implications in ways that can lead to informed, evidence-based responses and solutions. Each CCEP must include representation from at least each of the following communities: climate scientists, experts in the learning sciences, and practitioners from within formal or informal education venues. This combined expertise will insure that educational programs and resources developed through the activities of each CCEP reflects current understanding about climate science, the best theoretical approaches for teaching such a complex topic, and the practical means necessary to reach the intended learner audience(s). Each CCEP should be organized around either geographic regions that share similar climate change impacts, or major climate impact themes (e.g., sea-level rise).

Amount: $750,000 - $1m (over 2 years)

Date due: April 23, 2010 (Letter of intent); May 24, 2010 (Full proposal)

For more information, click here.

NASA GCCE grant released

The Global Climate Change Education (GCCE) project extends the results of NASA’s Earth Science Program to the education community by sponsoring unique and stimulating opportunities for global climate and Earth system science education. The goals of the GCCE project are to use NASA’s unique contributions to climate and Earth system science to:

• Goal 1: improve the teaching and learning about global climate change in elementary and secondary schools, on college campuses, and through lifelong learning;
• Goal 2: increase the number of people, particularly high school and undergraduate students,using NASA Earth observation data, Earth system models, and/or simulations to investigate and analyze global climate change issues;
• Goal 3: increase the number of undergraduate students prepared for employment and/or to enter graduate school in technical fields relevant to global climate change.

Amount: Varies

Date due: April 28, 2010

For more information, click here.

Global Climate Change Funding Opportunity

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Langley Research Center (LaRC) is releasing a Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN) soliciting proposals for "Global Climate Change Education (GCCE): Research Experiences, Modeling and Data". The objective of the effort is to extend the results of NASA’s Earth Science Program to the education community by sponsoring unique and stimulating opportunities for global climate and Earth system science education.

GCCE is designed to improve the quality of the Nation’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education and enhance students’ and teachers’ literacy about global climate and Earth system change from elementary grades to life-long learners. Each funded proposal is expected to make use of NASA’s unique contributions in climate science to enhance learners' academic experiences and/or to improve educators’ abilities to engage their students. The GCCE project will consider proposals in the following two funding categories:

(1) Funding Category R: Global Climate Change Science Research Experiences for Undergraduate or Community College Students and Pre- or In-Service Teachers including those in nontraditional teacher licensure programs;

(2) Funding Category D/M: Using NASA Earth system data, interactive models and/or simulations to Strengthen Teaching and Learning about Global Climate Change.

Projects may be proposed for durations of up to 3 years. Notices of intent (NOIs) are strongly encouraged and are to be submitted electronically through NSPIRES at http://nspires.nasaprs.com.

The CAN will be released in mid-February.

For more information, click here.

Early-Career STEM Summer Leadership Institute

Project Kaleidoscope is seeking early-career STEM faculty engaged with transforming undergraduate STEM education in their classrooms and departments to apply for the 2010 PKAL Summer Leadership Institute. The 2010 Summer Leadership Institute is designed to enhance the leadership capacity and ability for early career faculty to act as agents of change within their home institutions or professional societies to reform STEM education.

Institute participants will have opportunity to:

• engage in discussions about national, regional and local challenges and opportunities facing faculty engaged in improving STEM education
• learn from experience how to deal with the political dimensions of change: how to influence, negotiate and communicate, as well as the importance of understanding the institutional culture as well as the changing context for leadership
• reflect privately and with mentors and peers on the personal responsibilities of being an agent-of-change, and on one’s potential for leadership, to make a lasting difference for the communities of which you are a part.

The Summer Institute will be held July 17 – 22, 2010 in the heart of the Rocky Mountains at the Baca Campus of Colorado College in Crestone, Colorado.

More information is posted at:http://www.pkal.org/activities/2010PKALSummerFacultyLeadershipInstitute.cfm.

NSF Geoscience Education

The Geoscience Education (GeoEd) Program is part of a portfolio of programs within the Directorate for Geosciences that seeks to increase public understanding of Earth system science and foster recruitment, training, and retention of a diverse and skilled geoscience workforce for the future. The program achieves these goals by supporting innovative or transformative projects that (1) improve the quality and effectiveness of formal and informal geoscience education at all educational levels, (2) increase the number of students pursuing geoscience education and career paths, (3) broaden participation of traditionally underrepresented groups in the geosciences, and (4) promote public engagement in Earth system science.

In fiscal year 2010 and FY 2012, the GeoEd program invites proposals in four main areas: (1) advancing public Earth system science literacy, particularly through strengthening geoscience education in grades K-14 and informal education settings; (2) fostering development and training of the diverse scientific and technical workforce required for 21st century geoscience careers; (3) utilizing modern technologies to facilitate and increase access to geoscience education and/or develop innovative approaches for using geoscience research activities and data for educational purposes; and (4) establishing regional networks and alliances that bring together scientists, formal and informal science educators, as well as other stakeholders, in support of improving Earth system science education and broadening participation in the geosciences.

Date due: March 8, 2010

For more information, click here.

NSF Shared Instrumentation Grant Program

The National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) Shared Instrument Grant program encourages applications from groups of National Institutes of Health (NIH)-supported investigators to purchase or upgrade a single item of expensive, specialized, commercially available instrumentation or an integrated system that costs at least $100,000. The maximum award is $600,000.

Types of instruments supported include (1) confocal and electron microscopes, (2) biomedical imagers, (3) mass spectrometers, (4) DNA sequencers, (5) biosensors, (6) cell sorters, (7) x-ray diffraction systems, and (8) nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers, among others. NCRR intends to commit approximately $43 million in fiscal year 2011, to fund approximately 125 new awards. Because the cost of the various instruments will vary, it is anticipated that the size of awards will also vary.

Date due: March 23, 2010

For more information, click here.