Undergraduate Research & Mentoring in the Biological Sciences

The goal of the Undergraduate Research and Mentoring in the Biological Sciences (URM) program is to increase the number and diversity of individuals pursuing graduate studies in all areas of biological research supported by the NSF Directorate for Biological Sciences. Support will be provided to academic institutions to establish innovative programs to engage undergraduates in a year-round research and mentoring activity. Particular emphasis will be placed on broadening participation of members of groups historically underrepresented in science and engineering: African Americans, Alaska Natives, American Indians, Hispanic Americans, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, and persons with disabilities.

Amount: $1,000,000 across 5 years

Date due: April 26, 2010

For more information, click here.

Pacific Islands Marine Education & Training Mini-Grants

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA/NMFS) is soliciting competitive applications for the 2010 Pacific Islands Region Marine Education and Training Mini-Grant Program. Projects are being solicited to improve communication, education, and training on marine resource issues throughout the region and increase scientific education for marine-related professions among coastal community residents, including indigenous Pacific islanders, Native Hawaiians, and other underrepresented groups in the region.

Amount: $150,000

Date due: March 5, 2010

For more information, click here.

Oregon Math & Science Partnership Program

The purpose of the Oregon MSP program is to improve the academic achievement of students in the areas of mathematics and science by encouraging State educational agencies, institutions of higher education, local educational agencies, elementary schools, and secondary schools to collaborate. The goals of the Oregon MSP program are to:

• Support partnerships to increase the subject matter knowledge and teaching skills of cohorts of K-12 teachers of mathematics and/or science. A cohort may be made up of teachers within one eligible school district. Alternatively, a cohort may be made up of teachers selected from throughout an Education Service District, or from throughout the state. A cohort may also include teachers from non-eligible LEA’s, if the non-eligible LEA’s use their Title IA or Title IIA funds to support their teacher’s participation in grant activities. A cohort should be of a manageable size to ensure high quality professional development. Partnerships will bring together teachers with higher education mathematicians, scientists, and/or engineers to expand teachers' subject matter knowledge of mathematics and/or science teaching that is aligned with the Oregon mathematics and/or science academic content standards and enhances the ability of K-12 teachers to teach students these standards.
• Enhance professional development of K-12 teachers of mathematics and/or science as a career-long process. Partnerships will provide opportunities for advanced and ongoing professional development activities that improve K-12 teachers' subject matter knowledge that is aligned with the Oregon mathematics and/or science academic content standards and knowledge of how students learn particular content. Partnerships also will provide teachers with the opportunity to work with experienced teachers and disciplinary higher education faculty in mathematics, science, and/or engineering.
• Improve and expand training of mathematics and science teachers, including training such teachers in the effective integration of technology into curricula and instruction.
• Support the rigorous evaluation of programs regarding the impact of Oregon Title IIB MSP awards on the academic achievement of the students of teachers in these programs and ensure the results are widely accessible through electronic means.
• Develop more rigorous mathematics and science curricula that are aligned with Oregon’s state academic content mathematics and science standards and with the standards expected for postsecondary study in mathematics, science, and engineering.

Amount: $300,000/year for three years

Date due: April 26, 2010

For more information, click here.