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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Proactive Recruitment in Introductory Science and Mathematics (PRISM)

The goal of the program in Proactive Recruitment in Introductory Science and Mathematics is to strengthen the nation's scientific competitiveness by increasing the numbers of well-prepared, successful U.S. undergraduate majors and minors in science and mathematics. The program will fund innovative, potentially transformational partnerships between the mathematical sciences and other science disciplines that widen the cross section of the mathematical sciences to which freshman and sophomore students are exposed and that provide these students increased opportunities for research experiences involving the mathematical sciences.

Amount: $100,000 - $600,000 (for 3 to 5 years)

Date due: March 8, 2010

This program is predicated on the idea that early engagement with a broad spectrum of subject material within a STEM discipline leads to increased interest and persistence in scientific majors. Consequently, proposed activities should include the following three elements that address early engagement with science and mathematics: proactive recruitment, early research experiences, and mentoring and professional development.

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North Pacific Research Board grants

The North Pacific Research Board (NPRB) was created by Congress to recommend marine research activities for funding to conduct research activities on or relating to the fisheries or marine ecosystems in the North Pacific Ocean, Bering Sea, and Arctic Ocean (including any lesser related bodies of water).

Amount: Varies depending upon topic

Date due: December 4, 2009

Topics include marine mammals, fish, other aquatic life, eco-systems and oil spill recovery. Please consult the 2010 RFP and the NPRB Science Plan for further details on this year's research priorities.

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