U.S. -- Australia Virtual Environmental Partnership

The Youth Programs Division, Office of Citizen Exchanges, of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition for the new U.S.-Australia Virtual Environmental Partnership under the Global Connections and Exchange Program. Applicant organizations will identify their own partner organization in Australia. Bi-national teams will work together on joint projects to investigate and develop solutions to local, regional, or global environmental water resource issues by using online tools, videoconferencing, virtual workshops, and other advanced methods of communication. Through this exchange, participants will achieve competency in the chosen topic, expand their vision of the world, and gain perspectives that will help them succeed in the international arena. 

Amount: $100,000

Date due: June 4, 2012

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Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program supports active research participation by undergraduate students in any of the areas of research funded by the National Science Foundation. REU projects involve students in meaningful ways in ongoing research programs or in research projects specifically designed for the REU program. This solicitation features two mechanisms for support of student research: (1) REU Sites are based on independent proposals to initiate and conduct projects that engage a number of students in research. REU Sites may be based in a single discipline or academic department, or on interdisciplinary or multi-department research opportunities with a coherent intellectual theme. Proposals with an international dimension are welcome.

Amount: Varies

Date due: June 1, 2012

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Transforming Undergraduate Education in STEM

The Transforming Undergraduate Education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (TUES) program seeks to improve the quality of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education for all undergraduate students. This solicitation especially encourages projects that have the potential to transform undergraduate STEM education, for example, by bringing about widespread adoption of classroom practices that embody understanding of how students learn most effectively. Thus transferability and dissemination are critical aspects for projects developing instructional materials and methods and should be considered throughout the project's lifetime. More advanced projects should involve efforts to facilitate adaptation at other sites. 

The program supports efforts to create, adapt, and disseminate new learning materials and teaching strategies to reflect advances both in STEM disciplines and in what is known about teaching and learning. It funds projects that develop faculty expertise, implement educational innovations, assess learning and evaluate innovations, prepare K-12 teachers, or conduct research on STEM teaching and learning. It also supports projects that further the work of the program itself, for example, synthesis and dissemination of findings across the program. The program supports projects representing different stages of development, ranging from small, exploratory investigations to large, comprehensive projects. 

Amount: Varies

Date due: May 27, 2012

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Oregon Parks Foundation Grants

The Oregon Parks Foundation Fund, administered by the Oregon Community Foundation, supports nonprofit organizations and public agencies throughout the state that address outdoor recreational issues. Grants are provided to community, district, county, and regional level organizations for the acquisition, preservation, and improvement of land and other property for public parks and recreational areas. Community outdoor recreation and education programs are also supported.

Amount: $1,500 - $5,000

Date due: April 15, 2012

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Motorola Solutions Innovation Generation (STEM)

The Motorola Solutions Foundation's Innovation Generation program is designed to inspire students to learn about science and generate interest in science-related careers.

Innovation Generation funding equips students with the skills essential to both their lives today and their future success. By making the complex concepts behind math and science real and relevant, students look at their world differently through strengthened problem-solving skills. The Motorola Solutions Foundation accomplishes this through grant-making, engaging employee volunteers, building networks among science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) leaders and conducting research.

Amount: $60,000 (local); $250,000 (national)

Date due: March 23, 2012

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2012 Conservation Innovation Grant Funding Opportunity

The purpose of Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) is to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies, while leveraging the Federal investment in environmental enhancement and protection in conjunction with agricultural production. CIG projects are expected to lead to the transfer of conservation technologies, management systems, and innovative approaches into NRCS policy, technical manuals, guides, and references, or to the private sector. CIG does not fund research projects. Projects intended to test hypotheses do not qualify for a CIG grant. CIG is used to apply or demonstrate previously proven technology. It is a vehicle to stimulate development and adoption of conservation approaches or technologies thathave been studied sufficiently to indicate a high likelihood of success, and that are a candidate for eventual technology transfer or institutionalization. CIG promotes sharing of skills,knowledge, technologies, and facilities among communities, governments, and other institutions to ensure that scientific and technological developments are accessible to a wider range of users. CIG funds projects targeting innovative on-the-ground conservation, including pilot projects and field demonstrations. A two-phase evaluation process will be utilized for applications submitted under this notice. The first phase requires the applicant to submit a pre-proposal.

Amount: $1,000,000

Date due: January 31, 2012

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Math & Science Partnerships (NSF)

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 STEM performance of diverse student populations. MSP projects contribute to what is known in K-12 STEM education. All STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields supported by NSF may be involved in this work, with special encouragement to areas that are gaining increased traction at the K-12 level, such as computer science and engineering, in addition to mathematics and science. MSP projects also serve as models that have a sufficiently strong evidence/research base to improve STEM education outcomes for all students.

Through this solicitation, NSF seeks to support two levels of Targeted Partnership awards, Implementation and Prototype. Implementation awards are intended to develop and put into practice innovative approaches and strategies in education. Prototype awards explore potentially innovative approaches and strategies in education. Both types of Partnerships incorporate significant new innovations to STEM education, linked to a strong educational research agenda, in one of four focal areas: Community Enterprise for STEM Learning; Current Issues Related to STEM Content; Identifying and Cultivating Exceptional Talent; and K-12 STEM Teacher Preparation. In addition, there are three types of Research, Evaluation and Technical Assistance (RETA) project opportunities in this solicitation: research related to sustainability, or policies, or state plans for STEM education; technical assistance for evaluators of MSP projects; and the STEM Education Resource Collaboratory.

Amount: $500,000 - $1.5m (yearly for 3 - 5 years)

Date due: March 5, 2012

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