National Science Foundation (NSF 06-520) Informal Science Education (ISE) Program

WHAT:  Limited Submission Proposal for the National Science Foundation (NSF 06-520) Informal Science Education (ISE) Program

Texas A&M University faculty. TAES, TEES and TTI personnel may wish to submit internal proposals through their own agency.

WHY:  NSF anticipates funding for project grants from $100,000 to $3.0 million dollars for up to five years, and funding for the Informal Science Education Resource Center for a maximum of $5 million dollars over five years.

WHEN: Internal proposal deadline of February 4, 2008.

HOW:  Faculty should submit internal proposal to osppc@tamu.edu for review by the internal selection committee.   

THE FINE PRINT:

NSF has stipulated that an institution may serve as lead in no more than the following numbers of proposals under ISE consideration at the same time:  three preliminary proposals and three full proposals for project grants; three proposals in total for planning grants and/or conference, symposia and workshop grants.  If the number of faculty wishing to submit a proposal exceeds the number allowed by the agency, we will conduct an internal selection process. Below are due dates for the program, including the due date of the internal proposal for review by the internal selection committee, the date for announcement of the internal selection and the due date for submission to the agency.                                                     

AGENCY:  National Science Foundation (NSF)

AGENCY PROGRAM TITLE:  NSF 06-520 Informal Science Education (ISE) Program

BRIEF PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:  The Informal Science Education (ISE) Program is designed to increase interest, engagement and understanding of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by individuals of all ages and backgrounds.  Projects may target either public audiences or professionals whose work directly affects informal STEM learning.  ISE projects are expected to demonstrate strategic impact, innovation and collaboration.

The ISE project may involve public audiences through permanent and traveling exhibitions, films, television and radio series, web-based projects, citizen science programs, as well as youth and community programs.  Projects should seek national, significant regional or community-wide reach, depending on the methods used.  In addition, requirements for public audience projects include:  audiences of informal learners; a voluntary self-directed method of learning; locations that reach intended audiences; and STEM research field content.  Informal learning refers to those activities that are not primarily for school use, home schooling, part of an ongoing school curriculum or require mandatory participation.  Voluntary and self-direct learning can include exhibitions, media of all types and educational programs, but not summer or holiday camps, school field trips, science fairs or competitions.  Allowable locations for informal learning may include science-technology centers, natural history museums, zoos, aquariums, planetariums, arboretums or botanical gardens, history or art museums, community centers, libraries, theaters, the home or outdoors.  STEM research fields include:  astronomy, atmospheric science, biological sciences, behavioral sciences, chemistry, computer science, earth sciences, engineering and technology, information sciences, materials research, mathematical sciences, oceanography, physics and social sciences.

The ISE project may involve professional audiences through research studies, conferences, formation of networks and professional development.  Projects should address issues central to improving understanding of the principles and implementation of the practice of informal science education.  Also, requirements for professional audience projects include:  projects may impact organizations that directly affect informal STEM learning; audiences should be professionals whose work directly impacts informal science education; and specific instructions for the format of the preliminary proposal.  Both types of projects are expected to demonstrate strategic impact, innovation and collaboration.  Courses, with our without credit, are not funded.  Projects involving professional audiences may impact organizations or institutions, such as national or regional associations, museums (science-technology center, natural history museum, zoo, aquarium, planetarium, arboretum or botanical garden), community organizations, as well as television or radio stations or networks.  Targeted individuals may include:  staff, managers, board members, researchers, evaluators, funders, media producers or disseminators, and exhibit designers.

The ISE project may involve an Informal Science Education Resource Center (ISERC).  This would be a cooperative agreement involving the lead organization and collaboration with other organizations or institutions engaged in informal science education.  Activities may include:  clearinghouse on ISE-funded awards; identification and dissemination of promising practices and findings based on project evaluations; and leadership development.  As a secondary emphasis, the ISERC should seek to share relevant informal learning knowledge and practices with formal educators and university researchers.  The ISERC should serve both existing PIs and prospective PIs and help create a network among ISE awardees.  The ISERC should assist the ISE program in gathering and assessing evidence of impact across the portfolio, as well as analyzing the awards portfolio.  In addition, proposals must include assessment of the impacts of the ISERC by an external evaluator. 

More information can be found at:  http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2006/nsf06520/nsf06520.htm            

AGENCIES ELIGIBLE TO SUBMIT:  The Informal Science Education (ISE) Program is open to any U. S. organization.

AWARD INFORMATION:   The ISE Program anticipates having $25 million dollars for 50 awards.  Funding for project grants may be from one to five years and awards may range from $100,000 to $3 million dollars.  The Informal Science Education Resource Center may be funded to a maximum of $5 million dollars over five years.

The maximum award for planning grants is $75,000 for no more than two years.  Awards for conference, symposia and workshop grants may range from $50,000 to $250,000 for no more than two years.  The maximum award for grant supplements is $200,000 of 20% of the total amount of the original award, whichever is less.  (This limitation does not apply to cooperative agreements).

ELIGIBLE PROJECTS COSTS:  The following items are not funded by the ISE Program:  capital expenses, operating expenses (other than through an indirect cost rate); purchase of major or office equipment; vehicles; graduate or undergraduate tuition; paid advertising; and admissions or similar fees; or projects whose primary focus is health or medicine.

COST SHARING:  NONE.   
 

Internal Selection Procedures and Deadlines

February 1, 2008:  Deadline for an email of intent, including the names of the PI and co-PIs, title of internal preliminary proposal and a 1-3 sentence description of the project.  Send email of intent to osppc@tamu.edu      

February 4, 2008: Deadline to obtain signatures of approval from your department head and college dean to submit an internal preliminary proposal to the Office of Sponsored Projects for review by the internal selection committee.  The internal proposal should include:

• An executive summary, up to three pages, based on the proposal description as outlined in the NSF program announcement;
• Summary budget;
• Project and Management Plans (including team members)
  

The form for completing the internal proposal is here.

This completed form should be submitted electronically to osppc@tamu.edu for review by the internal selection committee.

Please read the RFP carefully for specific requirements of the program at http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2006/nsf06520/nsf06520.htm   

Selection of a proposal will be based on NSF guidelines. The needs of the university’s reinvestment plan will also be taken into account. 

During the selection process, the internal selection committee may contact departments and colleges for their opinions and commitments.  They may also request additional information from PIs.

February 15, 2008: The Internal Selection Committee will notify PIs of the result of the internal competition.

March 13, 2008:  Deadline for preliminary proposal. NSF will either encourage or discourage the PI from submitting a full proposal.  Full proposals may be submitted in either event.  Written reviews provide feedback to PIs to strengthen their proposals.

June 19, 2008:  Deadline for full proposal for project grants: (due by 5 p.m. proposer’s local time).