NSF Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence (COSEE)

WHAT: Limited Submission Proposal for the National Science Foundation (NSF 08-509) Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence (COSEE)

WHO:  Texas A&M University faculty, including TAES, TEES and TTI personnel.

WHY:  The COSEE Program anticipates making five new collaborations with existing COSEE Centers at a maximum of $50,000 per year for up to three years.

WHEN: Internal proposal deadline of February 11, 2008.

HOW:  Faculty should submit internal proposal via email for review by the internal selection committee.   

THE FINE PRINT:

The funding agency below has limited the number of proposals to two proposals for new collaborations with existing centers per institution. 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 08-509 Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence (COSEE)

BRIEF PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:  The Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence (COSEE) Network consists of eleven COSEE centers, as the university can submit two proposals for innovative new collaborations with existing COSEE centers.  Each center consists of at least three partnering institutions and is required to have an ocean science research institution, an informal education institution and a formal education institution amongst its partners.  The primary goal of each center is improving the integration of ocean research and education.

Proposals that are new collaborations with existing centers may add a new activity to the Center’s portfolio or expand an existing activity to a new audience.  The new partner must not have been involved with COSEE previously, in either funded or non-funded efforts.  Also, proposals should describe the activities of the new partner in relationship to the existing Center programs.  The new partner must be fully integrated into the COSEE management structure and participate in national-level COSEE activities.

New collaboration proposals should include a description of the new organization, their strengths in either education or ocean research, and how the new partnership will benefit COSEE.  The proposed activities/collaborations should be fully described.  In addition, funding may be requested for development of new programs or dissemination of existing programs, but not for continuing programmatic support.

More information can be found here.            

AGENCIES ELIGIBLE TO SUBMIT:  The COSEE Program is open to academic institutions of higher learning, located and accredited in the U.S. that award degrees in geoscience or environmental science, as well as U.S. oceanographic research institutions, professional societies, non-profit or not-for-profit consortia, informal science centers, museums, aquaria and state and local education agencies.

AWARD INFORMATION:  The COSEE Program anticpates making five new collaborations with existing COSEE centers at a maximum of $50,000 per year for up to three years.

ELIGIBLE PROJECT COSTS:   Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations:  No funds for capital equipment may be requested, except as directly involved in operation of the COSEE national-level website. 

COST SHARING:  NONE.     

Internal Selection Procedures and Deadlines

February 8, 2008:  Deadline for an email of intent, including the names of the PI and co-PIs, title of internal proposal and a 1-3 sentence description of the project.  Send email of intent .  This will allow us time to identify internal review committee members, if necessary.     

February 11, 2008: Deadline to obtain signatures of approval from your department head and college dean to submit an internal 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 for review by the internal selection committee.

Please read the RFP carefully for specific requirements of the program here.   

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 22, 2008: The Internal Selection Committee will notify PIs of the result of the internal competition.

March 3, 2008:  Deadline for full proposal: (due by 5 p.m. proposer’s local time).