February 06, 2005

Nanoscale Informal Science Education (NISE) program ONLY. The NUE program does NOT require a Letter of Intent.

April 06, 2005

Nanotechnology Undergraduate Education (NUE)

April 06, 2005

Nanoscale Informal Science Education (NISE)

This NSEE solicitation provides funding only for the following two program components: Nanoscale Informal Science Education (NISE) and Nanotechnology Undergraduate Education (NUE).

Nanoscale Science and Engineering Education (NSEE)

This solicitation continues a comprehensive effort on the part of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to enhance formal and informal education in nanoscale science, engineering, and technology. Its goals are to develop strong partnerships linking science educators with nanoscale science and engineering researchers, and to increase knowledge of advances in nanoscale research and technology and their impact on society.

To attain the overarching program goals, NSEE encompasses two independent components:

[A] Nanoscale Informal Science Education (NISE): This effort is intended to foster public awareness, engagement, and understanding of nanoscale science, engineering, and technology through establishment of a Network, a national infrastructure that links science museums and other informal science education organizations with nanoscale science and engineering research organizations.

[B] Nanotechnology Undergraduate Education (NUE): This component aims at introducing nanoscale science, engineering, and technology through a variety of interdisciplinary approaches into undergraduate education, particularly in the first two collegiate years.

A related program solicitation, Nanoscale Science and Engineering (NSF 04-043), is focused on fundamental research in emerging areas of nanoscale science, engineering, and technology. This related solicitation contains three components: Nanoscale Interdisciplinary Research Teams (NIRT); Nanoscale Exploratory Research (NER); and Nanoscale Science and Engineering Centers (NSEC). Other research and education projects in nanoscale science and engineering will continue to be supported in the relevant NSF programs and divisions.

NOTE: Those organizations with an interest in more than one NSEE component must submit separate proposals for each component of interest.

One nanometer (one billionth of a meter) is a magical point on the dimensional scale. Nanostructures are at the confluence of the smallest of human-made devices and the largest molecules of living systems known today. Nanoscale science and engineering here refer to the fundamental understanding and resulting technological advances arising from the exploitation of new physical, chemical, and biological properties of systems that are intermediate in size, between isolated atoms and molecules and bulk materials, where the transitional properties between the two limits can be controlled. During the last few years, novel structures, phenomena, and processes have been observed at the nanoscale (from a fraction of nanometer to about 100 nm) and new experimental, theoretical and simulation tools have been developed for investigating them. These advances provide exciting opportunities for scientific and technological developments in nanoparticles, nanostructured materials, nanodevices, and systems.

Nanotechnology is the creation and utilization of functional materials, devices, and systems with novel properties and functions that are achieved through the control of matter, atom-by-atom, molecule-by-molecule, or at the macromolecular level. A revolution has begun in science, engineering and technology, based on the ability to organize, characterize, and manipulate matter systematically at the nanoscale. Far-reaching outcomes for the 21^st century are envisioned in both scientific knowledge and a wide range of technologies in most industries, healthcare, conservation of materials and energy, biology, environment and education. Fundamental research in Nanoscale Science and Engineering (NSE) underpins innovation in critical areas ranging from manufacturing to medicine.

NSE has technological, economic, environmental, social, and ethical dimensions that may change the world in which we live. Increased understanding and appreciation of the potential for nanoscale science and engineering will be needed to create an informed citizenry and a competitive workforce. It is therefore imperative that our schools and informal science education organizations offer developmentally appropriate and scientifically accurate learning opportunities.

The Nanoscale Science and Engineering Education (NSEE) initiative provides funding for two types of projects that will address the educational challenges of these emerging fields and generate practical ways of introducing nanotechnology to the public at large and into undergraduate education. Specifically, the NISE component will establish a national infrastructure that links science museums and other informal science education organizations with nanoscale science and engineering research organizations. The NUE component will integrate nanoscale science, engineering, and technology into undergraduate curricula, particularly in the first two years. Joining formal and informal education with nanoscale science and engineering research in these ways will create opportunities for new interdisciplinary educational strategies, for understanding and enhancing science literacy, for preparing the 21^st century workforce in these fields, and for engaging the interest and broadening the vision of science, engineering, and technology among diverse audiences. Given the worldwide expansion of research and education in nanoscale science and engineering, international collaborations that advance underlying NSEE goals and strengthen U.S. activities are encouraged.

The categories of proposers identified in the Grant Proposal Guide are eligible to submit proposals under this solicitation with the following program-specific limitations.

(NISE)

Lead Organization. The lead organization for this project must be a science museum or similar organization with the expertise in developing and implementing major informal science education projects at a national level, extensive experience in collaborating with research centers and other ISE organizations, and appropriate internal financial and management systems. Formal education institutions are not eligible to serve as the lead organization under this solicitation (unless they are the parent organization for the lead science museum).

ISE Organizations. Partner organizations may include other science museums, professional organizations, television and radio stations, community organizations, libraries, and other types of informal learning organizations of all sizes. Diversity is expected in the capabilities, audiences, and geographic locations of the participating organizations. ISE organizations cannot be partners on more than one NISE proposal, but may subsequently be incorporated into the Network created through this award. Non-U.S. informal science education organizations may participate in Network activities using their own resources.

Research Organizations. Eligible organizations include NSF-supported centers performing research in nanoscale science and engineering. Illustrative examples can be found at https://www.nsf.gov/home/crssprgm/nano/centers.htm and http://www.mrsec.org. Eligible research organizations are not limited to those listed at these web sites. Non-U.S. research organizations may participate in Network activities using their own resources.

(NUE)

Any U.S. academic institution having undergraduate programs in disciplines usually supported by NSF may submit proposals. Projects may be proposed by individual investigators or by groups from academic institutions. Synergistic collaboration among researchers and collaborations or partnerships with industry, government laboratories, and foreign institutions are encouraged when appropriate. NUE proposals involving more than one institution must be submitted as a single administrative package with the managing Principal Investigator (PI) from the lead institution. Non-U.S. institutions may participate in project activities using their own resources.

Estimated program budget, number of awards, and average award size/duration are subject to the availability of funds and the quality of proposals.

[A] Nanoscale Informal Science Education (NISE):

• Anticipated Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement
• Estimated Number of Awards: One
• Anticipated Funding Amount: Expected FY 2005 funding is $4,500,000
• Estimated Award Size: Up to $4,500,000 per year for each of five years

NSF plans to support a single national network. To ensure development of a comprehensive network, NSF may combine elements from more than one meritorious proposal. This award may be renewed once, without recompetition, for an additional five years, subject to external merit review and availability of funds. Recompetition will be required after ten years.

[B] Nanotechnology in Undergraduate Education (NUE):

• Anticipated Type of Award: Standard Grant for duration of two years
• Estimated Number of Awards: Up to 15
• Anticipated Funding Amount: Expected FY 2005 funding is $3,000,000
• Estimated Award Size: Up to $200,000 total for two years

Letters of Intent (LOI) are required for NISE proposals ONLY. NUE proposals DO NOT require a LOI.

PIs must complete the required fields in FastLane and submit by the Deadline Date. Only one LOI can be submitted by an organization. Note that the LOI must properly identify the solicitation number for this program.

The Synopsis should succinctly describe the deliverables and intended impacts. The Other Comments field should summarize the organization of the Network. Note that each field is limited to 2,500 characters. Up to 25 partner organizations can be identified in the LOI as Participating Organizations; organizational listing in the LOI is not binding.

[A] Specific to Full Proposals for NISE:

An organization must have submitted an LOI through FastLane by February 6, 2005 to be eligible to submit a full proposal. Proposals that do not meet this LOI requirement will be returned without review.

Because preliminary proposals are not required, potential PIs are strongly encouraged to contact the cognizant NSF Program Officer listed in this Solicitation before submitting a proposal to discuss whether the proposed work is appropriate for this program.

All full proposals are submitted through FastLane. They must include: Cover Sheet, Project Summary, Table of Contents, Project Description, References Cited, Biographical Sketches, Budgets (including Justification), Current and Pending Support, and Supplementary Documents (as required). Specific requirements that supplement the Grant Proposal Guide are described below.

1. COVER SHEET

Proposers are reminded to include the program solicitation number of this solicitation and to identify the NSF Organization Unit as ESI - Informal Science Education. Failure to do so will delay processing of the proposal.

The title for the proposal should begin NISE followed by a colon and the remainder of the title.

2. PROJECT SUMMARY

This summary must make the essence of the proposed project clear to the reader. It must succinctly describe the Network deliverables and demonstrate how they will achieve the intended audience and strategic impacts, and address the characteristics of innovation and collaboration, within the context of the stated goals for the Network. The Project Summary is limited in length to two single-spaced pages.

The Project summary must explicitly address the project's Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts (including the Additional Review Criteria in Section VI.A ) in separate sections labeled as such, otherwise the proposal will be returned without review.

3. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The Project Description must explicitly address the following questions in the format presented. This narrative is limited to no more than 25 single-spaced pages with 12-point type with one-inch margins. Although certain Supplementary Documents may be necessary, the Project Description must be able to stand on its own. Refer to Section II.A. of this solicitation and to the Informal Science Education program Solicitation for further description of project characteristics of strategic impact, innovation, and collaboration.

1. Impact

1. STRATEGIC IMPACT. What is the most critical strategic impact on informal nanoscale science, engineering, and technology education that the proposed Network intends to produce? What continuing long-term impact is the Network likely to have?

2. PUBLIC AUDIENCES. Who are the primary target audiences and what strategies are proposed for each major audience segment? How many individuals will be directly reached by the Network and its activities during the award and up to five years following the grant period (assuming no renewal of the award)? Provide a basis for this estimate. How does the Network broaden participation of underserved audiences? Describe your strategies for attracting and engaging these audiences.

3. PROFESSIONAL AUDIENCES. What are the types of ISE organizations on which the Network will have the greatest impact? What categories of professionals does the Network specifically target to achieve this impact?

4. KNOWLEDGE OF AUDIENCES. What do you already know about the knowledge, interests, attitudes, and needs of your public and professional target audiences? How do you know? What compelling target audience needs does the Network address?

5. AUDIENCE IMPACTS. What are the intended impacts of the Network on its target audiences? Identify the most important intended public and professional audience impacts (up to five each). For each, indicate how you will measure or assess that impact and what value of that measure or evidence will serve as your criterion for defining success. Explain your selections and provide the rationale for your selections.

6. IMPACT EVALUATION. What is the evaluation strategy you will use for the public and professional impact measures or assessments that you have identified? Provide a rationale. Include in the Supplementary Documents a more detailed evaluation plan that clearly identifies the methodologies that will be used for each impact measure. Proposals should include evaluation of the impact of the deliverables produced, as well as the effectiveness of the collaborative models employed.

2. Innovation

   1. PROJECT DELIVERABLES. What Network deliverables for public and professional audiences will this project produce? Describe each deliverable in enough detail for reviewers to assess its ability to achieve the intended impacts. What are the "theories of action" linking proposed activities with intended audience outcomes? How did you select the public and professional audience deliverables and how will they be integrated to produce the greatest impact? What is your project plan? What is the process by which each deliverable will be developed to achieve the greatest impact? What are the evaluation strategies you will use in developing your deliverables?

   Note: Because of the nature of this initiative, only a first phase of public and professional deliverables developed within the early years of the award need be identified with specificity. The proposal must describe, however, the process by which these and subsequent Network deliverables are identified, planned, developed, implemented, evaluated, and disseminated to achieve the greatest impact on target audiences and how innovation will be fostered at each phase. What are the areas of greatest potential risk in successfully achieving the intended Network impacts? Describe your strategies for minimizing these risks.

   2. EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH AND PRIOR WORK. How do your deliverables and project design build on specific findings from informal learning research? How do they build on and extend prior related practice in the field? How do they build on prior NSF-funded work by the PI, if any?

3. Collaboration

   1. PROJECT TEAM. For each of the following categories, who are the key project team members, their areas of expertise, their roles, and their extent of commitment to this project? Provide a rationale for your selections.

      1. Senior Staff
      2. Advisory Committee Members
      3. Consultants
      4. Contractors

   Note: One organization must serve as the lead organization for the Network. The lead provides the link between nanoscale science and engineering research organizations and informal learning organizations. In addition to coordinating Network activities, it should serve as a research and development center for public engagement in and understanding of nanoscale science, engineering, and technology.

   2. PARTNERS. Who are your primary organizational partners? Identify each organization, its capabilities, strengths, role in the project, extent of commitment, and contact person. Why were these partners selected? What has been the extent of their involvement in planning this project?

   Note: The research centers in nanoscale science and engineering should serve as the primary scientific and technical resources for the Network. They should make available advisors and content experts on nanoscale science, engineering, and technology, collaborate in concept and prototype development, and review for accuracy all products being developed.

   ISE organizational partners should serve as vehicles for reaching public audiences. In addition, they should participate as active collaborators in planning and development and provide audience feedback through front-end and formative testing of products and programs, as well as linkages with K-12.

   Note that the NCLT will be incorporated as a partner into the Network of the project that is funded. To maintain the confidentiality of competing proposals, NCLT participation will be understood, and it should not be included as an exclusive partner at this stage.

   3. NETWORK. What is the structure of the proposed Network? (The Network may consist of subnetworks, such as of research centers and of ISE organizations.) What are its capabilities? How will the Network partner organizations work together to achieve the deliverables and produce impacts that would not otherwise be possible? What is the strategy for fostering effective collaboration among the partners?

   4. MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE. What is the management structure for the Network? What is the plan for establishing, maintaining, and expanding the Network over time? What is the method of selection, tenure, and responsibilities of those playing key management roles? What are the provisions for oversight, including external advisory bodies, their composition, responsibilities, and means for advising management? What is the process for setting goals and planning? What is the procedure for adding or replacing ISE organizations or other partners?

4. BUDGET

The budget should provide the most cost-effective means for producing the deliverables and achieving the intended impacts. It must be accompanied by an itemization and explanation, up to three pages long, that corresponds to the NSF budget lines. Each Subaward (on line G.5) requires its own complete set of Proposal Budget forms accompanied by an itemization no more than one page in length.

Funds cannot be requested for operational expenses or for equipment that is not an essential component of a project deliverable, such as an exhibition. Note that any consultants included in line G.3 must be compensated on a daily rate, not to exceed the current NSF maximum.

Even though cost sharing is no longer required by NSF, if a proposal requires other sources of funding, the scope and cost of the entire project must be provided in enough detail to identify the work to be performed and/or funded by parties other than NSF. Reviewers will need this additional information in order to assess the viability of the overall project, as well as the scope and budget to be funded by NSF.

The estimated budget to be funded by sources other than NSF does not have to be entered on a FastLane budget form, but should use the same format and major budget categories for comparison with the NSF budget. See Section II for additional information.

Proposals must include in the Supplementary Documents a spreadsheet that presents the total project budget for each year and cumulative. Rows should correspond to the NSF budget line items, and columns should show the funds requested from NSF, the funds provided from other sources, and the total for each line item.

Reference to these additional funds is for informational purposes only, and they will not be subject to audit.

5. CURRENT AND PENDING SUPPORT

Proposals must include this form for the PI, any co-PIs, and senior project personnel. The proposal being submitted should be listed first on the form and identified as pending.

6. SUPPLEMENTARY DOCUMENTS

Although the Project Description should provide sufficient information for a reviewer unfamiliar with the specific content or context to make a reasoned judgment, it may be necessary to provide some additional supporting information. However, because reviewers may be required to assess a substantial number of competing proposals, PIs must be extremely judicious in the number of pages submitted. Do not include brochures, lengthy publications, or entire reports (executive summaries only).

Letter(s) describing the intellectual commitment of organizational partners signed by a senior official with budget authority to implement the activities listed in the proposal if awarded must be included. The letters should be referenced in the Project Description and outline the organization's role in and commitment to the project. If these signed statements are not submitted in the Supplementary Documents section, the proposal will be returned to the PI without review.

Media that cannot be submitted through FastLane may be provided in the form of DVD, CD-ROM, VHS or audiotape; 15 copies, labeled with proposal number, title, and PI, must be sent to: Informal Science Education Program, EHR/ESIE, Room 885, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22230 [phone: (703) 292-5087]. These materials, which will not be returned, must be received within 5 business days following electronic submission; clearly mark the package re: Supplementary Documents and indicate the proposal number from FastLane.

[B] Specific to Full Proposals for NUE:

Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the general guidelines contained in the NSF Grant Proposal Guide (GPG).

Additional review criteria described below should be addressed when preparing a proposal. The Project Description for NUE proposals may not exceed 15 single-spaced pages in 12-point type with one-inch margins. Submission by FastLane is required for full proposals.

1. COVER SHEET

Proposers are required to identify the relevant proposal component, "Nanotechnology Undergraduate Education," in the block titled "For consideration by NSF organizational unit." The proposal title should begin with component acronym: "NUE". For administrative purposes, all NUE proposals must be submitted via FastLane to EEC (contact Mary Poats, mpoats@nsf.gov).

2. PROJECT SUMMARY

The proposal must contain a summary of the proposed activity suitable for publication, not more than one page in length. It should not be an abstract of the proposal, but rather a self-contained description of the activity that would result if the proposal were funded. The summary should be written in the third person and include a statement of objectives and methods to be employed. It must clearly address in separate statements (within the one-page summary): (1) the intellectual merit of the proposed activity; and (2) the broader impacts resulting from the proposed activity. (See Chapter III (GPG) for further descriptive information on the NSF merit review criteria.) It should be informative to other persons working in the same or related fields and, insofar as possible, understandable to a scientifically or technically literate lay reader.

If the Summary does not explicitly address the project's Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts (including the Additional Review Criteria in Section VI.A ) in separate sections labeled as such, the proposal will be returned without review.

3. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The project description for NUE should contain the following components:

1. Goals and Objectives. The goals of the project should be stated clearly and concisely in relation to the goals of the NUE component.

2. Results of Prior NUE Support. In addition to results of prior support as required by the NSF GPG, institutions participating in prior NUE awards must describe the relationship of that award to this new proposal.

3. Detailed Project Plan. The project plan should be the longest section of the Project Description. It should include description of the project's features, clearly delineating the plan to introduce or enhance nanotechnology in the undergraduate curriculum. The plan should include:

   • Background on the proposed project describing how it builds on nanoscale and/or pedagogical research;

   • Statement describing the expected impact of the project on the undergraduate curriculum at the participating institution(s) and, if applicable, elsewhere;

   • Number and percentage of undergraduate students who would be impacted by the project at the participating institution(s), and the extent to which under-represented groups would be served;

   • Plans for institutionalization of projects; and

   • References to required letter(s) of institutional and departmental commitments noted under Supplementary Material (see below).

4. Experience and Capability of the Principal Investigator(s). Briefly describe the experience and capability of the PI(s). Include a brief description of the rationale for including the specific faculty members and institutional units within the project. State the role of each and cite the expertise that each will contribute to the project.

5. Evaluation Plan. Describe criteria to be used in evaluating the quality and impact of the project, how the project's impact on student learning will be assessed, and the process for collecting and analyzing information at the applicant's institution or from others involved in testing of course materials developed. The following references may be helpful in designing the evaluation plan:

   • The 2002 User Friendly Handbook for Project Evaluation (NSF 02-057). See: http://www.ehr.nsf.gov/rec/programs/evaluation/handbook/.
   • User Friendly Handbook for Mixed Method Evaluations (NSF 97-153). See: http://www.ehr.nsf.gov/EHR/REC/pubs/NSF97-153/start.htm
   • Online Evaluation Resource Library. See: http://oerl.sri.com
   • Field-tested Learning Assessment Guide (FLAG). See: http://www.wcer.wisc.edu/nise/CL1/flag/

 

6. Dissemination of Results. Describe plans to communicate the results of the project to other professionals in the STEM and education communities, both during and after the project. Describe the information or materials to be disseminated (e.g., computer presentations, laboratory manuals, software, multimedia materials); how the material will be made available to other institutions; the means of dissemination (e.g., faculty development workshops, journal articles, conference presentations, electronic networks, media); and the procedures for determining the success of the dissemination effort. Describe procedures to be used to maintain the quality and currency of any material developed, to provide support for faculty users, and to publicize the availability of materials.

Investigators are encouraged to use the National Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education Digital Library (NSDL), as part of their dissemination efforts, see http://nsdl.org. To ensure that educational materials can be indexed and cataloged within the appropriate collections of NSDL, standard metadata elements and tags should be embedded in web-based products, e.g. documents, animations, simulations, and modules. A variety of review and user annotation procedures are also under development as NSDL services. Information about metadata standards is available from the Dublin Core Metadata Initiative at http://dublincore.org and the NSDL Metadata Primer at http://metamanagement.comm.nsdlib.org/outline.html. The NSDL Communications Portal at http://comm.nsdl.org provides updates of ongoing NSDL efforts and discussions.

4. BUDGET

Adhere to the Guidelines in the GPG.

5. CURRENT AND PENDING SUPPORT

Proposals must include this form for the PI, any co-PIs, and senior project personnel. The proposal being submitted should be listed first on the form and identified as pending.

6. SUPPLEMENTARY DOCUMENTS

Letter(s) describing the intellectual commitment of institutional and academic department(s) signed by a senior academic officer (dean or above) with budget authority to implement the activities listed in the proposal (if awarded) must be included as a Supplementary Document. The letter(s) should be referenced in the Project Description and outline the school's and department's commitment to the project and how the project may effect a lasting change at the institution. If these signed statements are not included in the Supplementary Documents section of FastLane, the proposal will be returned to the Principal Investigator without review.

Because this NSEE component does not require preliminary proposals, potential PIs are encouraged to contact one of the NUE Cognizant Program Officers listed in this solicitation before submitting a proposal. The Program Officer will help the PI determine whether the proposed work is appropriate for NUE.

February 06, 2005
Nanoscale Informal Science Education (NISE) program ONLY. The NUE program does NOT require a Letter of Intent.

April 06, 2005
Nanotechnology Undergraduate Education (NUE)

April 06, 2005
Nanoscale Informal Science Education (NISE)

For NISE Proposals: The award under this Solicitation will be made as a Cooperative Agreement to the lead organization. It may be renewable for an additional five years without recompetition, subject to merit review.

Projects may be required to provide data and relevant qualitative information to an NSF third-party evaluator.

(NISE) Summative evaluations will be required to be posted at www.informalscience.org.