Funding-Limited Submission - NSF Advancing Digitization of Biological Collections (ADBC) NSF 11-567; September 8, 2011

This program seeks to enhance and expand the national resource of digital data documenting existing vouchered biological and paleontological collections and to advance scientific knowledge by improving access to digitized information (including images) residing in vouchered scientific collections across the United States. The information associated with various collections of organisms, such as geographic, paleogeographic and stratigraphic distribution, environmental habitat data, phenology, information about associated organisms, collector field notes, and tissues and molecular data extracted from the specimens, is a rich resource providing the baseline from which to further biodiversity research and provide critical information about existing gaps in our knowledge of life on earth. The national resource is structured at three levels: a central coordinating organization, a series of thematic networks based on an important research theme, and the physical collections. The national resource builds upon a sizable existing national investment in curation of the physical objects in scientific collections and contributes vitally to scientific research and technology interests in the United States. It will become an invaluable tool in understanding contemporary biological issues and challenges.

Program page for more information and solicitation: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503559

Because NSF limits an institution to one proposal, the University of Kentucky has established an internal selection process. Researchers interested in submitting a proposal are to submit the following material electronically to the Office of the Vice President for Research at vpr@email.uky.edu and a copy to their Associate Dean for Research by Thursday, September 8, 2011:

• Specify type of proposal –Thematic Collections Network (TCN) or Partners to Existing Networks (PEN)

• The names and departments of the Principal Investigator (PI), project personnel and other partners or collaborators

• A project overview describing project goals, activities and management plans (1-2 p. max.).

A committee will be convened to review this information and make recommendations. The NSF deadline is October 31, 2011. Questions about the submission process may be sent to Ms. Annette Evans in the Office of the Vice President for Research (alevan4@email.uky.edu or 257-1663).