ANNOUNCEMENT-NSF
17-111; November
13, 2017
Dear
Colleague Letter: Announcement of an Effort to Expand the NSF INCLUDES National
Network
July
14, 2017
Inclusion
across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in
Engineering and Science (NSF
INCLUDES) is a comprehensive effort to enhance U.S. leadership in
science and engineering discovery and innovation by proactively seeking and
effectively developing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)
talent from all sectors and groups in our society. As one element of its
multi-faceted approach to NSF INCLUDES, NSF is currently focusing on and
identifying novel ways in which new and currently-funded NSF projects from
across all NSF directorates can engage with the NSF INCLUDES National Network.
We have called this process building “on-ramps” to the NSF INCLUDES National
Network. To do this, we encourage the submission of funding requests for i) Early-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER),
ii) Conferences and Workshops, and iii) Supplements to existing NSF-funded
grants.
NSF
INCLUDES is one of the 10
“Big Ideas” for Future NSF Investment. These "Big Ideas" are meant to
capitalize on what NSF does best: catalyze interest and investment in
fundamental research, which is the basis for discovery, invention and
innovation, as well as education and research
infrastructure.
A
key objective of the NSF INCLUDES initiative is to engage current NSF awardees
working on broadening participation as well as the broader STEM community in
the creation and development of the NSF INCLUDES National Network. To help
provide connections to this community, NSF is supporting efforts that: create,
analyze and aggregate knowledge and assessments; implement, expand and sustain
effective practices; contribute to fundamental research in the science of
broadening participation; and foster connections to the entire NSF portfolio
that can lead to a change in the culture of STEM by placing inclusion and
equity at the core. By building the infrastructure for partnerships,
communication and collaboration, NSF aims to advance and scale up what works in
broadening participation programs to reach underserved populations
nationwide.[1]
NSF
is interested in applying the best approaches, activities, and strategies to
increasing diversity in STEM. These include, but are not limited to: increasing
the percentage of women participating in fields where they are currently
underrepresented (e.g., Engineering, Computer Science, Physics); developing and
expanding proven strategies that result in student persistence among
underrepresented minority groups across all degree areas; increasing the
representation of NSF-funded principal investigators in the NSF directorates’
research portfolios who come from minority-serving institutions (e.g.,
Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Predominantly Black Institutions,
Hispanic Serving Institutions [2],
Tribal Colleges and Universities) and community colleges; increasing the number
of faculty from underrepresented groups in stable, long-term faculty positions
that support research and education; and furthering the evidence-based research
(e.g., the science of broadening participation) that illustrates the efficacy
of the various approaches, especially collective impact-style
approaches.
NSF
welcomes three types of proposals:
EAGER
Proposals should
produce findings and results that will generate new insights for the NSF
INCLUDES National Network, suggest potential strategies for engaging NSF’s
existing broadening participation activities in the Network and/or highlight
lessons learned that could inform the NSF INCLUDES Launch Pilots and Alliances
as they develop. EAGERs are encouraged that:
Conference
proposals to:
Supplemental
funding requests to:
Submission
Deadlines and Special Instructions
There
are two submission deadlines for funding requests in response to this Dear
Colleague Letter. Before submitting EAGER or Conference proposals, eligible
Principal Investigator(s) should email nsfincludes@nsf.gov with
a one-page description of their project to determine suitability for this NSF
INCLUDES Dear Colleague Letter and the appropriate deadline for the proposals.
Any of the types of requests encouraged in this Dear Colleague Letter can be
submitted to either deadline.
Funding
requests for EAGERs and Conferences should be prepared and submitted in
accordance with the guidance in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies &
Procedures Guide (PAPPG): https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=pappg.
EAGERs may request up to $300,000 for two years. Conference proposals may be up
to $250,000 for up to two years. EAGERs and Conference proposals should be
submitted to NSF INCLUDES in the Human Resource Development (HRD)
division.
Supplements
from PIs of existing grants, other than current NSF INCLUDES Design and
Development Launch Pilots, in any directorate are welcome. Eligible supplements
must have the potential to enhance both the Intellectual Merit and Broader
Impacts of the existing project. Projects must have an end date beyond
September 30, 2018. Eligible Principal Investigator(s) contact their
cognizant Program Director(s) and an NSF
INCLUDES team member to discuss their request for
supplemental support prior to submitting to NSF. The amount requested for
supplemental support must be less than 20% of the original award amount, with
direct costs not to exceed $200,000. Funding is dependent on the availability of
funds. Supplemental funding requests should be prepared and submitted in
accordance with the guidance in the NSF PAPPG, Part II: Award and Administration
Guide, Chapter I.E.4: https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=pappg.
To
ensure proper processing, please begin the proposal title with: DCL: NSF
INCLUDES.
Review
Information
Requests
for funding submitted in response to this Dear Colleague Letter will be
reviewed externally by expert reviewers and/or internally by NSF Program
Directors. All funding requests are subject to the availability of funds, and
quality of the proposals received as determined by review.
Sincerely,
Jim
Lewis, Assistant Director (Acting)
Directorate for Education and Human
Resources
Participating
NSF Directorates and Offices
Directorate
for Biological Sciences
Directorate for Computer and Information
Science and Engineering
Directorate for Education and Human
Resources
Directorate for Engineering
Directorate for
Geosciences
Directorate for Mathematical and Physical
Sciences
Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic
Sciences
Office of Integrative Activities