(FOA) Limited Submission – NSF – Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) (NSF 17-573); September 4, 2018  

 

Purpose: The National Science Foundation (NSF) Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) program seeks to advance new approaches to and evidence-based understanding of the design and development of STEM learning opportunities for the public in informal environments; provide multiple pathways for broadening access to and engagement in STEM learning experiences; advance innovative research on and assessment of STEM learning in informal environments; and engage the public of all ages in learning STEM in informal environments. The products of AISL investments may include, but are not limited to, exhibitions and programs in museums, zoos, aquaria, botanic gardens/arboreta, planetariums, nature centers, parks, libraries, and other environments; science communication; after-school and out-of-school time (OST) programs; radio, television, film, or media programs or series; Do-It-Yourself (DIY)/maker initiatives; opportunities for the public to engage in research including crowd-sourcing and citizen science; on-line and other digital experiences (e.g., games, simulations, social media, mobile computing, distributed networks, and massive online open courses); and research findings that articulate what works, for whom, why, and in what contexts.

 

Given that almost any environment can support informal science learning, there is an opportunity to understand how learners can be supported to make bridges between what they learn in one setting and what they learn in another setting. Thus, projects may choose to include how informal learning practices connect with STEM-related frameworks and curricula, college and career readiness standards, or other educational settings.

 

Funding Amount/ Project Period:

The AISL program supports six types of projects:

(1)  Pilots and Feasibility projects: up to $300,000 with durations up to two years;

(2)  Research in Service to Practice projects: from $300,000 to $2,000,000 with durations from two to five years;

(3)  Innovations in Development projects: $500,000 to $3,000,000 with durations from two to five years;

(4)  Broad Implementation projects from $1,000,000 to $3,000,000 with durations from three to five years; (5) Literature Reviews, Syntheses, or Meta-analyses projects up to $250,000 with durations of up to two years; and

(6)  Conferences up to $250,000 with durations of up to two years.

 

Link to Funding Opportunity Announcement

 

Institutional Limit:  3

An institution or organization may serve as lead on no more than three (3) proposals submitted to the November deadline. However, an institution or organization may partner as a subaward on other proposals submitted.

 

Internal Competition: To participate in the university’s selection process,please upload the following,assembled into a single PDF file, to the Office of the Vice President for Research via this portal with a copy to your Associate Dean for Research by September 4, 2018:

• Names and departments or affiliations of the Project Director and other key personnel or partners;
• Title of program and/or funding opportunity announcement number;
• Indication of the category of AISL project proposed;
• Brief project description (2 pages maximum)

 

A committee will be convened to review the material and make a recommendation.

 

For questions or issues with submission through the portal, email the limited submission mailbox (limitedsubmissions@uky.edu), or call 257-2861.

 

Agency Deadline:  November 7, 2018