Summary

The overall goal of the NC Space Grant Informal Education and Public Outreach Program is to increase interest in and understanding of STEM disciplines by inspiring and engaging individuals of all ages throughout North Carolina.

The Informal Education and Public Outreach Program will consider proposals that utilize the STEM content of NASA’s missions to:

• Promote life-long learning in North Carolina by students, educators, families, and retirees, using NASA-themed STEM and missions through informal education;
• Build strategic partnerships and linkages between STEM formal and informal education providers that promote STEM literacy and awareness of NASA’s mission;
• Encourage, inspire and engage large and diverse audiences via NASA’s contributions to everyday life;
• Build linkages and connections to and from secondary education and higher education and informal education communities;
• Improve understanding of NASA’s missions, contributions to STEM disciplines, and STEM careers, including faculty in pre-K-12 and higher education settings; and
• Link and engage providers of informal and formal education, including institutions of higher education, particularly HBCUs, Tribal Colleges, and other minority serving institutions using NASA content through pilot projects that enable educators, parents, retirees, or community leaders to carry the NASA content back to their households, school, after school groups, summer camps, 4-H communities, etc.

Examples of eligible projects include but are not limited to: exhibits (permanent, traveling, or virtual), STEM programming serving educators, students, and the general public, partnerships with informal education providers (e.g., youth groups, after-school programs); staff professional development, informal education programs; curriculum support for informal science education, technology development, or activities that are culturally focused on targeted populations, such as women and minorities.

NC Space Grant anticipates making 3 to 6 awards with the maximum individual award of up to $5,000 for a one year period of performance (July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011). Proposing institutions are required to provide 100% cost-matching (1:1) using non-federal funds. In other words, if $5,000 is requested from NC Space Grant, then $5,000 must be provided as match. Facilities and Administrative (F&A, or overhead) costs are not allowed.

Eligibility

Competition is open to individuals at active NC Space Grant university member institutions. Individuals must be qualified to serve as a principal investigator at their respective institution and be U.S. citizens. Permanent residents, foreign nationals and resident aliens may apply for funding but with budget restrictions (see Section IV.E.).

U.S. public/private schools, school districts, museums, and other not-for-profit educational organizations may apply through partnership with the lead organization. NC Space Grant encourages proposals from females, members of underrepresented minority groups, and persons with disabilities. Submission is limited to one proposal per investigator.

Timeline

	Program Announcement		Download PDF
	Proposals Submissions and Deadline	The 2010 Application Period has closed.
	Original Hardcopy Submission and Deadline	The original proposal with all required signatures must arrive at NC Space Grant by March 1, 2010. Late or incomplete submissions may not be considered. Hard copy submissions should be sent via express mail, commercial delivery, or courier to: Dr. Chris Brown, Director North Carolina Space Grant NCSU - Research Building II 1009 Capability Drive, Suite 210 Raleigh, NC 27606
	Expected Award Announcement	April 15, 2010
	Awards Begin	July 1, 2010*
		*contingent upon NC Space Grant receipt of NASA funding

Previous Faculty Award Recipients: 03-04 | 04-05 | 05-06 | 06-07 | 07-08