Category Archives: Research

National Science Foundation: Advancing Informal STEM Learning

The Advancing Informal STEM Learning program from the National Science Foundation supports projects that investigate how people learn about STEM topics outside formal education. Projects should broaden STEM participation, especially among underserved communities and populations.

Applications will be accepted in five project types: Synthesis, Conference, Partnership Development and Planning, Integrating Research and Practice, and Research in Support of Wide-reaching Public Engagement with STEM. Funding and grant period vary by project type. Applications are due by January 8, 2025 at 5:00 PM, applicant’s time.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

Institutions of Higher Education, accredited and with a campus in the U.S.
Nonprofit organizations, such independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, and professional societies in the U.S.
For-profit organizations: U.S.-based commercial organizations, including small businesses, with strong capabilities in scientific or engineering research or education and a passion for innovation.
State and local governments
Federally recognized Native American tribes
Foreign organizations (Cooperative projects involving U.S. and foreign organizations, are permitted, however, support will only be provided for the U.S. portion.)
Other Federal agencies and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers

Program Goals

Proposals should include some or all of the following goals:

Learning STEM in Informal Experiences and Environments (required)
Advancing the Knowledge Base of Informal STEM Learning (required)
Broadening Participation in STEM (required)
Intentionally Community/Practitioner Driven (optional)
Professional Capacity Building & Informal STEM Infrastructure (optional)

Informal STEM Learning Examples

Informal STEM learning may include, but is not limited to:

Photo by Camilo Ospina: https://www.pexels.com/photo/dinosaurs-in-the-parque-explora-in-medellin-colombia-19252044/

Exhibitions and programs in museums, zoos, aquaria, botanic gardens/arboreta, planetariums, nature centers, parks, libraries, homes, community centers, and other environments
Science communications
Traditional or intergenerational knowledge sharing
Community and participatory science, such as, radio, television, or podcasts
Do-It-Yourself (DIY) or maker initiatives
Public research engagement, including crowd-sourcing and Public Participation in Scientific Research
Online and other digital experiences, such as, games, simulations, and social media

Project Types

Synthesis

NSF expects to award 6-8 Synthesis grants per year. Each will be $100,000 – $500,000 for 2-3 years and should focus on understanding questions and issues related to informal STEM learning. This may include systematic literature reviews, meta-syntheses, and meta-analyses.

Conferences

Photo by Christina Morillo: https://www.pexels.com/photo/employees-having-a-board-meeting-1181355/

NSF expects to award 10-15 Conference grants per year. Each will be $75,000 – $250,000 for 1-2 years and may be submitted at any time. Although there is no deadline for this topic, applicants are encouraged to submit at least one year before the scheduled event.

Conferences under this program should bring researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and/or learners together to share research, experiences, and best practices in informal STEM education.

Partnership Development and Planning

NSF expects to award 10-15 Partnership Development and Planning grants per year. Each will be $50,000 – $150,000 for 1-1.5 years and should be used to design a collaborative research and development project. Potential activities include multidisciplinary workshops, stakeholder meetings, and project planning.

Integrating Research and Practice

NSF expects to award 12-16 Integrating Research and Practice grants per year. Each will be $250,000 – $2 million for 2-5 years and should involve reciprocal parternerships between researchers and practitioners. Together, they should study new issues and innovative approaches to informal STEM learning.

Research in Support of Wide-reaching Public Engagement with STEM

NSF expects to award 5-8 Research in Support of Wide-reaching Public Engagement with STEM grants per year. Each will be $1-2 million for 2-5 years and focus on large-scale efforts to reach hundreds of thousands of informal STEM learners.

Hurtigruten Foundation

The Hurtigruten Foundation supports projects in the areas of the world where the Hurtigruten Group leads adventure travel expeditions. Awards are typically €5,000 – €10,000 and usually only cover part of a project’s costs. In rare cases, they will consider covering the entire project.

Applications are due each year on May 1st and November 1st for projects focused on:

Endangered species
Eliminating plastic waste and ocean litter
Supporting local communities

Eligibility

This grant is open to any organization interested in doing work within Hurtigruten’s areas of interest in:

Alaska
Antarctica
Arctic Canada and the Northwest Passage
Argentina
The British Isles
The Caribbean
Chile
Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands
The Falkland Islands
Greenland
Iceland
Norway and Svalbard
Cape Verde
Senegal
Gambia
Guinea-Bissau

Organizations interested in collaborating with Hurtigruten Expeditions on a scientific research project or whose project requires the use of a Hurtigruten vessel are asked to email a brief outline to hurtigruten.foundation@hurtigruten before submitting an application.

Project Types

Grant funds may be used to conduct:

Grassroots projects
Environmental projects
Community based projects
Science research projects
Educational projects

Explorers Club Impact Grant

The Explorers Club has been supporting scientific expeditions since 1904. With more than 30 chapters on multiple continents, they strive for advancements in field research and environmental conservation. The Club is offering funds to explorers/researchers who also function as storytellers through their Impact Grant.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed multiple times a year. Awards are typically $10,000 – $25,000 and should be completed within one year. Membership in The Explorers Club is not required.

Eligibility

Applicant

Impact Grants are open to any individual, 18 years or older from anywhere around the world. Applicants may be associated with a research or educational institution, but grants will not be awarded to institutions.

Research

Research in the following scientific disciplines will be considered:

Anthropology
Archaeology
Astronomy
Biological Sciences
Earth Sciences
Ecology
Paleontology

Projects may include a laboratory component, but a fieldwork expedition must be the primary focus. Applicants are encouraged to apply at least six months before the start of their field research.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be reviewed based on the following criteria.

Alignment with The Explorers Club’s mission to increase scientific understanding
Credentials of the team leader and members
Scientific merit of the proposed project
Use of innovative methods
Possible impact
Potential for use to educate the public through storytelling

Publication and Media

Grant recipients are encouraged to publish the results of their expedition in relevant academic journals. The Explorers Club would like to be informed as soon as possible about upcoming publications.

Prior to their expedition, grantees will attend a planning session with the Explorers Club to discuss potential media and other logistics. Grantees must also provide a stipulated number of photos and videos along with their regular reports for use on social media and other promotion efforts.

Ignacio H. de Larramendi Research Grants

Ignacio H. de Larramendi Research Grants support international researchers whose work focuses on Health Promotion or Insurance and Social Protection.

Applications are due by October 7, 2024 at 11:59 PM CEST.

Eligibility

This grant is open to individual researchers or research teams, but only one Primary Investigator may be named.

Applicants may work independently or in a hospital, university, research center, or company.

Focus Areas

Health Promotion

Health Promotion grants are available for up to €30,000 and must investigate one of the following:

Strategies to change habits for obesity prevention and emotional well-being; may include the appropriate use of new technologies
Emergency response training for the general public
Asssessing the impacts of an event (traumatic or accidental, medical negligence, aggression or disease) on the health of the individual and their ability to perform everyday activities, as well as effects to personal development
Clinical quality and safety
Longevity and the impact lifestyle has on it

Insurance and Social Protection

Insurance and Social Protection grants are available for up to €15,000 and must investigate one of the following:

Insurance.
Risk management.
New technologies in the insurance field.
Social protection through pensions, savings, investments, asset liquidation, and longevity economics

Review Criteria

All applications will be reviewed based on:

Applicant or team experience
Innovation
Scientific and technical quality
Feasibility, applicability, and potential social impact

Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE): Core Programs

The Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE): Core Programs support research and education projects that build new knowledge in computing, communications, and information science and engineering.

Applicants may apply for a Small Project, Medium Project, or OAC Core Project. Applications are due through Grants.gov or Research.gov October 1-23, 2024 (Medium and OAC Core Projects) or October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025 (Small Projects). The National Science Foundation expects to award 400-600 grants.

Eligibility

Applicant

This grant is open to:

Institutions of higher education accredited and with a campus in the United States
Nonprofit, nonacademic organizations
Independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies, etc. engaged in research and education activities

Primary Investigator

Primary Investigator, Co-PIs, and other senior/key project personnel must hold either:

A tenured or tenure-track position, or
A primary, full-time, paid appointment in a research or teaching position

Project Types

Small Projects

Up to $600,000
Up to 3 years
Well suited to one or two investigators and at least one student and/or postdoctoral researcher

Medium Projects

$600,001 to $1,200,000
Up to 4 years
Well suited to one or more investigators and several students and/or postdoctoral researchers

OAC Core Projects

Up to $600,000
Up to 3 years
Well suited to one or two investigators and at least one student and/or postdoctoral researcher

Core Programs

Projects should align with one of these core programs:

Division of Computing and Communication Foundations

Division of Computer and Network Systems (CNS)

Division of Information and Intelligent Systems (IIS)

Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure (OAC)

OAC Core Research (OAC Core) program

March of Dimes Discovery Research Grants

March of Dimes Discovery Research Grants support established researchers on a global level making distinct improvements to clinical care for pregnant people and babies.

Applications for $200,000 over two years are due by September 6, 2024. Projects will start January 1, 2025.

Eligibility

This grant is open to anyone committed to research on maternal and infant health, including:

Health professional and researchers
Epidemiologists
Social scientists with a PhD and a faculty appointment or equivalent at a university
Hospitals
Research institutions
Pharmaceutical companies
Start-ups
Nonprofit organizations

Priority Areas

Spontaneous preterm birth – Research that focuses on improving clinical care through prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the causes of spontaneous preterm birth.
Racial inequities as they relate to morbidity, mortality, and access to care – Research that focuses on solutions to the impacts of racial inequality on maternal health outcomes.
Cardiovascular health conditions developed or exacerbated during pregnancy – Research that focuses on substantive methods to characterize, prevent, and/or mitigate the development of cardiovascular issues during pregnancy.

Requirements and Restrictions

All research projects must:

Have the potential to improve clinical care and decrease the rate of maternal and infant morbidity and mortality

Research projects may:

Include the periods of pregnancy, labor and delivery, and up to one year postpartum
Include human studies, studies with human tissue, or studies at the population level
Include improvements to information and communications technology
Include models systems research if it will validate novel human disease processes

Halton Foundation

The Halton Foundation supports research and other solutions for improving indoor air quality. Awards are available for single year, multi-year, and start up program grants of up to 30 000 € ($32,616) per year.

Applications are due by September 1, 2024.

Eligibility

This grant is open to nonprofits and other organizations from anywhere in the world who are working to improve indoor air quality.

Past Projects

Past grantees have included:

Investigating indoor air quality in schools and developing control strategies to mitigate effects of urban pollution
Providing clean burning, fuel efficient stoves to Himalayan families who used traditional stoves or indoor fire pits
Creating indoor environmental guidelines for Polish hospitals

GRAMMY Museum Grants Program

The GRAMMY Museum Grants Program supports research projects and the archiving and preservation of the music and recorded sound heritage of North America.

Letters of Inquiry are due by August 23, 2024. If invited to submit, full applications will be due November 1st. Grants for Scientific Research or Preservation Implementation are available for up to $20,000. Grants for Assistance, Assessment, and/or Consultation are available for up to $5,000.

Eligibility

This grant is open to individuals and organizations in the United States and Canada. 501(c)6 organizations are excluded.

Grant Types

Scientific Research Projects

Photo by Akshar Dave🌻: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-playing-guitar-977971/

Research projects should focus on the impact of music on human condition. Examples include:

The effects on cognition, healing, and mood
The well being of musicians
The creative process

Priority consideration will be given to proposals with innovative questions, based on strong methodology.

Preservation Projects

Assistance, Assessment, and/or Consultation

Assistance grants are for the planning phase of a preservation or archiving project by a small to mid-sized organization. This may involve the expertise of the applicant organization as well as consultation from outside experts. Planning activities may include:

Identifying and prioritizing materials
Inventorying and cataloging
Obtaining permission from owners
Identifying long-term storage

Preservation Implementation

Projects that have completed the planning phase may apply for an implementation grant to carry out their plan. Large organizations with an annual budget of $1 million or more and/or organizations such as a library or museum with archiving, preservation, cataloguing and other related experts must apply for this grant category. Any required planning activities should be incorporated into the project plan and budget.

Funding Limitations

Photo by cottonbro studio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photo-of-vinyl-records-6862587/

Grant funds may not be used for:

General operating expenses
Commercial projects
Purchase or repair of musical instruments
Music education
Competitions
Documentaries
Buildings and facilities
Marketing and publicity
Secondary analysis
Purchase or repairs of equipment

John Templeton Foundation

The John Templeton Foundation supports projects from around the world in 6 funding areas:

Online Funding Inquiries are due by August 16, 2024. If invited to submit, full proposals will be due January 17, 2025. Selected proposals may be due earlier. Grants are often for up to three years, but never more than five.

Eligibility

This grant is open to charitable entities from anywhere in the world. Individuals and for-profit businesses doing charitable work in line with the Foundation’s goals may qualify, but this is rare.

Funding Limitations

Grant funds may not be used for:

General operating support
Construction, renovations, or capital campaigns
Direct service
Scholarships
Disaster relief

Funding Areas

Individual Freedom & Free Markets

This funding area supports education, research, and outreach projects focused on individual freedom, free markets, and entrepreneurship.

Character Virtue Development

This funding area focuses on moral virtues such as humility, gratitude, curiosity, diligence, and honesty.

Life Sciences

This funding area supports research projects that seek to answer questions such as, What is life? How did it originate? What are its limits? to help us better understand our place in nature.

Mathematical and Physical Sciences

This funding area supports research on the fundamental concepts of physical reality. Projects that ask, What is the nature of the universe? How are physical systems more than the sum of their parts? and How do these various ideas come together?

Public Engagement

This funding area supports projects that spark conversations about how people can live lives of meaning and purpose. This may include content creation and campus programming.

Religion, Science, and Society

This funding area supports projects that engage with the interplay of spiritual and scientific questions.

NEH Archaeological and Ethnographic Field Research

The National Endowment for the Humanities Archaeological and Ethnographic Field Research Grant supports empirical field research projects that address important humanities questions.

NEH expects to awards approximately 6 grants of up to $150,000 each. Applications are due by September 25, 2024. Optional rough drafts are due by July 15, 2024.

Eligibility

Organization

This grant is open to:

501(c)3 nonprofit organizations
Accredited public or nonprofit institutions of higher education
State and local governments
Federally recognized Native American Tribal governments

Project Director

The Project Director must be a scholar with a PhD or equivalent in a humanities field or related social science subfield

Allowable Activities

Archaeology

Archaeological methods may include:

Field survey
Remote sensing
Documentation
Visualization
Excavation

Projects may focus on questions in ancient studies, archaeology, art history, classical studies, epigraphy, regional studies, and related disciplines.

Ethnography

Ethnographic methods may include:

Participant observation
Interviews
Long-term site visits
Oral history

Projects may focus on questions in anthropology, ethnolinguistics, ethnomusicology, performance studies, folklore studies, sociology, and related disciplines.

Allowable Expenses

Grant funds may be used for:

Travel, lodging, and meals
Permits, fees, and visas
Field equipment and supplies
Labor, specialists, translators, and other local vendors
Salary or salary replacement costs for the project director and compensation for collaborating scholars

Funds may not be used for manuscript and publishing costs. Data analysis and processing is allowed, but should not exceed 50% of the budget. Up to $5,000 per 12 month period may be used for conservation and preservation activities.

Areas of Interest

NEH has a particular interest in projects that fall within these programs.

American Tapestry: Weaving Together Past, Present, and Future

The American Tapestry: Weaving Together Past, Present, and Future program is a special inititative to address important challenges of our time, such as strengthening democracy, climate change, and advocating for equity.

United We Stand: Connecting Through Culture

United We Stand: Connecting Through Culture encourages humanities projects that address hate-based violence and foster civic engagement and cross-cultural understanding.

Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative

NEH has partnered with the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative to increase public understanding of the Federal Indian boarding school system through which thousands of Indigenous children were separated from their families and often abused.