(CLOSED) NSF 17-573: Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL)

Sponsor Name: 
NSF
Amount: 
$33,000.00
Description of the Award: 

The 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 AISL program is situated within the Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings (DRL). DRL's mission is to cultivate and catalyze fundamental and applied research and development (R&D) to improve the learning of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics for the nation. In support of this mission, AISL seeks to (a) advance new approaches to and evidence-based understanding of the design and development of STEM learning in informal environments; (b) provide multiple pathways for broadening access to and engagement in STEM learning experiences; (c) advance innovative research on and assessment of STEM learning in informal environments; and (d) engage the public of all ages in learning STEM in informal environments.

The AISL program supports six types of projects: (1) Pilots and Feasibility Studies, (2) Research in Service to Practice, (3) Innovations in Development, (4) Broad Implementation, (5) Literature Reviews, Syntheses, or Meta-Analyses, and (6) Conferences.

Anticipated Funding Amount: $33,000,000 to $44,000,000

Award Amount and Duration:

Limits for funding requests of AISL proposals are as follows:

(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.

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

Limit (Number of applicants permitted per institution): 
3
Sponsor Final Deadline: 
Nov 07, 2018
OSVPR Application or NOI Instructions: 

Internal Nomination Process:

Interested applicants should send the following documents in sequence in one PDF file (File name: Last name_NSF 17-573_2018 no later than 4:00 p.m. on the internal submission deadline:

Cover Page:

  • Proposal Title

  • AISL Project Type

  • Principal Investigator’s (PI's) names and departmental affiliation

  • Co-PI's names and departmental affiliation(s)

  • A list of possible participating organizations (if applicable)

Project Description (no more than two pages):

  • Identify the project scope that addresses the key aspects and elements outlined in the NSF solicitation, principal investigators, collaborators, and partner organizations.

2-page current NSF Bio-sketch for all PIs and Co-PIs.

Formatting Guidelines and Page Limit:

  • Font/size: Times New Roman (12 pt.)

  • Document margins: 1.0” (top, bottom, left and right)

  • Standard paper size (8 ½” x 11)

Questions concerning the limited submissions process may be submitted to limitedsubs@psu.edu.

To be considered as a Penn State institutional nominee, please submit a notice of intent by the date provided directly below.
This limited submission is in downselect: 
Penn State may only submit a specific number of proposals to this funding opportunity. The number of NOIs received require that an internal competition take place, thus, a downselect process has commenced. No Penn State researchers may apply to this opportunity outside of this downselect process. To apply for this limited submission, please use this link:
OSVPR Downselect Deadline: 
Wednesday, August 29, 2018 - 4:00pm
Notes: 
Zimmerman, Heather (Education, Learning & Performance Systems) and Hill, Kathleen (Education, CSATS) 9/19/18