National Science Foundation (NSF)’s Post

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is giving about $38 million to researchers in five states and territories: Maine, Mississippi, New Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Rhode Island. This funding comes through two NSF programs, E-CORE RII and E-RISE RII, designed to boost research facilities, build new networks, and support workforce development in areas that historically have not received as much funding for science. These programs aim to improve research infrastructure, create new job opportunities, and promote economic growth in these regions by enhancing their scientific capabilities. Each funded project has its own focus. For example, in New Mexico, researchers will connect emerging institutions with established ones to foster innovation and job growth. Rhode Island’s project will build a more inclusive research network, and Mississippi aims to strengthen its research and development ecosystem. In Maine, the focus is on algae research to drive economic growth, while Puerto Rico will use advanced technology to explore developmental biology and support STEM education. These efforts are expected to increase scientific collaboration and diversity in research fields across the U.S. #ScienceFunding #ResearchGrowth #STEMEducation https://lnkd.in/gsEeddeW

🌟 Thrilled to announce that we’ve been awarded a University of Cambridge West Hub Researchers Fund grant for our project ‘Bridging STEM + AHSS Hearts and Minds!' This will be an event to promote problem-solving interdisciplinary research collaboration between STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and AHSS (Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences) through a unique STEM-AHSS Speed session - and yes, for Valentine’s Day 😉💌 As investments in technology and innovation continue to grow, the need for meaningful AHSS-STEM cross-disciplinary partnerships is more important than ever. Yet, many researchers remain uncertain about the insights other fields can provide, how to initiate collaborations, find suitable partners, or secure funding. This event will offer a vibrant, relaxed platform for researchers across disciplines to connect, exchange ideas, and learn about funding opportunities for joint projects. The programme will include inspiring talks from experts on successful interdisciplinary partnerships, a ‘speed networking’ session designed to spark new collaborations, and a presentation on available funding by the Research Strategy Office. By bringing together diverse expertise in a dynamic setting, we aim to inspire creativity, foster innovation, and drive impactful research in West Cambridge. Stay tuned for more updates! In the meantime, please share your ideas and leave us your email if you'd like to receive further information. https://lnkd.in/eUe-EVns West Hub Dr. Maya Indira Ganesh Louise Elstow Joshua Fitzgerald Richard Milne Nino Läubli Matjaz Vidmar Daniele Campello Daniela Boraschi Amaia Robertson University of Cambridge #STSCambridgeNetwork #SCaN #STS #InterdisciplinaryResearch #ResearchCulture #SHAPE #STEM #AcademicImpact #KnowledgeExchange #crossdisciplinarycollaboration  #STEMandAHSS #SHAPEinSTEM #ResearchInnovation #WestCambridge #FundingOpportunities #STEM #Humanities #SocialSciences #ResearchCommunity #ResearchStrategyOffice Action Research on Research Culture

FAST.FORWARD: A NEW MODEL FOR ACADEMIC SCIENCE FACILITIES  Can science bridge the gap between institutions and communities? Academia hosts the world’s most sustainable science buildings, pioneering carbon neutrality and innovation while solving big questions for humanity. However, these facilities are expensive to build and often sequestered from the public. In response, Gensler, Thornton Tomasetti and Van Zelm developed Fast.Forward, a network of rapidly deployable modules that produce net-positive energy and act as decentralized, flexible, accessible field labs for place-based research and STEM education.     Join me, Michael Kocher, AIA NCARB, and Meghan Webster at the AURP International Conference in Bentonville, AR Nov. 11-14, 2024 where we delve into all the new and exciting ways that universities can capitalize on the experience of groups like Gensler, Thornton Tomasetti and Van Zelm to improve the connectedness and relevance of their STEM education. Association of University Research Parks (AURP) MCB Science + Health

2025 Engaging Science Grants now open! The Engaging Science Grants program is now accepting applications for STEM-based events or education and engagement projects. The grants are designed to increase public awareness and appreciation of science, promote science literacy and highlight STEM careers. Grants of up to $20,000 for up to one year are available for eligible projects and events, with up to $500,000 available in total. Projects that engage diverse stakeholders, target under-represented groups (including First Nations people, girls and women, and disadvantaged groups) and involve Queenslanders from regional or remote areas are highly encouraged. To be eligible, projects must demonstrate that they align to the community pillar goals in the recently released Future Queensland Science Strategy, seeking to empower community awareness and engagement in science. For eligibility guidelines and how to apply visit the Office of the Queensland Chief scientist website. https://lnkd.in/giSwgV5V Applications close at 4pm, 27 September 2024. For more information email: grantsadministration@des.qld.gov.au

Check out these important investments in the future of STEM.

I was honored to be the dinner keynote speaker this week at the The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Government-University-Industry-Research Roundtable (GUIRR) meeting. The timing of this discussion could not be more critical as the Science & Technology Action Committee which I co-chair, recently released a detailed report examining the State of Science in America.   The report in-found that one of the biggest obstacles to advancing innovation in the U.S. is the quality of our public K-12 STEM education system. It also found that the vast majority of American workers believe the U.S. is losing or has already lost the race for global leadership in science and technology. We can’t let that happen.   That’s why the report calls for the federal government to develop a national science and technology strategy that revitalizes K-12 STEM education, engages the entire S&T ecosystem in the U.S., addresses societal challenges and bolsters our national and economic security — for decades to come.   Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/d45uZwuR  

This proposed shift is very much aligned to the brain-positive economic transformation research that colleagues and I are embarking upon. "Society’s challenges are too complex for the research system’s contributions to be limited by narrow conceptions of excellence. There is an urgent need for a more diverse, transdisciplinary research toolbox that includes robust discovery science alongside use-inspired, community-engaged, policy-relevant, and equity-centered research. To meet this need, universities, funders, and key partners—for example, publishers and disciplinary societies—must broaden the incentive and reward structures, such as tenure, promotion, and funding priorities, that inform researchers’ decisions and shape academic culture." Lawrence Jones Simon Fischer-Baum Özge Gürcanlı Fischer-Baum Kelly O'Brien https://lnkd.in/gUCaqKS9

A far better explanation of today's conference!

Seeking to increase the societal impact of university research, Penn State has joined a multi-year collaborative effort led by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) to identify and promote new approaches to support faculty and researchers undertaking public impact research. The effort, called Supporting Public Impact Research through Institutional Transformation (SPIRIT), is funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation. SPIRIT will work with four partner universities — Penn State; the University of California, Davis; the University of Texas at San Antonio; and Washington State University — to pilot new approaches to improve the evaluation and support for research that serves society. “Public impact research is what we do — it’s who we are at Penn State,” said Michael Donovan, associate director of Penn State’s Evidence-to-Impact Collaborative (part of the Social Science Research Institute) and a co-investigator on the project. “Throughout our history, we have focused on research that improves the lives of others. It’s central to our mission and woven into the very fabric of our scholarship. This pilot project will help us build on a strong foundation of research in the service of society.” Penn State’s SPIRIT pilot project is a four-year project that supports the University’s analysis of innovative funding mechanisms, focusing on exploring the best ways to support faculty at the institution’s 22 Commonwealth Campuses distributed throughout Pennsylvania, Donovan said. The researchers will examine the impact of newly established Presidential Public Impact Research Award program on increased community-engaged research productivity for promotion and tenure, student trajectories and other outcomes. The awards were launched this year with significant support from Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi to engage Commonwealth Campus faculty pursuing community-engaged research in partnership with students and local community partners. The project is a collaboration between Penn State’s Office of the President; the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost; the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research; the Susan Hirt Hagen Center for Community Outreach, Research and Evaluation; and the Evidence-to-Impact Collaborative. The other pilot projects include providing additional training and support to promotion and tenure review committees, ongoing professional development activities for scholars, a micro-grant program and a partnership with university librarians to support faculty in documenting their impact. Full Article ➡️ https://buff.ly/3TRR1Te #PennStateResearch #EvidencetoImpact #PublicImpactResearch