- Author: Kathleen P Nolan
Dear Colleagues,
The Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program has released the 2018 Calls for Proposals and is accepting applications for Western SARE grant programs throughout Summer and Fall 2017.
The Western SARE program funds proposals that examine innovative research technologies and creative extension approaches that advance Western SARE goals and are economically viable, protect the environment, and are socially responsible. SARE's mission is to advance—to the whole of American agriculture—innovations that improve profitability, stewardship and quality of life by investing in groundbreaking research and education.
The grants programs include:
· Research & Education pre-proposal – due 6/1/17
· Professional Development – due 11/1/17
· Farmer/Rancher – due 12/6/17
· Professional + Producer – due 12/6/17
Requirements and deadlines vary by program. Please see the OCG Calendar for an overview of each opportunity, or you can access the Sponsor's website directly at: http://www.westernsare.org/Grants/Types-of-Grants
Thank you.
Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)
- Author: Kathleen P Nolan
Dear Colleagues,
NIFA has announced $400,000 to Foster a Diverse Agricultural Science Workforce. The funding will support more women and minority representation in the agricultural science workforce. The purpose of this program is to support research and extension projects that increase participation by women and underrepresented minorities from rural areas in STEM fields from grade levels K-14. Funding is made through NIFA's Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Fields Program (WAMS).
The initiative seeks to support activities that may include:
- Specific activities may include:
- Developing practical applications to increase understanding of leadership roles, including critical thinking, problem solving, and communication skills; ethics and professionalism; and working in teams;
- Connecting the academic classroom experience with daily leadership roles and organizational activities;
- Providing opportunities for mentoring and shadowing; and
- Organizing leadership academies, workshops, trainings, etc.
NIFA is hosting a WAMS webinar to help applicants learn about guidelines and policies for writing proposals. The event will be held on Wednesday, April 26 at 12:00 PM PST. You may join the webinar at the following link: Webinar Link. A recording of the webinar will be made available.
If you are interested in applying to this opportunity, please contact the Office of Contracts and Grants to request proposal development assistance. Please see the OCG Calendar for an overview of the opportunity.
The deadline for applications is June 8, 2017.
Thank you.
Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)
- Author: Kathleen P Nolan
Dear Colleagues,
NIFA has announced $9.6 million in available funding for projects to support the development of new biobased products and biomaterials from renewable sources such as crops, trees, and waste materials from farmland and forests. Funding is made through NIFA's Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill.
“Rural America has the potential to be the economic powerhouse through biofuels and biobased products,” said NIFA Director Sonny Ramaswamy. “NIFA investments in research and development help to create new economic opportunities in rural communities, protect the environment, and reduce U.S. dependence on foreign energy.”
AFRI is America's flagship competitive grants programs for addressing critical societal issues through the food and agricultural sciences. The AFRI Sustainable Bioenergy and Bioproducts (SBEBP) Challenge Area supports projects that lead to the commercial production at scale of biobased products such as biochemicals, biomaterials, and products that replace fossil carbon-based products. This challenge area supports three types of projects: research, education or extension projects; integrated projects; and food and agricultural science enhancement grants.
In FY2017, the SBEBP is soliciting applications in the following priority areas:
(1) Lignin or nano-cellulosic co-products from biomass feedstocks; and
(2) Biomass feedstock genetic development and evaluation
The deadline for applications is June 28, 2017.
If you are interested in applying to this opportunity, please contact the Office of Contracts and Grants to request proposal development assistance. Please see the OCG Calendar for an overview of the opportunity or the request for applications for complete details.
Thank you.
Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)
- Author: Kathleen P Nolan
The public is invited via webcast to the first meeting of a study to identify grand challenges in environmental engineering and science on Thursday, May 4, 2017 from 7:30 am – 1:30 pm (Public Session) PST. The committee of experts who will conduct the study are tasked with identifying the biggest challenges that will need to be addressed in the next few decades and how the field might need to evolve to better meet those challenges.
The open session begins with a welcome and overview from Committee Chair, Domenico Grasso of the University of Delaware. Lessons learned from other “grand challenges” programs will be shared, including a presentation by Dan Mote, President of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) about the popular NAE Grand Challenges in Engineering program.
The webcast will be available at the study website, where you can also subscribe for email updates about this study and submit input to the committee.
May 4, 2017 OPEN SESSION (abridged agenda)
7:30 a.m. Welcome and Overview of Motivation for the Study
8:15 a.m. Lessons Learned from Global Grand Challenge Programs
10:30 a.m. NAE Grand Challenges for Engineering: Process, Outcomes, and Lessons Learned
11:50 a.m. NAE Grand Challenges Scholars Program
11:50 a.m. Findings from the AEESP Grand Challenges in Environmental Engineering workshops
12:45 p.m. Discuss statement of task with study sponsors
1:15 p.m. Public comment period
The full agenda is available here.
Thank you.
Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)
- Author: Kathleen P Nolan
Out-of-school time (OST), education, and youth development professionals in mid-career are invited to apply for the National Afterschool Matters (NASM) Fellowship, a two-year leadership development program that better positions them to inform and contribute to the quality of out-of-school-time programs, practice, and the broader field. The NASM Fellowship is a collaboration of the National Institute on Out-of-School Time (NIOST) at the Wellesley Centers for Women at Wellesley College and the National Writing Project (NWP).
The NASM Fellowship is informed by the theoretical and philosophical foundation of teacher inquiry, a 30-year movement that profiles teacher knowledge and emphasizes the importance of teachers in improving practice. Research engages professionals in identifying questions and problems in their own work experiences, and then provides the structure for them to examine these problems systematically and reflectively. This professional development model provides frequent, ongoing opportunities for practitioners to reflect on practice, engage in inquiry projects based on their own questions and concerns, and write about their work. Those who are well informed and effective in their practice can be successful teachers of other practitioners as well as partners in development and implementation of such practice. The NASM Fellowship engages professionals in the OST and youth development fields in a process of leadership development where they learn to reflect on, study, improve, and assess their work with a view toward improving its quality and impact.
The two-year fellowship, supported by the Robert Bowne Foundation, includes:
- A collaborative process of study, conversation, and engagement within a community of OST professionals in a shared investigation of OST practice, policy, and experiences;
- Direct, hands-on inquiry-based research, learning, and writing, under the guidance of experienced mentors;
- Leadership development, designing and delivering training/presentations for peers, administrators, parents, and community members;
- Product preparation and writing for dissemination, such as briefing papers, workshops, curricula, and articles for professional publication;
- Writing opportunities for ASM Journal, Youth Today OST Hub, blogs, conferences, etc.
- Two retreats at Wellesley College, led by NIOST and National Writing Project (travel stipend provided);
- A participation stipend each year.
Please visit niost.org/nasmfellowship to learn more and to apply. Applications are due May 31, 2017.
The fellowship cohort commences Fall 2017.
Thank you.
Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)