HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM YOUR OER TEAM!
From Thomasenia Adams, Ana Puig, Amanda Reifenrath, Brian Lane, and Che Williams
Awarded Projects for November 2021
Congratulations to Mary Bratsch-Hines for her award from the U.S. Department of Education/IES; Frank Curran, Christopher Redding, and Philip Poekert for their award from Impact Florida; Frank Curran, Maureen Conroy, and Patricia Snyder for their subcontract Buffett Early Childhood Flow Through award from Columbia University; Maya Israel for her subcontract NSF Flow Through award from New York University; Philip Poekert for his subcontract Louisiana Department of Education Flow Through award from Lafayette Parish School System; and Christopher Redding and Holly Lane for their award from the U.S. Department of Education/OSERS-OSEP.
Submitted Projects for November 2021
Best wishes to Zandra de Araujo for her proposal to the National Science Foundation; Chelsey Simmons, Kent Crippen, and Sarah Furtney for their proposal to the National Science Foundation; Bruce Carroll, Kent Crippen, and Tracy Johns for their proposal to the National Science Foundation; Frank Fernandez for his proposal to the Spencer Foundation; Lynda Hayes for her proposal to the Florida Department of Education; Nigel Newbutt for his proposal to Google; Philip Poekert for his two proposals, one to Children First Professional Development Center and one to the Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County; Paige Pullen for her two proposals, one to Raymond School District for Lamprey River Elementary School and one to Riverside County; Christopher Redding for his proposal to the Spencer Foundation; and Megan Ennes, Jacqueline Swank, and Jacquelyn Micieli-Voutsinas for their proposal to the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Pre-proposals, Letters of Intent (LOI), and White Paper Submission Guidance
The Division of Sponsored Programs (DSP) has revised and clarified its guidance on pre-proposals, LOIs, and white paper submissions. It applies only to these types of submissions and not to final proposals, which are subject to all standard proposal processing guidelines. For example, if a pre-proposal is required to route through UFIRST, then the UF/DSP internal deadline policy will apply. More information with a decision-making flow chart is available here.
Gulf Scholars Program
The National Academies’ Gulf Research Program has launched the Gulf Scholars Program (GSP), a five-year pilot program seeks to build the capacity of Gulf-based IHEs in preparing undergraduate students to work across these complexities and who will serve the Gulf of Mexico region. Each year the GRP will select and fund a cohort of 5-7 colleges and universities to participate in the GSP. Each participating institution will receive funds to create academic, co-curricular, and extracurricular experiences around key learning outcomes in engaging and preparing a cohort of students for leadership in securing a safer, more resilient, and sustainable Gulf region. GSP’s learning outcomes include knowledge of the Gulf region, multidisciplinary and integrative learning, intercultural knowledge and competencies, social responsibility and ethical reasoning, innovation and entrepreneurialism, and Gulf impact project. If interested or curious to learn more, contact Dr. Angela Lindner at alindner@aa.ufl.edu.
Research Spotlight: Nigel Newbutt
Q & A with Nigel Newbutt, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the School of Teaching and Learning
What basic questions does your research seek to answer?
The basic questions that guide my research are associated with how innovative and novel technologies can support autistic people in their lives. For me, the transformative nature of emerging technologies means that there are many applications for under-served groups, and my work locates this with people with disabilities and autistic groups. I would also add; another basic question I consider core to my work is that of how technologies can be informed and co-designed with the communities I support. This has become so central to my work (and the field), especially if we are to fully realize the potential of a range of technologies for under-served groups. Linked to this, I am also exploring meaningful ways that virtual reality technologies can be applied to vocational skill development in better supporting successful work-based skills and transitions into work environments for autistic people.
Read more →
The Time is Now: Advancing Equity in Science and Technology Ideation Challenge
It is with great pleasure that the Office of Science and Technology (OSTP) would like to share more information about the recently launched The Time is Now: Advancing Equity in Science & Technology Ideation Challenge. The challenge is open from now through November 19, 2021. You can email equity@ostp.eop.gov with questions, comments or suggestions. We hope that you will help OSTP advance equity in the science & technology ecosystem through this challenge in three specific ways:
- Participate! This challenge is open to all.
- Spread the word.
- Connect with OSTP to collaborate on advancing equity in science and technology.
Call for Nominations/Applications: Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society
The UF Graduate School’s Office of Graduate Diversity Initiatives (OGDI) invites all qualified faculty and postdoctoral members to apply for induction into the Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society. The Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society recognizes outstanding scholarly achievement and promotes excellence and diversity in doctoral education and the professoriate. The Bouchet Society seeks to develop a network of preeminent scholars who exemplify academic and personal excellence, foster environments of support, and serve as examples of scholarship, leadership, character, service, and advocacy for students traditionally underrepresented in academia. Postdoctoral members must apply for membership and be approved by the National Steering Committee; faculty members must be nominated. The application process will open on Monday, November 15, 2021, and close at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, December 15, 2021. For more details, including application requirements and instructions, click this online link: UF Bouchet. Please email questions to OGDI at ogdi@aa.ufl.edu.
Webinar and FAQs about the National AI Research Institutes Program
For those who are interested in pursuing the NSF’s National AI Research Institutes Program, nearly 50 frequently asked questions are addressed and answered by the NSF on this page. For general inquiries that are not answered on this page, you can contact NSF regarding this program at AIInstitutesProgram@nsf.gov. NSF is also hosting a webinar to cover the submission requirements and program updates. Register in advance.
- Tuesday, November 16, 2021
1:15 – 2:30pm ET
Joint IES and NSF Funding Opportunity for National AI Research Institutes
IES has partnered with NSF to fund a new initiative encouraging scientists to focus on AI-driven research and development of innovations to improve education. IES strongly encourages education and special education researchers to consider applying. Review the full solicitation for more information.
IES is providing partial funding for a specific theme within the NSF’s National AI Research Institutes solicitation: Theme 6: AI-Augmented Learning to Expand Education Opportunities and Improve Outcomes. This theme has two tracks associated with the two IES Research Centers:
Track A: AI-Driven Digital Platforms to Expand and Accelerate STEM Learning in PreK-12 Settings
Track B: AI-Augmented Learning for Individuals with Disabilities
UF Research Promotion Initiative
UF has a Research Promotion Initiative which aims to connect your research to UF’s Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing (SCM) for potential promotion to media organizations as well as across university-based communications. To enter your research for consideration, please submit your peer-reviewed journal articles, books, literary essays or scholarly monographs to SCM by completing this form. SCM will contact the authors for the winning entries to work collaboratively, often with the communications professionals in your units, to increase recognition of your work. Additionally, the SCM team awards $1,000 to authors of papers selected for promotion, which can be used on research-related activities, such as travel, books and supplies.
UFIT Proposal Support Available for Researchers
UFIT is committed to doing everything possible to enable the research community. Their staff can help make your sponsored funding proposals more competitive with letters and templates related to the computing and infrastructure needs of your project. There are four components that UFIT’s Research Computing staff can assist with: (1) the budget form showing the cost of computing services or hardware acquisition, (2) a commitment letter from Research Computing, (3) a description of the facilities in support of your project is available to include in the proposal’s facilities section, and (4) an explicit data management plan (DMP). The Research Computing website also has examples of justification text for Hardware Acquisition and Consulting Services. All of the templates and sample text mentioned above are available on https://www.rc.ufl.edu/research/proposal-support/. Please contact Research Computing Director Erik Deumens (deumens@ufl.edu) if you need assistance with your proposal’s computing infrastructure documentation.
Annual Power of Math and Power of Reading Summits 2021
Duke Energy and CenterPoint Energy are sponsoring a free summit open to teachers and other educators. The material is for grades K-3. The program will be livestreamed over YouTube, but registration is required. Find out more information and register for the event here.
- Monday, November 22, 2021
Power of Reading - Tuesday, November 23, 2021
Power of Math
Proposed Bill to Increase IES Funding
The Senate Democrats released their FY 2022 appropriations bills, including the Labor/Health/Education appropriations bill that includes funding for IES. The bill matches the President’s request on RD&D by calling for a $70 million increase in funding to a new total of $267.9 million. The bill also increases funding for NCSER by $6.5 million, bringing it to $65 million! As you may remember, the President’s budget flat funded NCSER. The overall IES level of funding is increased by $172 million with nearly $70 million of this providing administrative funding for IES separately (rather than through the overall Education budget). Research-focused organizations have been concerned about declining IES staff levels. In theory, this should give them sufficient funding to begin to rebuild their staffing. This is the Senate Democrats’ proposal and does not reflect the input of the Senate GOP. Congress will attempt to likely reach agreement over all of its appropriations bill in December with the possibility for negotiations extending into the new year.
National Laboratory Research Opportunities
The Office of Educational Programs (OEP) at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) would like to invite you to be part of the OEP community. BNL is a multi-disciplinary, national laboratory and part of the Department of Energy. OEP is a department within BNL that specializes on internships and educational opportunities for students from kindergarten to post docs with the goal of forming a STEM pipeline to research opportunities at National Laboratories. As part of the OEP community you will get notifications to our undergraduate, graduate, post doc, and even faculty research opportunities, including a visiting faculty program that allows for collaboration on projects of mutual interest. You will also have direct access to OEP staff that will help you with any questions related to educational opportunities at the National Laboratory System. OEP also manages all of the DOE’s internship programs along with other BNL internship programs and is committed to working with you and your staff in providing research opportunities for students and faculty at the Laboratory.
