Date

Dear Colleague Letter
Support for Engaging Students and the Public in Polar Research

25 August 2015

Geosciences and Education and Human Resources Directorates
National Science Foundation


25 August 2015

Dear Colleague:

The Geosciences and Education and Human Resources Directorates are
partnering to advance and develop understanding of learning environments
that build upon the rich interdisciplinary resources emerging from polar
investments. To that end, the Division of Polar Programs (PLR), the
Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE) and the Division of Research
on Learning (DRL) encourage proposals that will leverage the extensive
National Science Foundation (NSF) investment in polar sciences and
infrastructure, and STEM education research and development, to promote
an informed citizenry and the next generation of polar scientists. In
order to advance polar science educational opportunities, PLR, DUE and
DRL will accept and review proposals for research and development
projects that facilitate the use of data from polar regions in (1)
undergraduate education or (2) informal science education. Proposals in
response to this Dear Colleague Letter must be submitted to either the
Improving Undergraduate Science Education: Education and Human Resources
(IUSE: EHR) deadline of November 3, 2015, or the Advancing Informal STEM
Learning (AISL) deadline of November 4, 2015.

The integration of research and education is essential to NSF's mission.
http://www.nsf.gov/about/performance/strategic_plan.jsp. In addition,
NSF strives to broaden participation in science and to make the results
of research projects widely accessible to students and the public.
Specifically, PLR seeks to meet these objectives by supporting the
engagement of students, educators, and the public in polar research
projects. While participation of educators and students in both Arctic
and Antarctic research projects are encouraged, logistical costs are
often prohibitive. Therefore, PLR, DUE, and DRL are seeking education
research and development proposals that make use of innovative
technology for remote communication to give large groups of students,
educators and the public access to polar research efforts. Proposals
that engage audiences with long-term investments in polar research and
logistics, (e.g. the Arctic or Antarctic science stations), or databases
with an extended lifespan, (e.g. data from the Arctic Observing
Network), are particularly encouraged. In addition to addressing polar
STEM content, proposals should clearly articulate how they advance
understanding of one of the three EHR core research areas: (1) Learning
and Learning Environments, (2) Broadening Participation, or (3) Work
Force Development. www.nsf.gov/ehr/about.jsp. Projects should explain
plans for sustaining access to data and resources for a period that
extends well beyond the end of any potential award and for evaluating
the outcomes of the investment in education research and development.

In order to support the goals above, NSF encourages the submission of
proposals to either of two solicitations issued by the Directorate of
Education and Human Resources:

  1. Improving Undergraduate Science Education: Education and Human
    Resources (IUSE:EHR) solicitation for the November 3, 2015 deadline.
    http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf15585

  2. Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) deadline of November 4, 2015.
    http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2015/nsf15593/nsf15593.htm

Proposals submitted in response to this letter must be identified by
starting the proposal title with the term: "Polar (NSF 15-114): (Insert
Project Title Here)"

Those considering submitting a proposal in response to this opportunity
are strongly encouraged to contact Lisa Rom: elrom [at] nsf.gov;
703-292-7709, the cognizant program officer who can answer questions and
provide further guidance.

Sincerely,

Joan Ferrini-Mundy
Assistant Director, Education and Human Resources

Roger Wakimoto
Assistant Director, Geosciences


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