Title: Informal Science Education (ISE)
Date: 05/13/04
Replaced: NSF 03-511




Title: Informal Science Education (ISE)
Date: 05/13/04
Replaced: NSF 03-511




Informal Science Education (ISE)

Program Solicitation
NSF 04-579
Replaces Document NSF 03-511

[NSF Logo]   National Science Foundation
             Directorate for Education and Human Resources
                   Division of Elementary, Secondary and Informal Education



Letter of Intent Due Date(s) (required):

(required for ISE Project Grants only; email to ehr-esi-iseloi@nsf.gov)

     June 11, 2004

     November 05, 2004

Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):

     August 13, 2004

     January 06, 2005

Proposals for Planning Grants and Conference, Symposia, and Workshop Grants
may be submitted at any time, following discussion with a cognizant Program
Officer. These types of grants do not require a Letter of Intent.

Grant Supplements for existing ISE awards: Requests must be submitted at
least two months prior to the need for additional funds, following
discussion with a cognizant Program Officer.

SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

General Information

Program Title:

     Informal Science Education (ISE)

Synopsis of Program:

     Program Overview

     The ISE program invests in projects that develop and implement
     informal learning experiences for individuals of all ages and
     backgrounds that are designed to increase their interest,
     engagement, and understanding of science, technology,
     engineering, and mathematics (STEM), as well as projects that
     advance the theory and practice of informal science education.
     Projects may target either public audiences or professionals
     whose work directly affects informal STEM learning. ISE
     projects are expected to demonstrate strategic impact,
     collaboration, and innovation.

Cognizant Program Officer(s):

   * Julie I. Johnson, Program Director [youth & community programs],
     Directorate for Education & Human Resources, Division of Elementary,
     Secondary, & Informal Education, 885 S, telephone: (703) 292-5117,
     fax: (703) 292-9044, email: jjohnson@nsf.gov

   * Valentine H. Kass, Program Director [media projects], Directorate for
     Education & Human Resources, Division of Elementary, Secondary, &
     Informal Education, 885 S, telephone: (703) 292-5095, fax: (703)
     292-9044, email: vkass@nsf.gov

   * Orrin Shane, Program Director [exhibits and museum projects],
     Directorate for Education & Human Resources, Division of Elementary,
     Secondary, & Informal Education, 885 S, telephone: (703) 292-5106,
     fax: (703) 292-9044, email: oshane@nsf.gov

   * David A. Ucko, Program Director [exhibits and museum programs],
     Directorate for Education & Human Resources, Division of Elementary,
     Secondary, & Informal Education, 885 S, telephone: (703) 292-5126,
     fax: (703) 292-9044, email: ducko@nsf.gov

   * Barry A. Van Deman, Section Head, Science Literacy, Directorate for
     Education & Human Resources, Division of Elementary, Secondary, &
     Informal Education, 885 S, telephone: (703) 292-5124, fax: (703)
     292-9044, email: bvandema@nsf.gov

   * Sylvia M. James, Program Officer, Directorate for Education & Human
     Resources, Division of Elementary, Secondary, & Informal Education,
     885 S, telephone: (703) 292-8620, fax: (703) 292-9044, email:
     sjames@nsf.gov

Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s):

   * 47.076 --- Education and Human Resources

Eligibility Information

   * Organization Limit: None Specified.
   * PI Eligibility Limit:

     An individual may serve as Principal Investigator (PI) on only one
     full proposal for each round of competition.

   * Limit on Number of Proposals: None Specified.

Award Information

   * Anticipated Type of Award: Standard or Continuing Grant
   * Estimated Number of Awards: 30
   * Anticipated Funding Amount: $15 million, pending availability of
     funds.

     ISE Project Grant Proposals: Project duration may be from one to five
     years. The level of funding depends on the nature and scope of the
     project. Awards may range from $100,000 to a maximum of $3 million,
     except that up to two projects up to $5 million each may be considered
     for major efforts (e.g., multi-institutional project, new television
     series), pending availability of funds.

     Planning Grants. Project duration is to be no more than two years. The
     maximum award is $75,000.

     Conferences, Symposia, and Workshops. Project duration is expected to
     be no more than two years. The range for these awards is approximately
     $50,000 to $200,000.

     Grant Supplements for existing ISE awards. The maximum award is
     $200,000 or 20% of the total amount of the original award, whichever
     is less.

Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions

A. Proposal Preparation Instructions

   * Letters of Intent: Submission of Letters of Intent is required for ISE
     Project Grants only. Please see the full text of this solicitation for
     further information.
   * Full Proposal Preparation Instructions: This solicitation contains
     information that supplements the standard Grant Proposal Guide (GPG)
     proposal preparation guidelines. Please see the full text of this
     solicitation for further information.

B. Budgetary Information

   * Cost Sharing Requirements: Cost Sharing is not required.
   * Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations: Not Applicable.
   * Other Budgetary Limitations: Not Applicable.

C. Due Dates

   * Letters of Intent

     (required for ISE Project Grants only; email to
     ehr-esi-iseloi@nsf.gov):

          June 11, 2004
          November 05, 2004
   * Full Proposal Deadline Date(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):
          August 13, 2004
          January 06, 2005

Proposal Review Information

   * Merit Review Criteria: National Science Board approved criteria.
     Additional merit review considerations apply. Please see the full text
     of this solicitation for further information.

Award Administration Information

   * Award Conditions: Standard NSF award conditions apply.
   * Reporting Requirements: Additional reporting requirements apply.
     Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

     Summary of Program Requirements

  I. Introduction

 II. Program Description

III. Eligibility Information

 IV. Award Information

  V. Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions
       A. Proposal Preparation Instructions
       B. Budgetary Information
       C. Due Dates
       D. FastLane Requirements

 VI. Proposal Review Information
       A. NSF Proposal Review Process
       B. Review Protocol and Associated Customer Service Standard

VII. Award Administration Information
       A. Notification of the Award
       B. Award Conditions
       C. Reporting Requirements

VIII.Contacts for Additional Information

 IX. Other Programs of Interest

I. INTRODUCTION

In addition to the learning that occurs in formal settings such as the
classroom, informal learning happens throughout people's lives in a highly
personalized manner based on their specific interests and past experiences.
This type of learning is voluntary, self-directed, and often takes place
within a social context (Crane et al., 1994; Falk, 2001). The Informal
Science Education (ISE) program invests in the development of experiences
that encourage informal learning in science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics (STEM). It promotes public engagement with and understanding of
STEM through such means as exhibitions, media projects, and educational
programs. ISE projects reach audiences of all ages and backgrounds across
the nation in museums, theaters, community centers, and many other
settings, including outdoor environments, as well as in their homes.

The ISE program seeks to support activities at the frontiers of informal
science learning that will advance the state-of-the-art by furthering a
cycle of advancing knowledge and improving practice (Rand Mathematics Study
Panel, 2003). Effective practice, whether implemented through an
exhibition, program, or other means, should be based to the greatest extent
possible on prior related work and current research in learning. Evaluation
of these practices leads to findings that provide insights and questions
for research. Subsequent research generates new knowledge that in turn will
inform the development of improved informal learning experiences. By
funding projects along this cycle, the ISE program can strengthen the
connection between research and practice and thereby enhance the capacity
of the field to educate the public in informal settings.

The ISE program will therefore continue to invest in projects that directly
target public audiences for self-directed STEM learning, such as permanent
and traveling exhibitions; films; television and radio series; web-based
projects; citizen science programs; and youth and community programs. In
addition, ISE will support projects that target professionals to further
knowledge and the implementation of practice, such as through research
studies, conferences, formation of networks, and professional development;
these projects should strengthen the infrastructure for informal science
learning by the public.

To achieve the greatest return on its investments, the ISE program
encourages projects that will "raise the bar" in the field of informal
science education. Thus, in making funding decisions, the program will give
particular emphasis to the ability of projects to demonstrate the following
characteristics:

Strategic Impact. In addition to reaching their target audiences, projects
should seek to improve theory or practice through approaches, strategies,
findings, or models having impact on the institutions or systems that
promote informal learning. By identifying and influencing a leverage point
for advancing the field in a meaningful way, a project can extend its
impact beyond the lifetime of the grant or the project deliverables.

Collaboration. Projects should take advantage of partnerships to achieve
more significant outcomes than would otherwise be possible. Organizations
should seek to extend project impacts through leveraging the respective
competencies of partners having complementary resources and expertise.

Innovation. Projects should "push the envelope" through creative new ways
to strengthen informal science education. In a manner similar to other NSF
programs, ISE seeks to fund projects at the frontiers of informal science
education that will advance the field.

Through these means, the ISE program can invest its resources in projects
that most effectively advance the engagement and understanding of STEM by
all Americans, as well as the institutions and organizations that serve
them.

II. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

ISE projects have as their primary audience informal learners, from young
children to senior citizens, or professionals whose work impacts them
directly.  In contrast with formal learning, informal learning refers to
those activities that are not primarily for school use, part of an ongoing
school curriculum, or require mandatory participation in a credited school
activity.

A. ISE Project Grants

The ISE program invests in projects that target the following two types of
audiences:

1. Public Audiences: For self-directed learning in informal settings

Projects should seek national, significant regional, or community-wide
reach, depending on the methods used. They should create and sustain
audience engagement through effective ISE techniques. Proposed projects
should be grounded in research on learning as well as practice, building on
the prior work, experience, and findings of others.

Proposals in this category must meet the following eligibility
requirements:

     Audience : The primary target audience must be informal learners,
     which may include families; children and youth (outside of school
     programs); and adults. Projects are encouraged to create linkages
     with formal education if appropriate, but students and teachers
     may be included only as secondary audiences for the ISE program.

     Method: The proposed activities must be based on voluntary,
     self-directed learning by the primary target audience. Project
     deliverables include--but are not limited to--exhibitions, media
     of all types, and educational programs. Summer camps, school
     field trips, science fairs, and competitions are not funded
     through this program.

     Location: Project activities may be carried out in any location
     that reaches the intended target audience outside of formal
     education settings. Examples include museums (e.g., science
     centers, natural history museums, zoos, aquariums, planetariums,
     arboretums or botanical gardens, history or art museums);
     community centers; libraries; theaters, and the home.

2. Professional Audiences: For enhancement of informal STEM learning,
knowledge, infrastructure, or systems

ISE seeks innovative projects that address issues central to improving
understanding of the principles and implementation of the practice of
informal science education. Projects that target professionals might
involve research and development in informal science learning; formation of
collaboratives, consortia, or networks that bring institutions together;
field-wide professional development; or other strategies for strengthening
the ISE infrastructure. Courses, with or without credit, are not funded by
this program.

Proposals in this category must meet the following eligibility
requirements:

     Organization or Institution: Projects may impact organizations or
     institutions, such as national or regional associations; museums
     (e.g., science center, natural history museum, zoo, aquarium,
     planetarium, arboretum or botanical garden); community
     organizations; television and radio stations or networks, or
     others that directly affect informal STEM learning.

     Audience: Targeted individuals may include: staff, managers,
     board members, researchers, evaluators, funders, media producers
     or disseminators, exhibit designers, or other professionals whose
     work directly impacts informal science education.

B. Other Types of ISE Grant Proposals

ISE also makes a limited number of grants in the following special
categories.

1. Planning Grants

Planning grants are intended for the exploratory phase of highly innovative
projects or aspects of complex ISE projects that require resources beyond
those usually needed for project development. Examples include
demonstration of the proof of concept or project planning for a large
national or regional collaboration. Proposers are strongly encouraged to
seek guidance from an ISE Program Officer before submitting a planning
proposal.

Applicants should be sufficiently advanced in their project
conceptualization to be able to present the general approach of the final
project and a detailed description of the planning activity goals and
methods. Planning grants are not intended to implement projects. Rather,
they are intended to lead to submission of a full proposal that would fund
the project being planned based on subsequent merit review. Expenses
directly involved in preparing a full proposal are not eligible
for funding.

ISE will support planning grants under the following conditions: (1) they
are small scale or exploratory in nature; (2) the duration does not exceed
two years; and (3) awards are non-renewable. Annual and Final reports
are required; project results should be broadly disseminated whenever
appropriate.

     Format:  The planning grant proposal should describe the impact
     of the larger project should it be implemented, while detailing
     the deliverables and project design for the planning phase. It
     should use the format for full proposals, addressing the specific
     questions in this solicitation and the emphases of strategic
     impact, innovation, and collaboration. Planning grant proposals
     must fully address the NSF review criteria of intellectual merit
     and broader impact, including the additional ISE criteria.

2. Conference, Symposia, and Workshop Grants

Conferences, symposia, and workshops provide a specific format for certain
projects targeting professionals. Conferences are one way that ISE can
provide support to build capacity in the field of informal
science learning. These special grants are intended to assemble experts for
purposes of discussing issues of relevance to the informal learning
community; the primary target audiences are ISE professionals, not the
general public or primarily professionals from other fields. For example,
conferences may be based on promoting new partnerships and
collaborations, or exploring findings and effective practices in such areas
as informal learning research and evaluation. Proposers are strongly
encouraged to seek guidance from an ISE Program Officer before submitting a
conference proposal.

Requests generally should be made at least one year in advance of the
scheduled date.  Conferences or meetings and the facilities in which they
are held must be accessible to participants with disabilities. The range of
these awards is between $50,000 to $200,000. The budget may include
publication costs; dissemination should be a major project component.

     Format:  Proposals should be submitted to NSF using the
     guidelines for full proposals described in this solicitation.
     Proposals must identify the intended audience; how participants
     will be invited or selected; tentative agenda and speakers;
     promotion and marketing; post-conference deliverables;
     dissemination. For further information on proposal submission,
     see GPG, Chapter II, Section D.7.

3. Grant Supplements

For existing ISE awards, ISE will consider requests for small amounts of
supplemental funding to ensure completion of the original scope of work
based on changes in conditions after the award was made or to take
advantage of opportunities to extend further the project impact.
Supplemental funding will not be approved for such purposes as defraying
costs associated with increases in salaries or additional indirect cost
reimbursement (see GPG Chapter V, Section B.4). ISE supplements are limited
to $200,000 or 20% of the total award amount, whichever is less; only one
supplement will be considered per ISE award. For their Supplement requests
to be considered, PIs must be up to date in the submission of Annual
Reports. Awardees are strongly encouraged to discuss the need with the
Cognizant Program Officer prior to submission.

     Format: Requests for supplemental funding must include an update
     of the progress of the original grant including data to support
     progress, description of the proposed work (including rationale,
     audience, design, evaluation), a budget for the requested funds,
     and a narrative justification of expenses. Proposals are
     submitted using the Supplemental Funding Request function in
     FastLane.

For Further Information

www.ehr.nsf.gov/esie/programs/ise/ise.asp: NSF Informal Science Education
(ISE) Program.

www.informalscience.org: Resource for research and techniques related to
informal science learning.

www.ehr.nsf.gov,  www.ehr.nsf.gov/esie: NSF Education and Human Resources
(EHR) Directorate and the Division of Elementary, Secondary and Informal
Education (ESIE), respectively.

References and Resources

Austin, J. E. (2000). The Collaboration Challenge. Jossey-Bass.

Bohan-Baker, M. (ed.) (2003). Evaluating Community-based Initiatives. The
Evaluation Exchange, 9(3). Harvard Family Research Project.

Chittenden, D., Farmelo, G. & Lewenstein, B. V (eds.) (2004). Creating
Connections: Museums and the Public Understanding of Current Research.
AltaMira Press.

Crane, V., Nicholson, H., Chen, M. & Bitgood, S. (1994). Informal Science
Learning: What the Research Says about Television, Science Museums and
Community-based Projects. Research Communications Ltd.

De Vita, C. J. & Fleming, C. (eds.). (2001). Building Capacity in Nonprofit
Organizations. The Urban Institute.

Falk, J. H. (2001). Free-Choice Science Education: How We Learn Science
Outside of School. Teachers College Press.

Falk, J. H. & Dierking, L. D. (2000). Learning from Museums: Visitor
Experiences and the Making of Meaning. AltaMira Press.

Gregory, J. & Miller, S. (1998). Science in Public: Communication, Culture,
and Credibility. Perseus Publishing.

Hein, G. E. (1998). Learning in the Museum. Routledge.

Kirshner, B., O'Donoghue, J. L. & McLaughlin, M. W. (2003). Youth
Participation: Improving Institutions and Communities. New Directions for
Youth Development, No. 96. Jossey Bass.

Linden, R. (2002). Working Across Boundaries. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

National Institute for Out-of-School Time (2004). Making the Case: A Fact
Sheet on Children and Youth in Out-of-School Time. Center for Research on
Women.

Rand Mathematics Study Panel (2003). Mathematical Proficiency for All
Students: Toward a Strategic Research and Development Program in
Mathematics Education. Rand Science & Technology Policy Institute.

Schauble, L, Leinhardt, G & Martin, L. (1997). A Framework for Organizing a
Cumulative Research Agenda in Informal Learning Contexts. Journal of Museum
Education, 22(2 & 3), 3-8.

Senge, P. M. (1998). The Practice of Innovation. Leader to Leader, No. 9,
Summer 1998.

St. John, M., Perry, D. & Huntwork, D. (1994). Investments in Informal
Science Education: A Framework for Evaluation and Research. Inverness
Research Associates.

Wartella, E, Lee, J. H. & Caokivitz, M. A. (2002). Children and Interactive
Media--Research Compendium Update. Markle Foundation.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

The categories of proposers identified in the Grant Proposal Guide are
eligible to submit proposals under this program announcement/solicitation.
An individual may serve as Principal Investigator (PI) on only one full
proposal for each round of competition.

IV. AWARD INFORMATION

Duration and Funding Level:

ISE Full Proposals:  Project duration may be from one to five years. The
level of funding depends on the nature and scope of the project. Awards may
range from $100,000 to a maximum of $3 million, except that up to two
projects up to $5 million each may be considered for major efforts (e.g.,
multi-institutional project, new television series), pending availability
of funds.

Planning Grants. Project duration is to be no more than two years. The
maximum award is $75,000.

Conferences, Symposia, and Workshops. Project duration is expected to be no
more than two years. The range for these awards is approximately $50,000 to
$200,000.

Grant Supplements. The maximum award is $200,000 or 20% of the total amount
of the original award, whichever is less.

V. PROPOSAL PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

A. Proposal Preparation Instructions

Letters of Intent (required for ISE Project Grants only):

A Letter of Intent (LOI) is required in order to submit a full proposal
(but not required prior to proposals for Planning Grants, Conference
Grants, or Grant Supplements). The LOIs helps ISE staff identify the
required numbers and qualifications of reviewers and panelists. In
addition, LOIs enable Program Officers to provide feedback to PIs on
appropriateness of the proposed projects to the ISE program. A PI should
submit a LOI as early as possible in advance of the due date; Program
Officer feedback will be provided as expeditiously as possible. Note that
LOIs will also be required for any full proposals being resubmitted.

     Format: A LOI is limited in length to no more than four
     single-spaced pages (12-point font) and should include all of the
     information listed below.  It should summarize the essential
     features of the project, using the format for the Project
     Description of a full proposal presented in this solicitation.

     Proposed Title of project

     Submitting Institution

     Names and affiliations of PI and co-PIs; e -mail and phone number
     of PI

     Impact. Summarize the intended strategic impact; public or
     professional target audience; intended public or professional
     impact; and means for evaluating impact, including the external
     evaluator.

     Collaboration. Identify the senior staff; advisory committee
     members; consultants; contractors; and primary organizational
     partners, describing how they will achieve impacts through
     collaboration not otherwise possible.

     Innovation. Briefly describe the primary project deliverables;
     how they will achieve the intended impacts; their primary STEM
     content; the project plan; and how it builds on research and
     prior work.

LOIs must be submitted by the due date to the following e-mail address:
ehr-esi-iseloi@nsf.gov. The e-mail subject line should include the PI name
and project title. The LOI should appear both as text in the message and as
an attachment (PDF or Word format). No supplementary or additional
materials will be accepted.

ISE will indicate receipt of the required LOI via an e-mail reply. This
acknowledgment will establish eligibility for submission of the full
proposal based on the LOI. The PI must save this e-mail and include it
among the Supplementary Documents uploaded via FastLane. ISE Project Grant
proposals submitted without this LOI e-mail acknowledgment will be returned
without review.

Full Proposal Instructions:

Proposals submitted in response to this program announcement/solicitation
should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the general guidelines
contained in the NSF Grant Proposal Guide (GPG). The complete text of the
GPG is available electronically on the NSF Website at:
http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?gpg. Paper copies of the GPG may be
obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-7827
or by e-mail from pubs@nsf.gov.

All proposals are submitted through FastLane. They must include: Cover
Sheet, Project Summary, Table of Contents, Project Description, References
Cited, Biographical Sketches, Budgets (including Justification), Current
and Pending Support, and Supplementary Documents (as required). Specific
requirements for ISE that supplement the Grant Proposal Guide are described
below.

COVER SHEET

Proposers are reminded to include the program solicitation number of
this solicitation; failure to do so will delay processing of the proposal.

PROJECT SUMMARY

This overview should succinctly describe the intended project impacts,
deliverables, and means by which they will achieve those impacts. It must
specifically summarize  the project's intellectual merit and broader
impacts (including the Additional Review Criteria in Section VI.A ) in
separate sections labeled as such; if the Summary does not directly
explicitly address intellectual merit and broader impacts, the
proposal will be returned without review. This Project Summary, which  is
limited to one single-spaced page, should demonstrate how the project
addresses the characteristics of strategic impact, collaboration,and
innovation.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

ISE strongly encourages projects to be developed working "backwards" based
from desired impacts rather than starting with a particular deliverable,
such as an exhibition or television series. For this reason, the sequence
of questions to be addressed here starts with the project impacts and the
target audiences, then the project team, deliverables, and project
design for achieving the intended impacts.

For consideration by the ISE program, this project narrative must follow
the format described here and explicitly address the questions under the
three headings that follow (do not retype the questions in the narrative,
however). The Project Description is limited to 15 single-spaced pages in
length.

1. Impact

What is the most critical strategic impact that your project intends to
produce? What continuing impact is this project likely to have?

     Projects should seek to produce a lasting impact on the field of
     informal science education that extends beyond those achieved
     with their target audiences, whether public or professional. They
     should strive to advance knowledge or practice that extends the
     capacity of the field to educate the public in informal settings.

Who is the intended PUBLIC or PROFESSIONAL audience for your project?

     For PUBLIC audiences:

     Who is the primary target audience for this project in terms of
     age range and other attributes? How many individuals will be
     directly reached by this project during the award and up to five
     years following the grant period? Provide a basis for this
     estimate. How does this project maximize reach to audiences
     nationally, regionally, or community-wide?

          Impact often can be extended through strategic
          collaboration with organizations that offer additional
          access to target audiences.

     For PROFESSIONAL audiences:

     What are the types of informal learning organizations on
     which your project will have the greatest impact? Examples
     include: national or regional associations; museums (e.g.,
     science center, natural history museum, zoo, aquarium,
     planetarium, arboretum or botanical garden); community
     organizations; media producers or disseminators; exhibit
     designers; or others that directly affect informal STEM learning.

     What categories of professionals does your project specifically
     target to achieve this impact? Examples include: staff, managers,
     board members, researchers/evaluators, funders, or others whose
     work directly impacts informal science education.

What do you already know about the knowledge, interests, attitudes, and
needs of your target audience(s)? How do you know? What compelling target
audience need does this project address?

     Successful proposals are based on knowledge of the target
     audience, as well as identification of significant challenges and
     opportunities for enhancing informal science learning.

How does this project increase participation of underserved audiences in
STEM? Describe your strategies for attracting and engaging these audiences.

     ISE seeks to contribute to the development of a diverse,
     internationally competitive and globally-engaged workforce of
     scientists, engineers, and technicians, in addition to
     informed citizens. Activities should stimulate increased
     participation in STEM of underserved and underrepresented groups
     (e.g., minorities, women, girls, persons with disabilities, youth
     and adults from economically disadvantaged areas) or regions
     (e.g., rural areas, small towns, and urban areas). Projects
     should seek to match program content to the needs of diverse
     audiences, target their communities, partner with youth and
     community organizations that serve them, and incorporate
     appropriate strategies for outreach and project dissemination.

What is the intended impact of your project on its target audience(s)?
Identify the most important intended impacts (up to three). For each,
indicate how you will measure or assess that impact and what value of that
measure or evidence will serve as your criterion for defining project
success. Explain your selections and provide the rationale for your
selections.

What is the evaluation strategy you will use for the impact measures or
assessments that you have identified? Provide a rationale.

     All ISE projects should include plans for a summative evaluation
     based on qualitative and quantitative data that document the
     extent to which the intended impacts have been achieved, along
     with any unanticipated impacts. This study should seek to further
     theory and practice in informal learning by sharing lessons
     learned from both positive and negative findings. It should be
     conducted by an independent evaluator experienced in informal
     learning. The web site www.informalscience.org posts information
     provided by evaluation firms that offer services in this area
     (listing here does not represent an endorsement by NSF).  ISE
     encourages publication and sharing of summative
     evaluation findings widely with the field; at a minimum, reports
     must be submitted to this web site for dissemination.

2. Collaboration

For each of the following categories, who are the key project team members,
their areas of expertise, their roles, and their extent of commitment to
this project? Provide a rationale for your selections.

     a. Senior Staff
     b. Advisory Committee Members
     c. Consultants
     d. Contractors

     Project leaders, key team members, and advisory committee
     members should collectively provide the expertise necessary to
     conduct the project, including relevant experience based in
     informal science learning, STEM content, knowledge of target
     audiences, any media used, and evaluation. Projects are
     encouraged to include members of underserved groups on their
     teams.

Who are your primary organizational partners? Identify each organization,
its expertise, role in the project, extent of commitment, and contact
person.

     Potential partners could be drawn from informal learning
     organizations, media organizations, community organizations,
     professional associations, research institutions, school systems,
     and universities. (School systems, universities, and other
     entities for which informal learning is not the primary focus
     should partner with one or more informal learning organizations,
     which must be actively involved in both project planning and
     implementation.)

     Partnerships and strategic alliances can be challenging to
     implement, but they often make it possible to achieve greater
     impact. For example, partnerships between larger and smaller
     institutions developing projects that serve both may promote
     capacity building in the field. Appropriately-selected
     partners can bring access to audiences, complementary
     resources, and expertise that extend project outcomes.

How will the project partner organizations work together to achieve the
deliverables and produce impacts that would not otherwise be possible?
Describe your management structure and strategy for fostering or
strengthening collaboration among the partners.

3. Innovation

What deliverables will your project produce that will lead to the intended
impacts? Identify key milestones in their development, clearly indicating
the status of every major deliverable by the end of each project year.

     The ISE program seeks innovative ways to strengthen informal
     science learning. Innovation, which may be  incremental or
     sweeping, can take many forms, including improvements in
     deliverables, new types or combinations of deliverables, or
     deployment through new strategies. Innovation is more than just
     something new, however. It should represent a creative approach
     or solution for improving a deliverable or other ways in which
     important needs are addressed, building upon prior efforts and
     educational research.

     Proposers are encouraged to include complementary deliverables
     that are tightly integrated and created strategically to enhance
     the intended project impacts. Examples of deliverables for public
     audiences include: exhibition (permanent or traveling); film or
     video; educational program, kit, or materials; radio program or
     series; software; television program or series; web site.
     Examples of deliverables for professionals include:
     collaborative, consortium, or network; conference, seminar, or
     workshop; media programs; professional development; publication;
     research study; web site. The yearly status of each deliverable
     will serve as a basis for assessing project progress in the
     Annual Reports.

Describe each deliverable in sufficient detail for reviewers to assess its
ability to achieve the intended impacts, addressing the specific
issues listed below by type of deliverable.

     Exhibit Deliverables

     Describe a walk-through from the visitor's perspective that
     highlights key design elements and experiences; the relationship
     of these experiences to STEM content; details about
     accessibility; and logistics of exhibition tour (if applicable).
     In Supplementary Documents, provide a schematic floor plan, as
     well as indications of interest or commitment to host traveling
     exhibitions.

          ISE supports both traveling and permanent exhibits that
          are visitor-centered, inquiry-based, and promote active
          learning. Where possible, projects are encouraged to
          consider smaller versions of exhibits or exhibit
          components for dissemination to additional venues, such
          as small museums and science centers, libraries, and
          community centers. To the extent feasible, exhibit
          developers should consider the principles of universal
          design and fabrication using environmentally-friendly
          materials and processes.

     Media (Film, Video, Radio) Deliverables

     Explain the program/series content and format; how the content
     will be presented; and a plan for outreach and complementary
     products designed to extend the learning experiences of target
     audiences. In Supplementary Documents, provide a treatment for
     one or more programs; documentation of interest or commitment
     from a major national or regional broadcast/cable outlet, or an
     indication of interest and distribution plan for a non-broadcast
     film; and sample of prior work.

          Media deliverables are generally designed for national
          distribution. If a STEM topic is relevant to a
          particular area of the country, media projects designed
          for regional broadcast may be supported.

     Research Deliverables

     Present clearly-defined research questions, including
     identification of independent and dependent variables; explain
     the methodologies used and their appropriateness to the project.

          The objective of research studies should be to expand
          understanding of the theory or practice of effective
          informal STEM learning by investigating important
          aspects that have significant potential to advance the
          field.  Research studies may be well-defined elements
          of a larger project for public audiences or a separate
          project for informal learning professionals.  ISE will
          not accept proposals closely related to any being
          considered by the EHR Division of Research, Evaluation,
          and Communication (REC). ISE expects proposals to meet
          the highest quality standards of educational research.

     Web Deliverables

     Present organization of web site; user interface; examples of
     online activities; means for attracting and tracking users;
     accessibility. In Supplementary Documents, include a flow chart
     or logic model and descriptions of relevant prior work.

          Effective web-based ISE deliverables should be
          interactive and use a variety of techniques to hold the
          attention of the learner; exemplify scientific or
          technological processes; encourage off-line follow-up
          activities; provide feedback and guidance to users;
          have multiple entry points; and accommodate users with
          special needs to the extent possible. ISE does not
          support institutional web sites that primarily serve as
          marketing tools or basic information resources about
          institutions.

     Youth and Community Program Deliverables

     Describe the concept and organization of proposed programs;
     examples of activities; and key issues (e.g., participant
     recruitment, retention, and language barriers). In Supplementary
     Documents, provide documentation of commitment from all partners,
     local and regional/national; and samples of intended activities.

          Creative project designs should provide participants
          with authentic STEM-based experiences. For example,
          projects might encourage family involvement in science
          and mathematics activities, or allow participants to
          contribute to ongoing scientific research as in citizen
          science. Youth and community projects result in
          high-quality program designs and the resources to
          support them including kits, activity materials,
          workbooks, information for parents, and multi-media
          products for national dissemination.

          PIs that present new or improved models must clearly
          describe how what is proposed differs from and improves
          upon existing models. ISE may support prototype
          projects to be piloted and disseminated through a
          network of partnering organizations that leverage
          organizational strengths and resources.

What are the primary STEM disciplines for the project deliverables? Briefly
describe the age-appropriate STEM content.

What strategies will you use throughout the development process for
ensuring the accuracy of content in deliverables and appropriateness to the
target audiences?

     ISE projects focus on STEM concepts and themes, processes, and
     skills, and inquiry. Appropriate STEM content encompasses all NSF
     program areas, including biology; computer/information sciences;
     engineering; environmental sciences; geosciences; mathematics;
     physical sciences; and social, behavioral, and economic sciences.
     Strategies and mechanisms must be in place for ensuring accuracy
     of content and appropriateness to the target audience. Projects
     are encouraged to incorporate strategies for stimulating interest
     in STEM-related careers. ISE also seeks to engage the public in
     aspects of current research, including emerging STEM content and
     NSF priority areas (currently biocomplexity in the environment;
     information technology research; nanoscale science and
     engineering; mathematical sciences; and human and social
     dynamics), the process or nature of discovery and design, and the
     implications or consequences of research. While ISE requires a
     primary focus on STEM content, the program encourages connections
     to the humanities and arts, as well as proposals submitted by
     institutions representing those fields.

How did you select the project deliverables and how will they be integrated
to produce the greatest impact? What is your project plan? How will each
deliverable be developed to achieve the greatest impact, and how will it be
produced cost-effectively?

     Every component of the project should be aligned in a way to
     enhance its ability to achieve the intended impacts. ISE strongly
     encourages the integration of approaches and techniques across
     traditional boundaries to accomplish that end. The proposal must
     demonstrate how the deliverables address the needs and interests
     of a clearly defined target audience, segmented into audience
     subgroups as appropriate.

What are the evaluation strategies you will use in developing your
deliverables? Provide a rationale for the approaches taken.

     Projects should be based on initial front-end research that
     relates the project to the needs and interests of target
     audiences. Formative research should be employed to obtain
     audience feedback at early stages. For example, prototypes, pilot
     studies, or other forms of preliminary testing with target
     audiences are expected as part of the project design whenever
     possible. Projects also may include remedial evaluation where
     appropriate.

How does your project design build on specific informal learning research?
On prior efforts in this area by yourself (including NSF grants) and
others?

     Proposals must demonstrate that they are soundly based on
     research in education and informal learning in particular, in
     addition to the lessons learned from prior practice and related
     work.

     Results of Prior NSF Support. For NSF awards received within the
     past five years, the prospective PI or co-PI must describe the
     projects and outcomes in sufficient detail for reviewers to
     assess their results. Full proposals based on Planning Grants
     must clearly demonstrate how the project builds on results
     from that award. Each project should be identified by grant
     number, funding amount, period of support, title, summary of
     outcomes, and any publications or presentations that acknowledge
     the award. Summative evaluation results and lessons
     learned should be clearly described. Executive summaries of
     evaluation studies (not entire reports) should be included as
     Supplementary Documents. Note: A new grant cannot be awarded
     unless the PI and co-PIs have submitted Final Reports for all
     completed NSF-funded projects.

What are the areas of greatest potential risk in successfully achieving
the intended project impacts? Describe your strategies for minimizing these
risks.

     In its efforts to advance the leading edge of informal science
     education, the ISE program is willing to support projects of
     higher risk that demonstrate the potential to yield significant
     payoffs. Proposals must demonstrate an understanding of those
     risks and identify appropriate measures for managing them.

BUDGETS

Note that ISE proposals no longer require cost sharing or other leveraged
resources. See Budgetary Information (Section V.B), for additional guidance
on budget preparation.

CURRENT AND PENDING SUPPORT

Proposals must include this form for the PI, any co-PIs, and senior project
personnel. The proposal being submitted should be listed first on the form
and identified as pending.

SUPPLEMENTARY DOCUMENTS

Because reviewers may be asked to assess a substantial number of competing
proposals, the Project Description should provide sufficient information
for a reviewer unfamiliar with the specific content or context to make a
reasoned judgment. It may be necessary to provide some additional
supporting information, as noted in the section on project deliverables.
However, PIs should be judicious in the number of pages submitted. Do not
include lengthy publications or complete reports (executive summary only).
Media that cannot be submitted through FastLane may be provided in the form
of DVD, CD-ROM, VHS or audiotape; 15 copies (5 for Planning Grants),
labeled with proposal number, title, and PI, must be sent to: Informal
Science Education Program, EHR/ESIE, Room 885, National Science Foundation,
4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22230 [phone: (703) 292-5087]. These
materials, which will not be returned, must be received within 5 business
days following electronic submission; clearly mark the package
re: Supplementary Documents.

The Supplementary Documents must include a copy of the e-mail message from
ISE indicating receipt of a LOI for the proposed project. ISE Project Grant
proposals submitted without this LOI e-mail acknowledgment will be returned
without review.

For Award Durations and Funding Levels, please see Section IV above.

Proposers are reminded to identify the program announcement/solicitation
number (04-579) in the program announcement/solicitation block on the
proposal Cover Sheet. Compliance with this requirement is critical to
determining the relevant proposal processing guidelines. Failure to submit
this information may delay processing.

B. Budgetary Information

Cost Sharing:

Cost sharing is not required in proposals submitted under this Program
Solicitation.

Budget Preparation Instructions:

Budgets should provide the most cost-effective means of producing the
project deliverables and achieving the intended impacts. They must be
accompanied by an explanation and justification that corresponds to budget
line items.

Funds cannot be requested for operational expenses or for equipment that is
not an essential component of a project deliverable, such as an exhibition.
Include under Travel (E) the cost for the PI to attend a two-day meeting
every other year at NSF. Any consultants included in line G.3 must be
compensated on a daily rate not to exceed the current NSF maximum rate.
Each Subaward on line G.5 requires a complete set of Proposal Budget
forms accompanied by line item justifications, as well as the basis for
selecting the subawardee.

NSF funds requested by an ISE project grant proposal are limited to no more
than $3 million over the term of the project, with the exception that one
or two major projects each up to $5 million in total may be considered per
year, pending availability of funds. The ISE program does not require cost
sharing of any kind; line M on all budget forms should be zero. However,
the program recognizes that certain types of projects cannot be funded
solely through ISE grant funds. Should a project depend on other sources of
funding, proposals should include in the Supplementary Documents a
spreadsheet that shows an itemized total project budget and the sources of
the additional funds. The requirement to provide information and budgets
for the work to be performed and/or funded by parties other than NSF is
intended to allow proposers, reviewers, and NSF Program Officers to clearly
delineate who is responsible for performing and funding each part of the
overall large project.  Reference to these additional funds is for
informational purposes only, and they will not be subject to audit.

C. Due Dates

Proposals must be submitted by the following date(s):

Letters of Intent (required for ISE Project Grants only; email to
ehr-esi-iseloi@nsf.gov):

     June 11, 2004

     November 05, 2004

Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):

     August 13, 2004

     January 06, 2005

Proposals for Planning Grants and Conference Grants may be submitted at any
time, following discussion with a Program Officer.

Grant Supplements: Requests must be submitted at least two months prior to
the need for additional funds, following discussion with the Cognizant
Program Officer.

D. FastLane Requirements

Proposers are required to prepare and submit all proposals for this
announcement/solicitation through the FastLane system. Detailed
instructions for proposal preparation and submission via FastLane are
available at: https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/a1/newstan.htm. For FastLane
user support, call the FastLane Help Desk at 1-800-673-6188 or e-mail
fastlane@nsf.gov. The FastLane Help Desk answers general technical
questions related to the use of the FastLane system. Specific questions
related to this program announcement/solicitation should be referred to the
NSF program staff contact(s) listed in Section VIII of this
announcement/solicitation.

Submission of Electronically Signed Cover Sheets. The Authorized
Organizational Representative (AOR) must electronically sign the proposal
Cover Sheet to submit the required proposal certifications (see Chapter II,
Section C of the Grant Proposal Guide for a listing of the certifications).
The AOR must provide the required electronic certifications within five
working days following the electronic submission of the proposal. Proposers
are no longer required to provide a paper copy of the signed Proposal Cover
Sheet to NSF. Further instructions regarding this process are available on
the FastLane Website at: http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov

VI. PROPOSAL REVIEW INFORMATION

A. NSF Proposal Review Process

Reviews of proposals submitted to NSF are solicited from peers with
expertise in the substantive area of the proposed research or education
project. These reviewers are selected by Program Officers charged with the
oversight of the review process. NSF invites the proposer to suggest, at
the time of submission, the names of appropriate or inappropriate
reviewers. Care is taken to ensure that reviewers have no conflicts with
the proposer. Special efforts are made to recruit reviewers from
non-academic institutions, minority-serving institutions, or adjacent
disciplines to that principally addressed in the proposal.

The National Science Board approved revised criteria for evaluating
proposals at its meeting on March 28, 1997 (NSB 97-72). All NSF proposals
are evaluated through use of the two merit review criteria. In some
instances, however, NSF will employ additional criteria as required to
highlight the specific objectives of certain programs and activities.

On July 8, 2002, the NSF Director issued Important Notice 127,
Implementation of new Grant Proposal Guide Requirements Related to the
Broader Impacts Criterion. This Important Notice reinforces the importance
of addressing both criteria in the preparation and review of all proposals
submitted to NSF. NSF continues to strengthen its internal processes to
ensure that both of the merit review criteria are addressed when making
funding decisions.

In an effort to increase compliance with these requirements, the January
2002 issuance of the GPG incorporated revised proposal preparation
guidelines relating to the development of the Project Summary and Project
Description. Chapter II of the GPG specifies that Principal Investigators
(PIs) must address both merit review criteria in separate statements within
the one-page Project Summary. This chapter also reiterates that broader
impacts resulting from the proposed project must be addressed in the
Project Description and described as an integral part of the narrative.

Effective October 1, 2002, NSF will return without review proposals that do
not separately address both merit review criteria within the Project
Summary. It is believed that these changes to NSF proposal preparation and
processing guidelines will more clearly articulate the importance of
broader impacts to NSF-funded projects.

The two National Science Board approved merit review criteria are listed
below (see the Grant Proposal Guide Chapter III.A for further information).
The criteria include considerations that help define them. These
considerations are suggestions and not all will apply to any given
proposal. While proposers must address both merit review criteria,
reviewers will be asked to address only those considerations that are
relevant to the proposal being considered and for which he/she is qualified
to make judgments.

     What is the intellectual merit of the proposed activity?
     How important is the proposed activity to advancing knowledge and
     understanding within its own field or across different fields? How
     well qualified is the proposer (individual or team) to conduct the
     project? (If appropriate, the reviewer will comment on the quality of
     the prior work.) To what extent does the proposed activity suggest and
     explore creative and original concepts? How well conceived and
     organized is the proposed activity? Is there sufficient access to
     resources?

     What are the broader impacts of the proposed activity?
     How well does the activity advance discovery and understanding while
     promoting teaching, training, and learning? How well does the proposed
     activity broaden the participation of underrepresented groups (e.g.,
     gender, ethnicity, disability, geographic, etc.)? To what extent will
     it enhance the infrastructure for research and education, such as
     facilities, instrumentation, networks, and partnerships? Will the
     results be disseminated broadly to enhance scientific and
     technological understanding? What may be the benefits of the proposed
     activity to society?

NSF staff will give careful consideration to the following in making
funding decisions:

     Integration of Research and Education
     One of the principal strategies in support of NSF's goals is to foster
     integration of research and education through the programs, projects,
     and activities it supports at academic and research institutions.
     These institutions provide abundant opportunities where individuals
     may concurrently assume responsibilities as researchers, educators,
     and students and where all can engage in joint efforts that infuse
     education with the excitement of discovery and enrich research through
     the diversity of learning perspectives.

     Integrating Diversity into NSF Programs, Projects, and Activities
     Broadening opportunities and enabling the participation of all
     citizens -- women and men, underrepresented minorities, and persons
     with disabilities -- is essential to the health and vitality of
     science and engineering. NSF is committed to this principle of
     diversity and deems it central to the programs, projects, and
     activities it considers and supports.

     Additional Review Criteria:

     ISE reviewers will consider the following specific aspects of
     intellectual merit and broader impacts.

     What is the intellectual merit of the proposed activity?

          Project Team. Is the team qualified to carry out the project? Do
          external advisors provide the expertise necessary to conduct the
          project, including relevant expertise based in informal science
          learning, STEM content, any media used, and evaluation?
          (Collaboration).

          Partnerships. Does the project fully take advantage of
          partnerships to enhance project outcomes? Is there a credible
          strategy and plan for fostering or strengthening collaboration
          among the partners? (Collaboration)

          Deliverables. Does this project creatively "push the envelope" in
          enhancing informal science learning? Have the deliverables been
          selected and integrated to achieve the greatest project impacts?
          Are front-end and formative evaluation efforts adequate for their
          development? Are their scope and depth of STEM content
          appropriate to the target audience? (Innovation)

          Project Design. Are the deliverables, project design, and
          timeline well developed and organized to produce the specified
          impacts? Does the project design build on informal learning
          research and on prior efforts? Is the proposed budget reasonable
          and adequate? Does the proposal present meaningful strategies for
          managing potential risks? (Innovation)

     What are the broader impacts of the proposed activity?

          Strategic Impact. Is the project likely to have a
          meaningful impact on the theory or practice of informal science
          education in addition to serving any audiences directly? (Impact)

          Audience. Is the primary target audience, as well as any
          secondary audience, clearly identified and segmented into
          subgroups as appropriate? Does the project demonstrate knowledge
          about the target audiences, their needs, and their interests?
          (Impact)

          Public Audiences. Will the project likely achieve a significant
          impact on the target audience of informal learners? Does the
          project maximize reach to audiences nationally, regionally, or
          community-wide? Does the proposal offer effective ways to reach
          nontraditional audiences and underrepresented groups? (Impact)

          ---or---Professional Audiences. Will the project likely achieve a
          significant impact on professionals in the field of informal
          science learning? (Impact)

          Evaluation. Are there clear and appropriate measures and criteria
          for defining project success? Is there an appropriate summative
          evaluation plan for assessing impact?  Is there an effective plan
          for broadly sharing project outcomes and findings? (Impact)

B. Review Protocol and Associated Customer Service Standard

All proposals are carefully reviewed by at least three other persons
outside NSF who are experts in the particular field represented by the
proposal. Proposals submitted in response to this announcement/solicitation
will be reviewed by Panel Review.

Reviewers will be asked to formulate a recommendation to either support or
decline each proposal. The Program Officer assigned to manage the
proposal's review will consider the advice of reviewers and will formulate
a recommendation.

A summary rating and accompanying narrative will be completed and submitted
by each reviewer. In all cases, reviews are treated as confidential
documents. Verbatim copies of reviews, excluding the names of the
reviewers, are sent to the Principal Investigator/Project Director by the
Program Director. In addition, the proposer will receive an explanation of
the decision to award or decline funding.

NSF is striving to be able to tell proposers whether their proposals have
been declined or recommended for funding within six months. The time
interval begins on the closing date of an announcement/solicitation, or the
date of proposal receipt, whichever is later. The interval ends when the
Division Director accepts the Program Officer's recommendation.

In all cases, after programmatic approval has been obtained, the proposals
recommended for funding will be forwarded to the Division of Grants and
Agreements for review of business, financial, and policy implications and
the processing and issuance of a grant or other agreement. Proposers are
cautioned that only a Grants and Agreements Officer may make commitments,
obligations or awards on behalf of NSF or authorize the expenditure of
funds. No commitment on the part of NSF should be inferred from technical
or budgetary discussions with a NSF Program Officer. A Principal
Investigator or organization that makes financial or personnel commitments
in the absence of a grant or cooperative agreement signed by the NSF Grants
and Agreements Officer does so at their own risk.

VII. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. Notification of the Award

Notification of the award is made to the submitting organization by a
Grants Officer in the Division of Grants and Agreements. Organizations
whose proposals are declined will be advised as promptly as possible by the
cognizant NSF Program Division administering the program. Verbatim copies
of reviews, not including the identity of the reviewer, will be provided
automatically to the Principal Investigator. (See section VI.A. for
additional information on the review process.)

B. Award Conditions

An NSF award consists of: (1) the award letter, which includes any special
provisions applicable to the award and any numbered amendments thereto; (2)
the budget, which indicates the amounts, by categories of expense, on which
NSF has based its support (or otherwise communicates any specific approvals
or disapprovals of proposed expenditures); (3) the proposal referenced in
the award letter; (4) the applicable award conditions, such as Grant
General Conditions (NSF-GC-1); * or Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP)
Terms and Conditions * and (5) any announcement or other NSF issuance that
may be incorporated by reference in the award letter. Cooperative agreement
awards also are administered in accordance with NSF Cooperative Agreement
Terms and Conditions (CA-1). Electronic mail notification is the preferred
way to transmit NSF awards to organizations that have electronic mail
capabilities and have requested such notification from the Division of
Grants and Agreements.

*These documents may be accessed electronically on NSF's Website at
http://www.nsf.gov/home/grants/grants_gac.htm. Paper copies may be obtained
from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-7827 or by
e-mail from pubs@nsf.gov.

More comprehensive information on NSF Award Conditions is contained in the
NSF Grant Policy Manual (GPM) Chapter II, available electronically on the
NSF Website at http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?gpm. The GPM is also for
sale through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office
(GPO), Washington, DC 20402. The telephone number at GPO for subscription
information is (202) 512-1800. The GPM may be ordered through the GPO
Website at http://www.gpo.gov.

C. Reporting Requirements

For all multi-year grants (including both standard and continuing grants),
the PI must submit an annual project report to the cognizant Program
Officer at least 90 days before the end of the current budget period.

Annual and Final Reports should describe the progress in developing and
implementing the project deliverables. Reference should be made explicitly
to the milestones identified by year in the Project Design. Should
additional funds be required, the status of obtaining them should also be
described.

Within 90 days after the expiration of an award, the PI also is required to
submit a final project report. Failure to provide final technical reports
delays NSF review and processing of pending proposals for the PI and all
Co-PIs. PIs should examine the formats of the required reports in advance
to assure availability of required data.

PIs are required to use NSF's electronic project reporting system,
available through FastLane, for preparation and submission of annual and
final project reports. This system permits electronic submission and
updating of project reports, including information on project participants
(individual and organizational), activities and findings, publications, and
other specific products and contributions. PIs will not be required to
re-enter information previously provided, either with a proposal or in
earlier updates using the electronic system.

VIII. CONTACTS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

General inquiries regarding this program should be made to:

   * Julie I. Johnson, Program Director [youth & community programs],
     Directorate for Education & Human Resources, Division of Elementary,
     Secondary, & Informal Education, 885 S, telephone: (703) 292-5117,
     fax: (703) 292-9044, email: jjohnson@nsf.gov

   * Valentine H. Kass, Program Director [media projects], Directorate for
     Education & Human Resources, Division of Elementary, Secondary, &
     Informal Education, 885 S, telephone: (703) 292-5095, fax: (703)
     292-9044, email: vkass@nsf.gov

   * Orrin Shane, Program Director [exhibits and museum projects],
     Directorate for Education & Human Resources, Division of Elementary,
     Secondary, & Informal Education, 885 S, telephone: (703) 292-5106,
     fax: (703) 292-9044, email: oshane@nsf.gov

   * David A. Ucko, Program Director [exhibits and museum programs],
     Directorate for Education & Human Resources, Division of Elementary,
     Secondary, & Informal Education, 885 S, telephone: (703) 292-5126,
     fax: (703) 292-9044, email: ducko@nsf.gov

   * Barry A. Van Deman, Section Head, Science Literacy, Directorate for
     Education & Human Resources, Division of Elementary, Secondary, &
     Informal Education, 885 S, telephone: (703) 292-5124, fax: (703)
     292-9044, email: bvandema@nsf.gov

   * Sylvia M. James, Program Officer, Directorate for Education & Human
     Resources, Division of Elementary, Secondary, & Informal Education,
     885 S, telephone: (703) 292-8620, fax: (703) 292-9044, email:
     sjames@nsf.gov

This document replaces the prior ISE solicitation, NSF 03-511.

For questions related to the use of FastLane, contact:

   * ESIE FastLane Contact, telephone: (703) 292-8620, email:
     ehr-esie.info@nsf.gov

IX. OTHER PROGRAMS OF INTEREST

The NSF Guide to Programs is a compilation of funding for research and
education in science, mathematics, and engineering. The NSF Guide to
Programs is available electronically at
http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?gp. General descriptions of NSF programs,
research areas, and eligibility information for proposal submission are
provided in each chapter.

Many NSF programs offer announcements or solicitations concerning specific
proposal requirements. To obtain additional information about these
requirements, contact the appropriate NSF program offices. Any changes in
NSF's fiscal year programs occurring after press time for the Guide to
Programs will be announced in the NSF E-Bulletin, which is updated daily on
the NSF Website at http://www.nsf.gov/home/ebulletin, and in individual
program announcements/solicitations. Subscribers can also sign up for NSF's
Custom News Service (http://www.nsf.gov/home/cns/start.htm) to be notified
of new funding opportunities that become available.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

The National Science Foundation (NSF) funds research and education in most
fields of science and engineering. Awardees are wholly responsible for
conducting their project activities and preparing the results for
publication. Thus, the Foundation does not assume responsibility for such
findings or their interpretation.

NSF welcomes proposals from all qualified scientists, engineers and
educators. The Foundation strongly encourages women, minorities and persons
with disabilities to compete fully in its programs. In accordance with
Federal statutes, regulations and NSF policies, no person on grounds of
race, color, age, sex, national origin or disability shall be excluded from
participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to
discrimination under any program or activity receiving financial assistance
from NSF, although some programs may have special requirements that limit
eligibility.

Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities (FASED)
provide funding for special assistance or equipment to enable persons with
disabilities (investigators and other staff, including student research
assistants) to work on NSF-supported projects. See the GPG Chapter II,
Section D.2 for instructions regarding preparation of these types of
proposals.


 The National Science Foundation promotes and advances scientific
 progress in the United States by competitively awarding grants and
 cooperative agreements for research and education in the sciences,
 mathematics, and engineering.

 To get the latest information about program deadlines, to download
 copies of NSF publications, and to access abstracts of awards, visit the
 NSF Website at http://www.nsf.gov

        * Location:                        4201 Wilson Blvd.
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PRIVACY ACT AND PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENTS

The information requested on proposal forms and project reports is
solicited under the authority of the National Science Foundation Act of
1950, as amended. The information on proposal forms will be used in
connection with the selection of qualified proposals; project reports
submitted by awardees will be used for program evaluation and reporting
within the Executive Branch and to Congress. The information requested may
be disclosed to qualified reviewers and staff assistants as part of the
proposal review process; to applicant institutions/grantees to provide or
obtain data regarding the proposal review process, award decisions, or the
administration of awards; to government contractors, experts, volunteers
and researchers and educators as necessary to complete assigned work; to
other government agencies needing information as part of the review process
or in order to coordinate programs; and to another Federal agency, court or
party in a court or Federal administrative proceeding if the government is
a party. Information about Principal Investigators may be added to the
Reviewer file and used to select potential candidates to serve as peer
reviewers or advisory committee members. See Systems of Records, NSF-50,
"Principal Investigator/Proposal File and Associated Records," 63 Federal
Register 267 (January 5, 1998), and NSF-51, "Reviewer/Proposal File and
Associated Records," 63 Federal Register 268 (January 5, 1998). Submission
of the information is voluntary. Failure to provide full and complete
information, however, may reduce the possibility of receiving an award.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to
respond to an information collection unless it displays a valid OMB control
number. The OMB control number for this collection is 3145-0058. Public
reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average
120 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions. Send
comments regarding this burden estimate and any other aspect of this
collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden,
to: Suzanne Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, Division of Administrative
Services, National Science Foundation, Arlington, VA 22230.

OMB control number: 3145-0058.


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