Welcome Back!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and are ready for a great new semester.  Below is a very short article I recently read on the project plan or methodology section which is almost always required in a grant proposal.  I hope you find it useful!

THE PROJECT PLAN

Writing your project plan, your proposal methodology section, provides a structured framework for thinking about how your proposal will be conducted, and for considering the project risks. Ultimately you cannot write a methodology section until you have a plan. Having a comprehensive plan may require the involvement of a range of specialists, and it often requires the involvement of decision-makers.

A significant value of writing a project plan is the process rather than the outcome. It forces the players to think through their approach and make decisions about how to proceed. A project plan may require making commitments, and so it can be both a difficult and important part of establishing the project.

While your proposal objectives specify what the proposal needs to accomplish, the project plan should tell the how, when, and by whom. Additionally, it forms the basis for determining the proposal budget. It can also be used to communicate management systems and procedures to be used throughout the project.  If the project will be challenging, it is important to define and control the scope, schedule, and cost so they can be used as baselines for tracking progress and managing change. The project plan should demonstrate that all aspects of the project have received careful thought and that clearly defined plans for project execution and control have been formulated.

A large complex projects may have many separate plans such as: Business Plan, Project Plan, Test Plan, Acquisition Plan, Quality Assurance Plan, Integrated Logistics Support Plan, Public Relations Plan, Training Plan, Software Development Plan, Project Management Plan, Marketing Plan, Risk Management Plan, Process Development Plan, Systems Engineering Management Plan, Staffing Plan, Communications Plan, Configuration Management Plan, Data Management Plan, Implementation Plan, Customer Service Plan, Cultural Sensitivity Plan, and so on.

Of course, many small or straightforward projects will have very little formal planning documentation, and developing a plan with extensive narrative would be pointless. The challenge is always to assess project risks and apply project management practices only as needed to the risks of your specific project environment.

--Reprinted by permission, Miner and Associates, Inc.

National Science Foundation -

Upcoming Deadlines, February & March, 2007

• Science and Society, February 1
• Chemistry Research Instrumentation and Facilities:  Cyberinfrastructure and Research Facilities, February 2
• Innovation and Organizational Change, February 2
• Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology, February 5
• Science of Design, February 5
• Human and Social Dynamics, February 7
• Integrative, Hybrid & Complex Systems, February 7
• Materials Use:  Science, Engineering, and Society, February 7
• Research in Disabilities Education, February 12
• Biological Oceanography, February 15
• Chemical Oceanography, February 15
• Developing Global Scientists and Engineers, February 15
• Dynamical Systems, February 15
• Geography and Regional Science, February 15
• Marine Geology and Geophysics, February 15
• Social Behavioral and Economic Sciences Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants, February 15
• Sociology, February 15
• NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, February 16 (Letter of Intent, January 15)
• Interdisciplinary Grants in the Mathematical Sciences, February 19
• International Research and Education:  Planning Visits and Workshops, February 20
• Chemical and Biological Separations, March 1
• Interfacial Processes and Thermodynamics , March 1
• Thermal Transport Processes, March 1
• Biotechnology (BTEC), March 1
• Environmental Sustainability, March 1
• Environmental Technology, March 1
• Undergraduate Research and Mentoring in the Biological Sciences (URM), March 6
• Informal Science Education (ISE), March 8
• Earth Sciences: Instrumentation and Facilities (EAR/IF), March 15
• Robert Noyce Scholarship Program, March 29
• Interdisciplinary Training for Undergraduates in Biological and Mathematical Sciences (UBM), April 4

National Endowment for the Humanities - Upcoming Deadlines

As part of its We the People program, NEH is collaborating with the American Library Association (ALA) to present the We the People Bookshelf, a program that encourages young people to read classic books and explore themes in American history, culture, and ideas. School (K-12) and public libraries are invited to apply for fifteen thematically related books that embody the theme of the "Pursuit of Happiness."

Activities might include, but are not limited to:

• prominent display of the Bookshelf to promote patron awareness;
• a program of readings based on the Bookshelf by local civic and business leaders;
• special story hours featuring one or more books and exploring how it (or they) illustrate the theme of the "Pursuit of Happiness";
• a panel discussion with community leaders and teachers highlighting the "Pursuit of Happiness" theme and how the books express that theme;
• a book club for young readers based on the Bookshelf;
• ribbons or certificates to recognize young readers who read all the books in their age category;
• discussion of the books on local cable TV and/or radio programs; or
• the presentation of one of the books as a play, after which children are encouraged to discuss how the work illustrates the theme of the "Pursuit of Happiness."

Successful applicants will receive fifteen classic hardcover books for young readers, all related to the "Pursuit of Happiness" theme. In addition, libraries will receive four of these books in Spanish translation, a bonus CD with traditional music featured in the Little House series of Laura Ingalls Wilder, and supplementary materials for programming, including bookplates, bookmarks, and posters.

Deadline:  February 1, 2007

• Summer Seminars and Institutes

These grants support national faculty development programs in the humanities for school teachers, and for college and university teachers. Seminars and institutes may be as short as two weeks or as long as six weeks. The duration of a program should allow for full and thorough treatment of the topic.

Summer seminars and institutes:

• extend and deepen knowledge and understanding of the humanities by focusing on significant topics, texts, and issues;
• enhance the intellectual vitality and professional development of participants;
• build a community of inquiry and provide models of excellent scholarship and teaching; and
• promote effective links between teaching and research in the humanities;

Seminars and institutes may be hosted by colleges, universities, school systems, learned societies, centers for advanced study, libraries or other repositories, and cultural or professional organizations. The host site must be appropriate for the project, providing facilities for scholarship and collegial interaction.

Program formats

• Seminar for school teachers—15 participants
  A seminar enables fifteen participants to explore a topic or set of readings under the guidance of a scholar with expertise in the field. Participants may, for example, examine an important text, study works of well-known authors, or review significant scholarship on an important historical period or event. The principal goals are to engage teachers in and deepen their understanding of the humanities through reading, discussion, reflection, and writing in a manner that will help sustain their intellectual commitment to teaching. The director guides discussion of common readings and provides mentoring for individual study and projects.
• Institute for school teachers—25 to 30 participants
  An institute, which is typically guided by a team of core faculty and visiting scholars, presents the best available scholarship on important humanities issues and works taught in the nation's schools. Participants may compare and synthesize the various perspectives offered by the faculty, make connections between the institute content and classroom applications, and develop new teaching materials.
• Seminar for college and university teachers—15 participants
  A seminar enables participants with related interests to conduct scholarly research or focused study under the direction of an expert. The director designs a program of study to articulate key issues and focus discussion in seminar meetings. The director also advises participants on their individual projects.
• Institute for college and university teachers—25 to 30 participants
  An institute focuses on a topic of major importance in undergraduate curricula. Guided by a team of scholars, participants explore a challenging and complex subject. The primary goal is to deepen understanding of a subject in order to advance humanities teaching.

These four models allow for considerable variation. For example, seminars may be co-directed or they may include one or more visiting scholars who contribute additional viewpoints or scholarly expertise. Institutes may provide time for individual research, reading, or writing. Variations in format should be explained in the proposal and time and resource allocations fully justified.

NEH encourages Summer Seminars and Institutes designed to help teachers use electronic technologies for accessing resources and engaging students in active learning.

Seminars and institutes for school teachers should begin no earlier than late June and end before the middle of August. Projects for college and university teachers typically begin no earlier than the middle of June.

Participants should be chosen by a selection committee convened by the project director. Seminar selection committees customarily consist of three members: the director; one or two colleagues of the director who have special knowledge of the subject under study; and, in the case of school teacher seminars, a K-12 teacher, preferably someone who has participated in a previous seminar. Institute selection committees may be drawn from the scholars and master teachers who will contribute to the project and may include more than three members. NEH staff will provide general eligibility and selection criteria, along with guidelines for a standard essay.

Deadline:  March 1, 2007

National Endowment for the Arts -

Access to Artistic Excellence

Access to Artistic Excellence fosters and preserves excellence in the arts and provides access to the arts for all Americans.  March deadline focuses on public presentations and performances of artistically excellent works, new works, professional artistic development, and services that reach a broad constituency.

To explore available funding opportunities, click on the artistic discipline or field below that is most relevant to your project. In most areas, funding is limited to organizations. (Direct awards to individuals are made only through Literature Fellowships, NEA Jazz Masters Fellowships, and NEA National Heritage Fellowships in the Folk & Traditional Arts.)  Federal Partnership opportunities such as Save America's Treasures and Coming Up Taller are listed within the disciplines/fields.

Deadline:  March 12, 2007

George Mason University - Institute for Humane Studies

Hayek Fund for Scholars

The Hayek Fund for Scholars makes strategic awards for career-enhancing activities such as: presentations at academic or professional conferences; travel to academic job interviews (on campus or at professional/academic conferences); travel to and research at archives or libraries; participation in career development or enhancing seminars; distribution of a published article to colleagues in your field; and submission of unpublished manuscripts to journals or book published.  Awards range up to $1,000.  Apply by sending the following items: 1- to 2-page cover letter that explains how participation in the activity advances your career and advances an understanding of the principles of the classical liberal/libertarian tradition; abstract or copy of the paper (if you intend to present at a conference); itemized list of expected expenses; and curriculum vitae or resume. Please note: You may apply for only one activity at a time. Applications are accepted year- round by email, fax, or postal mail. Applicants will be notified of committee's decision within four to six weeks. Awards are disbursed after presentation of original receipts.

Applicants must be graduate students and untenured faculty members are eligible.

Massachusetts Historical Society

The Massachusetts Historical Society (MHS) is a major research library and manuscript repository. Its holdings encompass millions of rare and unique documents and artifacts vital to the study of American history, many of them irreplaceable national treasures. A few examples include correspondence between John and Abigail Adams, such as her famous "remember the ladies" letter; several imprints of the Declaration of Independence; and the pen that Abraham Lincoln used to sign the Emancipation Proclamation. In the two centuries since the founding of the MHS, its mission has remained constant: to collect, preserve, and communicate historical information about Massachusetts and the nation to the widest possible audience. The Massachusetts Historical Society offers approximately 20 Short-Term Fellowships each year for researchers who need to use the collections to complete a major project.  Each of the fellowships includes a stipend of $1,500 for four weeks of research, which must be conducted in the Society's archives sometime between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2008.  Typical applicants include but are not limited to independent scholars, advanced graduate students, and college and university faculty in all disciplines. Candidates who live 50 or more miles from Boston receive preference.

Deadline:  March 1, 2007

Environmental Protection Agency -

Environmental Education Grants Program

The Environmental Education Grants Program provides solicits grant proposals to support environmental education projects that promote environmental stewardship and help develop aware and responsible students, teachers, and citizens. This grant program provides financial support for projects that design, demonstrate, or disseminate environmental education practices, methods, or techniques as described in the notice. All proposals must satisfy the definition of "environmental education" and also address at least one of these educational priorities to qualify for a grant:  (1) Capacity Building: Increasing capacity to develop and deliver coordinated environmental education programs across a state or across multiple states; (2) Education Reform: Utilizing environmental education as a catalyst to advance state or local education reform goals; (3) Community Issues: Designing and implementing model projects to educate the public about environmental issues and/or health issues in their communities through community-based organizations or through print, film, broadcast, or other media; (4) Health: Educating teachers, students, parents, community leaders, or the public about human-health threats from environmental pollution, especially as it affects children, and how to minimize human exposure to preserve good health; (5) Teaching Skills: Educating teachers, faculty, or nonformal educators about environmental issues to improve their environmental education teaching skills, e.g., through workshops; and (6) Career Development: Educating students in formal or nonformal settings about environmental issues to encourage environmental careers.

Hagley Museum and Library-

Center for the History of Business Technology and Society

The Hagley Museum and Library is located along the Brandywine River on the site of the first du Pont powder works, providing a unique glimpse into American life at home and at work in the nineteenth century. Set amid more than 230 acres of trees and flowering shrubs, Hagley offers a diversity of restorations, exhibits, and live demonstrations. The Center for the History of Business, Technology, and Society organizes and administers Hagley's interactions with the world of scholarship. Effort is concentrated in Hagley's areas of research and collection interest: American economic, business, industrial, and technological history. Short- term grants-in-aid support visits to Hagley for scholarly research in the imprint, manuscript, pictorial, and artifact collections. They are designed to assist researchers with travel and living expenses while using the research collections. Scholars receive a stipend, make use of the research holdings, and participate in the programs of the Center.  These grants are to support serious scholarly work. Scholars are expected to participate in seminars that meet periodically, as well as attend noon- time colloquia, lectures, and other public programs offered during their tenure. Grant recipients are required to be in residence at Hagley, or at least to travel there on a regular and consistent basis.Stipends are for a minimum of two weeks and a maximum of two months at no more than $1,600 per month. Low cost housing may be available on the museum grounds.

Deadline:  March 31, 2007

Luce Foundation - Luce Fund in American Art

This special fund supports exhibitions and publications that contribute significantly to the study of American art. Each proposed project must result in a tangible product that can be added to the body of scholarship in the field of American art. All periods and genres of American art history are included. Intellectual merit and potential contribution to scholarship are the most important criteria for evaluating proposals. The program is aesthetically and object-based and does not include projects that are primarily historical, documentary, or sociological.

Deadline:  Letter of Inquiry, March 1, 2007

The Rockefeller Foundation

• The Rockefeller Foundation seeks to promote the well-being of humanity by addressing the root causes of serious problems. The Foundation works to expand opportunities for poor or vulnerable people and to help ensure that globalization's benefits are more widely shared. The Foundation is one of the few institutions to conduct such work both within the United States and internationally and welcomes ideas about how to do this most effectively. The Foundation seeks high-impact ideas that have the potential to make a difference in the lives of large numbers of poor or vulnerable people and requires some results from such ideas to be measurable within three to five years. Areas of interest have included: food security, creativity and culture, globalization, health equity, working communities, Africa, North American transnational commuities, and Southeast Asia.
  
• Scholarly Residencies at the Bellagio Center
  Application deadline: March 1 , 2007
  The Bellagio Study and Conference Center typically offers one-month residencies for no more than 12 scholars and scientists at a time. Priority is given to projects that align with the Foundation's mission to expand opportunities for poor or vulnerable people and to help ensure that globalization's benefits are shared more widely.