Mini-Grant Opportunities for STEM initiatives

West Virginia Space Grant Consortium is pleased to announce the availability of mini-grant funds to support STEM projects.

The Objectives are as follows:

*Develop workshops or activities to Inspire K-12 students’ interest in STEM and encourage them to choose STEM as their college major and career path.

* Provide support to students currently enrolled in STEM programs at West Virginia universities and colleges to participate in a STEM activity, present at a meeting (e.g., Undergrad Research Day at the Capitol), help with events such as NASA-SPACE Day, etc.

* Build a pipeline relationship with industry, university, college, and K-12 schools in West Virginia to empower and support those in the STEM disciplines.

Priority will be given to programs that are directly aligned with a NASA mission (https://www.nasa.gov/missions) and/or serve primarily women and girls.

Application Process:

You will submit your application through a Google document. The application consists of your name and email contact information, a description of the what the project is for that explains the specific objectives of the activity for which funds are requested and includes a timeline for completion of the work, and how a mini grant would further the organization’s or individual’s work. All Mini-Grants are for a maximum of $500. Please provide an itemized budget for up to this amount. The grant maximum is a per project maximum; thus, several individuals cannot combine their grants to form a larger grant. We cannot fund capital expenditures for student clubs and all applicants must be US citizens or Nationals. Project costs for travel and events are done by reimbursement with receipts.

In the online application you will be asked for your educational background, current employer (if any), and your role in overseeing or carrying out the project. The committee will review each application to determine if the project is aligned with the mission statement and if the proposal plan is sound and addresses the required elements above.

The application deadline is February 6, 2023.

Please email questions to Kisstaman Epps at kdepps@mail.wvu.edu.

The application site is now closed. Please check back again in the fall.

First 2 Network is offering a virtual, summer STEM Camp!

This camp is for rising college freshmen in STEM majors.

It will be completely virtual for 5 weeks, meeting once a week for 2 hours, to work with students on math, chemistry, and study skills. In addition, it will connect these students with faculty from WVU, Fairmont State, and Glenville State, as well as fellow students from across the state. The flyer is attached below with a link to apply.

RFPs for FY 2022-2023 are now available!

The request for proposals (RFPs) for the NASA WV EPSCoR and NASA WV Space Grant Consortium for the fiscal year 2022-2023 are now available.

The RFPs can be found here: Program Application Forms

Deadlines:

Student Fellowships

Proposal due date for student fellowship: Friday, March 18, 2022 by 11:59 PM (EST). Mentor Endorsement due date for student fellowships: Monday, March 21, 2022 by 11:59 PM (EST)

Non-Student Proposals (EPSCoR Seed, Research, College Course Development, K-12, Informal Ed)

The due date for all non-student proposals is Monday, March 21, 2022 by 11:59 PM (EST), and the anticipated start date for all successful projects is Early-May 2022.

Green Bank Observatory Courses

Target Audience: College and university faculty
Cost: Application fee: $100; Course fee: $195; Optional Lodging: $35/night
Duration: 2.5 Days
Location: Green Bank, WV

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GBO-27 Radio Astronomy Update 2020: Pulsars and Gravitational Radiation, Dark Matter and Galaxy Evolution, the State of the Art in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Led by: Dr. Karen O’Neil and Staff, Green Bank Observatory
Date: May 27 – 29, 2020

Overview: This introductory course includes the basics of radio astronomy, descriptions of the GBT, and discussions of the research work done on the scope. While this course is long-running, its content is constantly changing based on the most recent work done on the world-class GBT. In this course is offered an update on some of the “hot topics” in astronomy: pulsars, gravitational radiation, dark matter, galaxy evolution and SETI. The presentations are at an introductory level. The GBT has some 16 million pounds that move to point to directions in the sky to within seconds of arc quickly. During the tour of the GBT, participants are often taken to the top of the scope to see the detector room, and to look down into the 2.3 acre collecting dish (subject to schedules and weather). There is interaction with resident and visiting astronomers.

Participants stay in the astronomer’s lodging at a rate of $35 per night and take meals in the site cafeteria. Participants experience the culture of a national laboratory with no fence or gate, in a community of 400, where people do first class work on a world class scope in relative isolation (the closest regular food market is 65 minutes away). Participants are given guidance on and make measurements on a “hands-on” forty foot radio telescope and a remotely controlled 20-meter scope during the course.

NOTE: The new course listed below takes a deeper dive into radio astronomy projects. It takes place immediately after GBO-27 and participants may sign up for one or the other or both!

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GBO-37 Radio Astronomy Project 2020

Led by: Dr. Ronald Maddalena and Staff, Green Bank Observatory
Dates: May 30 – June 1, 2020

Dr. Maddalena, a recently retired but active astronomer, has been a frequent presenter in the GBO long-running course entitled Radio Astronomy Update 2020 He will be joined by other staff members in the interaction with participants.

Those taking part in the project will work in small groups and have access to two on-site radio telescopes (one older and one newer) and also access to the archived sky data at the Green Bank Observatory. In addition to peer collaboration, they will have professional guidance from observatory astronomers. Participants will reside in the astronomer’s residence hall, and take meals in the site cafeteria.

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For either of the above courses, expect to arrive at the site late afternoon the day before the start of the course. There will be a 7:30 PM Introductory social in the Residence Hall Lounge. Plan for an early start the following morning. The lodging includes this night before the start. For either course expect departure just after lunch on the final day.

For each of the above:[Application fee: $100; Course fee: $195; Optional lodging: $35 per night in a double room. Meals are paid for individually. For more information and an application form, folks can send an email to sheather@nrao.edu

Call for Proposals: Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology

Audience: Higher Education Educators and Students Pre-Proposal Informational
Teleconference: Dec. 2, 1-2:30 p.m. EST
Proposal Deadline: Feb. 4, 2020
Contact: HQ-FINESST@mail.nasa.gov

NASA’s Science Mission Directorate is seeking proposals from accredited U.S. universities for research grants to begin in the 2020-21 academic year. Each proposal must identify a student seeking a master’s or doctorate degree in Earth and space sciences as the participating future investigator. Project proposers may request up to a three-year period of performance. Visit the website for details and proposal requirements.

NASA STEM Activities: Forward to the Moon

Audience: Educators of Grades K-12
Event Date: Nov. 25 at 5 p.m. EST
Contact: susan.m.kohler@nasa.gov

Join the NASA STEM Educator Professional Development Collaborative at Texas State University for a free 60-minute webinar. NASA plans to go forward to the Moon by 2024. Learn about K-12 STEM activities that will enhance classroom instruction involving this topic.

Activities include:
— Demonstrating sizes and distances of Earth.
— Making a water filtration system.
— Designing a lunar habitat.
— Simulating finding oxygen on the Moon.
— Making balloon rockets with a payload.
— Simulating gravity with magnets.

Online registration is required.