nfs program

[David Farber <farber@central.cis.upenn.edu>]

From: hammond@info.census.gov (Bob Hammond (CASIC)
Subject: nfs program


Please distribute the following advance notice.


During the October 14-15 meeting, the National Science Board of the NSF
approved the following Memo. Please note that a solicitation with final
award dates and review criteria will be forthcoming.


NEW NSF Program on Networking Infrastructure for Education


     Background


     The Directorates for Education and Human Resources (EHR) and for
     Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering (CISE)
     recommend the initiation of a joint Networking Infrastructure for
     Education (NIE) Program.  The program responds to the national need
     to accelerate the adoption of advanced technologies in support of
     science and mathematics education to:  better prepare all citizens for
     participation in our society; attract groups currently underrepresented
     in science and technology fields and careers; and better prepare future
     scientists, engineers and technologists.  NIE is part of the National
     Research and Education Network (NREN) component of the national
     initiative on High Performance Computing and Communications (HPCC).




     NSF's Role


     Two evolving national activities in which the Foundation plays a
     critical leadership role are science and mathematics education reform,
     and networking development and infrastructure.  The NIE program
     will build synergy between both activities to explore and extend the
     needs of the educational component of national research network
     activities.  The Program strategy is to bring together the constituencies
     of CISE and EHR to hasten the development of a widespread high
     performance infrastructure that will be instrumental in the wide scale
     dissemination, integration and application of technologies to speed the
     pace of educational innovation and reform.  NIE thus builds upon the
     unique strengths of CISE and EHR.


     Program Description


     Specifically, the NIE Program will:


          establish testbeds, implementation models and prototypes that
          explore the role of electronic networks in support of reformed
          education;


         support the R&D needed for large-scale, cost-effective
          implementation of educational networking, including infrastructure,
          organization, tools, materials, and mechanisms for technology
          transfer;


          strengthen collaborations between groups that are developing
          services and technical assistance for network users, and large
          education stakeholders, such as states and school districts; and,


          supplement existing CISE and EHR infrastructure and/or systemic
          educational reform awards that are consistent with NIE's cross-
          directorate goals.


     NIE plans to fund 3-5 awards yearly for each of the following
     categories:


     Policy Studies                                       $25,000-$100,000 per
year
     Research and Development       $250,000-$750,000 per year, 1-3 years
     Demonstration and Model Sites $250,000-$750,000 per year, 1-3 years
     Infrastructure and Testbeds    $500,000-$1,500,000 per year, 1-3 years








     NIE will promote the development of new alliances and partnerships
     including two- and four-year degree-granting academic institutions,
     school districts, professional societies, state agencies, and others
     concerned with educational reform.  Business and  industry
     participation, with cost-sharing consistent with their role, will be
     required for demonstration and model sites, and for infrastructure and
     testbeds, and strongly encouraged for policy studies and R&D projects.


     During the program's first year only, NIE plans to award up to
     $4,000,000 in supplements and awards to existing CISE and EHR
     infrastructure and/or systemic educational reform projects.
     Supplements will range from $100,000 to $750,000 each.




     Review process


       Program announcement, guidelines, and a 'Dear Colleague' letter will
          be issued upon establishment of the Program.


       NIE will require preliminary proposals, which will be due February 15.
          Consortia planning grants will be accepted, with the same due date.
          Preliminary proposals and planning grants will be reviewed
             internally by the Program's working group, with ad-hoc mail reviews
             as appropriate.


      Target date for formal proposals will be April 15.  Review of formal
          proposals will be by a standing panel of experts.  Site visits and
          ad-hoc mail reviews will be used as appropriate.


Target date for proposals requesting NIE supplements to existing grants is
Dec. 15, 1993. For further information, please contact either


Nora Sabelli (nsabelli@nsf.gov) or Art St.George (astgeorg@nsf.gov);
Phone: (703) 306-1651; Fax: (703) 306-0434.