CHAPTER V

CHAPTER V

SPECIAL PROGRAMS

A. RESEARCH INSTRUMENTATION/FACILITIES

The Academic Research Infrastructure Program provides support for both research equipment and facilities. The purpose of the program is to improve the Nation's research infrastructure through focused investment in the acquisition or development of major research instrumentation and revitalization of facilities used for research and research training. For more information, see the program announcements/solicitations or contact the Office of Science and Technology Infrastructure. (See Appendix A.)

Also, NSF occasionally provides assistance for the acquisition of specialized facilities. Examples include supercomputers, oceanographic research vessels, major controlled-environment facilities and specialized biological and social science facilities.

All NSF programs will consider proposals that include funds for facility construction, renovation or improvements where required for the proposed research, in competition with other proposals received. It is, however, NSF policy that the principal responsibility for providing facilities for research and education rests with the proposing organizations. Preliminary inquiry should be made before preparing a formal proposal. (See Section VII.D for additional information on equipment.)

B. CONFERENCES, SYMPOSIA AND WORKSHOPS

NSF supports conferences, symposia and workshops in special areas of science and engineering that bring experts together to discuss recent research or education findings or to expose other researchers or students to new research and education techniques. NSF encourages the convening in the U.S. of major international conferences and unions. Conferences will be supported only if equivalent results cannot be obtained at regular meetings of professional societies. Although requests for support of conferences, symposia and workshops ordinarily originate with educational institutions or scientific societies, they may also come from other groups. Shared support by several Federal agencies, States or private organizations is encouraged. Because proceedings of such conferences normally should be published in professional journals, requests for support may include publication costs. Requests should generally be made at least a year in advance of the scheduled date. Conferences or meetings, including the facilities in which they are held, funded in whole or in part with NSF funds, must be accessible to participants with disabilities.

A proposal (which complies with the page and font size instructions in Section II.C.) for support of a conference, symposium or workshop must include:

· Summary of one page or less indicating the objectives of the project. (Project Summary, NSF Form 1358, may be used to submit this information.)

· Statement of the need for such a gathering and a list of topics.

· Recent meetings on the same subject, including dates and places.

· Names of the chairperson and members of organizing committees and their organizational affiliations.

· Information on the location and probable date(s) of the meeting and the method of announcement or invitation.

· Statement of how the meeting will be organized and conducted, how the results of the meeting will be disseminated and how the meeting will contribute to the enhancement and improvement of scientific, engineering and/or educational activities.

· Estimated total budget for the conference together with an itemized statement of the amount of support requested from NSF. The budget may include participant support for transportation (when appropriate), per diem costs, stipends, publication and other conference-related costs. Participant support costs must be excluded from the indirect cost base. (See Section II.D.7.e.)

· Support requested or available from other Federal agencies and other sources.

For additional coverage on allowability of costs associated with meetings and conferences, proposers should consult GPM Section 625.

C. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATIVE ACTIVITIES

In addition to the international projects funded and managed by the disciplinary directorates, the Division of International Programs provides support for bilateral and regional cooperative science and engineering projects to foster and facilitate cooperation between U.S. investigators and their foreign colleagues in joint activities of mutual interest and benefit. Grants may be made for the U.S. portion of the costs of the initial phases of cooperative research, joint seminars and workshops, planning visits, programs to enhance the international perspectives of the next generation of U.S. scientists and engineers, and for fellowships, summer programs and research participation. Information on proposal requirements and award selection procedures is contained in the Program Announcement of the Division of International Programs. The box for "International Cooperative Activity" should be checked and the countries identified on the NSF Form 1207. (For telephone numbers and program contacts by region, see Appendix A, under listings for SBE Directorate.)

D. INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL GRANTS

Proposals for travel support for U.S. participation in international scientific and engineering meetings held abroad are handled by the NSF organizational unit with program responsibility for the area of research interest.

Group travel awards are encouraged as the primary means of support for international travel. A university, professional society or other non-profit organization may apply for funds to enable it to coordinate and support U.S. participation in one or more international scientific meeting(s) abroad. Group travel grants may include as compensation for the grantee a flat rate of $50 per traveler for general administrative costs of preparing announcements, evaluating proposals and handling travel arrangements customarily associated with this type of project. (See GPM Section 765.) Group travel grantees are required to retain supporting documentation that funds were spent in accordance with the original intent of the proposal. Such documentation may be required in final reports and is subject to audit.

E. DOCTORAL DISSERTATION RESEARCH

NSF awards grants in support of doctoral dissertation research in some disciplines, primarily field research in the environmental, behavioral and social sciences. Support may be sought through those disciplinary programs and, in cases involving research abroad, through the Division of International Programs. Proposals are submitted by the thesis advisor or concerned faculty member on behalf of the graduate student. Further information can be obtained from the cognizant program office.

F. HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT

The Foundation supports a range of cross-directorate activities to increase participation by women, minorities, persons with disabilities and by faculty from minority institutions and predominantly undergraduate institutions. Programs which have a strong focus on underrepresented communities are:

· Minority Graduate Fellowships