Outreach Programs for Inclusion in Grant Proposals
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Help with Grant Proposals
The Outreach Office exists to help provide information and assistance to faculty members seeking grant funds that require a broader impacts or education and outreach component. We can provide specific terminology to use when writing a proposal, review and give feedback on a written proposal, find a specific audience for a project, write letters of support and/or acquire letters of support from expected participants, and help manage a program and budget for a faculty member. Our office is designed to provide the infrastructure a faculty member needs to participate in a small or large outreach program while continuing to conduct research and fulfill teaching duties. See "NSF Broader Impacts Criterion: Representative Activities" for more specific information.
A significant and innovative broader impacts component is especially important for success in the highly competitive National Science Foundation's Early Career Development (CAREER) Program. We offer information sessions each spring for new faculty interested in preparing Career Award proposals. Several current faculty members who were awarded a CAREER grant have been told their broader impacts section was extremely strong and detailed. We strongly encourage you to contact the Outreach Office at least a month before the proposal deadline if you are applying for this program. The Director of Outreach, Michael Zeman, 867-2893, will be happy to schedule an individual meeting and provide more information. You can also download a copy of NSF CAREER Proposal Writing Tips for help in preparing your proposal.
Be sure to read the "What is Outreach?" section for detailed information about outreach.
List of Programs and Faculty Time Commitment (greatest to least)
Regardless of the type of grant proposal you are submitting for funding, the Outreach Office can help you find a program you can enhance or extend through your participation. We are also eager to develop new programs based on your availability, interest, and budget. Please contact us to discuss your ideas.
The table below lists the majority of our current offerings and the estimated time commitment. Large institutes and centers in the Eberly College of Science may have individual programs not listed here. Discovery Space of Central Pennsylvania, a local children's museum, is seeking exhibits and activities. The Outreach Office can help you find experts to assist you with developing an age-appropriate museum exhibit.
Click on the name of the program in the table to read a detailed description. * Meets audience specified in NSF broader impacts or NASA education & public outreach criteria.
| NAME OF PROGRAM | TIME COMMITMENT | INTENDED AUDIENCE | FUNDING SOURCE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 or more semesters working with an instructional designer | Resident or World Campus students | Department or grant proposals; tuition fees received reimburse the department & the faculty member's time | |
| 1 week full-time teaching in summer; more than 1 week preparation time | Local, national, and underrepresented or underserved students in grades 2 - 12* | Registrant fees and grant proposals | |
| 1 week full-time teaching in summer; more than 1 week preparation time. Half-day workshops require much less time. | K – 12 teachers (your choice of discipline and type of teacher)* | Registrant fees and grant proposals | |
|
6 weeks; 36 hours (excluding preparation) Graduate student may do bulk of the work |
Underrepresented high school students* |
Grant proposals | |
| Exploration Day | several hours to prepare exhibit/demonstration for a single, multi-hour event; graduate students are encouraged to do all/most of the work | Families, Scout troops, 4-H groups | Grant proposals; foundation and corporate donations |
| Family Science Night | several hours to prepare exhibit/demonstration for a single, 2 hour event; graduate students are encouraged to do all/most of the work | K - 12 families* |
Grant proposals and corporate donations; in-kind support from schools |
|
1, 2, or 3 45-minute interactive presentations in a lab setting for groups of 12 - 15 students (or more) |
Underrepresented middle school students* |
Grant proposals are helpful to fund entire visit |
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20 - 40 minute interactive presentations in a lab setting followed by an informal discussion of research results or latest information in the field for 5 - 10 teachers; teachers earn continuing education credits |
Middle and high school science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teachers* |
Grant proposals are helpful to fund entire visit |
|
|
1 or 2 hour-long interactive presentations in a lab setting for group of 15 - 32 students |
Underrepresented elementary or middle school students* |
No funds required |
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|
90 minute lunch meetings 4 times a year (twice in the fall & spring) |
Interested faculty and staff for Outreach discussions |
No funds required |
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| several hours of judging contest entries |
Participants in the PAJAS competition |
No funds required; grant proposals may fund development of teaching aids or contest awards |
|
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Once or twice a year to schools within a 1 hour driving distance from UP. 40 minutes to several repeated talks on one day. |
Requesting schools or teachers* |
No funds required | |
|
Faculty Notes |
10 minute filmed interview with WPSU; 1 hour or less preparation time |
Students interested in matriculating at Penn State as an undergraduate or graduate |
No funds required |
* Meets audience specified in NSF broader impacts or NASA education & public outreach criteria
