Impact

Space Grant accepting grant applications for education, research and outreach

Middle and high school robotics teams competed in the 2019 Apollo Next Giant Leap Student Challenge, which asked teams to use robotics, coding and drones for learning about the Apollo 11 mission and developing STEM skills. The NASA Pennsylvania Space Grant Consortium (PSGC) is accepting applications for its 2020-21 competitive mini-grant program, which supports and enhances science and engineering education, research and outreach. PSGC will consider proposals from institutions across Pennsylvania for new or enhanced projects. Credit: Francisco Tutella/Penn StateAll Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The NASA Pennsylvania Space Grant Consortium (PSGC) is accepting applications for its 2020-21 competitive mini-grant program. The program supports and enhances science and engineering education, research and outreach. PSGC will consider proposals from institutions across Pennsylvania for new or enhanced projects in three program areas.

The program areas are:

  1. Higher education – Faculty may propose projects that directly benefit undergraduate STEM education and research. Funding for these projects may include student support (limited stipends or wages), materials and supplies for a student project, and student domestic travel.
  2. Research infrastructure – Faculty may propose programs that benefit their institution and its research efforts. Funding for these projects may include limited graduate student support (for a summer or one semester), limited support for a recent doctoral degree recipient (less than four months), limited support for an early-career faculty, and/or appropriate materials and supplies.
  3. Pre-college – Formal educational institutions of any level, museums and science centers may propose K-12 programs and activities that enhance and broaden the knowledge of both students and teachers. Funding for these projects may include support for teacher preparation and enhancement, curriculum development and student opportunities.

Mini-grant proposals are accepted on a rolling basis. Project efforts may begin in fall 2020, spring 2021, or summer 2021 and should be completed within one year. PSGC mini-grants are awarded based on merit and funding availability. Amounts are determined by the depth and breadth of the proposed project at three levels – $6,000, $12,000 and $25,000. Diversity and inclusion are priorities of NASA’s National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, and proposals to benefit women and underrepresented groups in the STEM fields are highly encouraged.

For more information, visit www.pa.spacegrant.org or email SpaceGrant@psu.edu.

Last Updated September 9, 2020