What’s a Mini-Grant?
The NISE Network is once again making available a limited number of small, one-time awards to support initiatives by NISE Net partners to engage their local audiences in nanoscale science, engineering, and technology topics. Requests can be made for an award up to $3,000 dollars to fund a small project or be put towards a larger endeavor.
Program Overview
Please review the Program Overview (see attachments below) for basic program information, eligibility details, examples of applicable projects, and a PDF copy of the online application.
New in 2014: Team-Based Inquiry Professional Development Opportunity
NISE Net is inviting a small number of partner institutions to participate in an intensive, seven-month professional development experience focused on Team-Based Inquiry (TBI, a process that allows us to gather and use the information we need, when we need it, in order to improve our educational products and practices). The experience will be offered at no charge, but will require significant time from two staff members between January-July 2014, in addition to impacting the timeline of your proposed mini-grant project. Participation will NOT affect the selection process for mini-grant applications! The application will simply gauge interest in the opportunity. For more information, please see the Program Overview below.
How do I apply?
Similar to the NanoDays kit application, this is a simple online application through Survey Gizmo. Applications must be submitted online by November 1, 2013. It is recommended that you start your application in a word doc and cut-and-paste responses into the online submission (see attachments below for word doc copy of application).
Once you’ve reviewed the program materials, follow this link to the online application:
http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/1317603/2014-NISE-Network-Mini-Grant-Application
As a reminder, you can not be awarded a mini-grant in consecutive years! Those who were awarded during last years 2013 cycle are NOT eligible again until the 2015 cycle. If you were awarded a mini-grant during the 2012 cycle, you are again eligible to apply for a 2014 mini-grant. Anyone who applied during a previous cycle and was NOT awarded a mini-grant may still apply for a 2014 award. Up to forty applications will be selected for funding.
Past projects
A list of previously funded mini-grant projects is available here: http://www.nisenet.org/mini-grants
Brown-bag Conversation
A recording of the online brown-bag conversation Mini-Grants 2014 Brainstorming and Guidelines can be found here:
http://www.nisenet.org/events/online-workshop/online-brown-bag-mini-grants-2014-brainstorming-and-guidelines-recorded
For more information or to discuss project ideas, please contact your Regional Hub Leader.