PROGRAM AREAS
EEC's programs complement those in the disciplinary research
divisions of the Directorate for Engineering. The Center programs
support interdisciplinary research that is of a scale that
requires the center mode of research and that is relevant to
industry. The Education programs address reform in undergraduate
engineering education content and pedagogy, while the Human
Resources programs support a variety of mechanisms to provide
opportunities for those participating in or providing instruction
leading to engineering education.
EEC programs typically overlap two or more program areas.
For example, Centers are involved in education, while Education
projects include human resources components. Similarly, Human
Resources projects can take place at EEC-funded research centers.
Centers Programs
EEC's centers promote partnerships among researchers in different
disciplines and between industry and universities. They focus
on integrated engineered systems and produce technological
innovations that strengthen the competitive position of industry.
Their graduates are well-rounded, professionally oriented engineers
with a global outlook, experience in technological innovation,
and the ability to assume leadership roles in industry, academe,
and government.
Provides an integrated environment for academe and industry
to focus on next-generation advances in complex engineered
systems, with synergy among engineering, science, and industrial
practices. ERCs
integrate research and education at both the graduate and undergraduate
levels and produce curriculum innovations derived from the
engineering systems research focus of the ERC. ERCs build partnerships
with industry, develop shared infrastructure, and increase
the capacity of engineering and science graduates to contribute
to U.S. competitiveness.
Information about individual ERCs, accomplishments, and education
and human resources programs is available at: http://www.erc-assoc.org/erc_links.htm.
In addition, ERC Program Funds have been used to support the
engineering based Nanoscale Science and Engineering Centers
(NSEC) and the engineering based Nanoscale Interdisciplinary
Research Teams (NIRT).
The Nanoscale
Science and Engineering Centers (NSEC) program address
opportunities that are too complex and multi-faceted for
individuals or small groups of researchers to tackle on their
own. They will bring together researchers with diverse expertise
-- in partnership with industry, government laboratories,
and/or partners from other sectors -- to address complex,
interdisciplinary challenges in nanoscale science and engineering,
and will integrate research with education both internally
and through a variety of partnership activities.
The Nanoscale
Interdisciplinary Research Teams (NIRT) activity supports
small collaborative groups of three or more investigators
at the faculty level or equivalent to address research and
education themes where a synergistic blend of expertise is
needed to make significant contributions.
Develops long-term partnerships among industry, academe,
and government. The centers are university-based and catalyzed
by a small investment from NSF but are primarily supported
by industry members. I/UCRCs are led by faculty who have a
strong desire to work with industry and who want to pursue
fundamental research agendas recommended by industrial advisory
boards. Center research projects are conducted primarily by
graduate students; the program thus develops students who know
how to conduct industrially relevant research and communicate
their findings effectively.
Additional information about the IUCRC program is available
at: http://www.eng.nsf.gov/iucrc/.
Engineering Education Programs
The Engineering Education Program -- an unsolicited program
-- has the goal to increase the quantity and quality of U.S.
citizens who earn BS degrees in engineering. We welcome unsolicited
proposals from faculty with cutting edge new ideas for undergraduate
engineering education improvements.
Target Dates for submission of proposals to this program are
January 9 and July 9 of each year.
Supports departmental and larger units to reformulate, streamline,
and update engineering and engineering technology degree programs;
develop new curriculums for emerging engineering disciplines;
and meet the emerging workforce and educational needs of U.S.
industry. These efforts should increase the relevance of undergraduate
engineering curriculum to modern engineering practice and induce
an increased proportion of students who enroll to complete
engineering degree programs.
The deadline for submitting proposals to this program is March
12 of each year.
Beyond these programs, the Engineering Research Centers conduct
a range of engineering education activities (http://www.erc-assoc.org/educate/programs_index.htm).
In addition to EEC’s own programs -- the Division participates
in:
The Nanotechnology
Undergraduate Education (NUE) program has an emphasis
on:
1) introductory undergraduate courses presented through the
development of text, software, laboratory and demonstration
experiments, and web-based resources;
2) development and dissemination of new teaching modules
for nanoscale science and engineering that can be used in
existing undergraduate courses;
3) incorporation of undergraduate research opportunities
based on nanoscale science and engineering into the curriculum
at any level, particularly during first and second year studies;
The Centers
for Learning and Teaching (CLT) program addresses the
need to enrich and diversify the national infrastructure
for standards-based science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics education. The goal is to increase the number
of K-12 educators prepared in content, pedagogy, and assessment
methodologies.
The Math
and Science Partnership (MSP) program addresses a portion
of the President's challenge enunciated in No Child Left
Behind to strengthen K-12 science and mathematics education.
The Model
Institutes for Excellence (MIE) program is a three-phase
program. In the first two phases NSF funded four institutions
to develop and refine models for increasing graduates from
underrepresented groups in Science, Technology, Engineering,
and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines. The third phase is to
provide funding for the institutionalization of these models.
This competition is restricted to the NSF-funded MIE
institutions Metropolitana Universidad, Oglala Lakota College,
University of Texas at El Paso, and Xavier University in
New Orleans.
The Interagency
Education Research Initiative (IERI) has the goal of
improving preK-12 student learning and achievement in reading,
mathematics, and science by supporting rigorous, interdisciplinary
research on large-scale implementations of promising educational
practices and technologies in complex and varied learning
environments.
The National
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education
Digital Library (NSDL) builds on work supported under
the multi-agency Digital Libraries Initiative, this program
aims to establish a national digital library that will constitute
an online network of learning environments and resources
for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)
education at all levels.
The Division seeks to increase the number of people pursuing
engineering education and engineering careers and the participation
of underrepresented minorities, women, and persons with disabilities
at every level of the engineering education and workforce enterprise.
To address these goals, EEC manages the Directorate for Engineerings
involvement in the following programs:
The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program
supports active research participation by undergraduate students
in any of the areas
of research funded by the National Science Foundation. REU
projects involve students in meaningful ways in ongoing research
programs or in research projects specially designed for the
purpose. Each student is associated with a specific research
project, where he/she works closely with the faculty and other
researchers.
REU Supplements may be included in proposals for new or renewal
NSF grants or cooperative agreements or as supplements to ongoing
NSF-funded projects. REU Sites are based on independent proposals
to initiate and conduct undergraduate research participation
projects for a number of students. REU Sites projects may be
based in a single discipline or academic department or be based
on interdisciplinary or multi-department research opportunities
with a strong intellectual focus.
RET Site Proposals Due October 12, 2004;
see NSF
03-554
The Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) program supports
the active involvement of K-12 teachers and community college
faculty in engineering research in
order to bring knowledge of engineering and technological innovation
into their classrooms.
RET Supplements may be included in proposals for new or renewal
NSF Directorate for Engineering (ENG) grants or as supplements
to ongoing NSF/ENG funded projects. RET Sites are based on
independent proposals to initiate and conduct research participation
projects for a number of K-12 teachers and/or community college
faculty.
Besides these programs, Engineering Research Centers conduct
a range of research activities by undergraduates http://www.erc-assoc.org/educate/reuprogram.htm
and K-12 teachers and students http://www.erc-assoc.org/showcase/education/gradelevel/precollege.htm.
In addition, EEC participates in the following human resources
programs:
The NSF
Director's Award for Distinguished Teaching Scholars (DTS)
recognizes and rewards individuals who have contributed significantly
to the scholarship of their discipline and to the education
of students in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics
(STEM), and who exemplify the ability to engage productively
in both research and education. This award is part of NSF's
efforts to promote an academic culture that values a scholarly
approach to both research and education.
The Graduate
Research Fellowships(GRF) program promotes the strength
and diversity of the Nation's scientific and engineering
base, and offers recognition and 3 years of support for advanced
study to approximately 900 outstanding graduate students
annually in all fields of science, mathematics, and engineering
supported by NSF.
The Integrated
Graduate Education and Research Training (IGERT) Program
supports multi-disciplinary training groups. These might
include graduate students, undergraduate students, and post-doctoral
students as well.
The Graduate
Teaching Fellows in K-12 Education (GK-12) program supports
fellowships and associated training that will enable graduate
students and advanced undergraduates in the sciences, mathematics,
engineering, and technology to serve as resources in K-12
schools. Academic institutions apply for awards to support
fellowship activities, and are responsible for selecting
fellows.
Partnerships for Innovation (PFI) is a National Science Foundation
(NSF) program that promotes innovation by bringing together
colleges and universities, State and local governments, private
sector firms, and
nonprofit organizations. These organizations form partnerships
that support innovation in their communities by developing
the people, tools, and infrastructure needed to connect new
scientific discoveries to practical uses.
The goals of the PFI program are to:
- Stimulate the transformation of knowledge created by the
national research and education enterprise into innovations
that create new wealth, build strong local, regional, and
national economies, and improve the national well-being;
- Broaden the participation of all types of academic institutions
and all citizens in NSF activities to more fully meet the
broad workforce needs of the national innovation enterprise;
and
- Catalyze or enhance enabling infrastructure necessary to
foster and sustain innovation in the long-term.
More information about PFI can be found at; http://www.nsf.gov/home/crssprgm/pfi/about.cfm
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