AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowships | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowships opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number P16AS00159)?

This opportunity is a U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service (DOI-NPS) discretionary funding announcement that supports a fellowship program administered through the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). It is designed to use federal financial assistance to place competitively selected scientists and engineers into federal policy environments, where they can observe and participate in how science and technology inform government decisions, policies, and programs.

Which federal agency is associated with this funding announcement?

The opportunity is associated with the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), specifically the National Park Service (NPS).

Who administers the fellowship program described in the announcement?

The fellowship program is administered through the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), with DOI-NPS support via a cooperative agreement.

What is the main goal of the fellowship program supported by this agreement?

The core goal is to place competitively selected scientists and engineers into policy environments so they can see, in real time, how science and technology are used inside the federal government to shape decisions, policies, and programs. At the same time, fellows provide practical value to participating agencies by applying technical expertise and analytical skills to policy questions that benefit from rigorous scientific thinking.

How does this opportunity relate to National Park Service policy needs?

A central theme of the agreement is strengthening the connection between scientific expertise and National Park Service policy needs. By embedding scientific and engineering talent into NPS policy and program contexts, the project aims to improve how evidence informs NPS decisions and to develop a pipeline of professionals who can work effectively at the intersection of science and federal policy.

What outcomes does the project aim to achieve?

The announcement emphasizes capacity building and long-term workforce development. Intended outcomes include improving evidence-informed decision-making within NPS, preparing scientists and engineers to address complex challenges relevant to public lands and federal policy, and creating a lasting network of leaders who understand both the National Park Service operating environment and the federal policymaking process.

What kinds of policy and program issues is this fellowship intended to help address?

The fellowship is framed around complex societal challenges where public lands, conservation, visitor use, climate pressures, cultural resources, and other NPS-relevant issues intersect with federal policy and decision-making.

What type of funding instrument is being used?

The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement. This generally indicates substantial federal involvement in coordination, oversight, or collaboration compared with a standard grant.

Is this an open competitive grant opportunity with a standard application deadline?

Based on the listing description, it appears to be a notice of intent to enter into an agreement with AAAS rather than an open competition with a typical application deadline. The closing date language reflects a notification of intent rather than a standard due date for submissions.

What is the program category for this opportunity?

The opportunity is categorized under "Science and Technology and other Research and Development."

What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?

The listing includes CFDA 15.946.

When was this opportunity posted and created?

The posting and creation dates shown are May 11, 2016.

Who is eligible to receive this award, according to the announcement?

Eligibility is specified as "Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education." This aligns with the structure of an intended partner organization supporting the fellowship program.

How many awards are expected under this announcement?

The record indicates an award ceiling of 1 and expected awards of 0. This is consistent with a targeted cooperative agreement approach rather than a multi-award competitive grant cycle.

What does it mean that the award ceiling is 1?

An award ceiling of 1 indicates the announcement is structured to support a single cooperative agreement award, consistent with the notice of intent framework described in the listing.

Why would the listing show expected awards of 0?

The listing notes expected awards of 0, which is consistent with a notice-of-intent style posting and a targeted agreement arrangement rather than a standard competitive round where multiple awards are anticipated.

What is the overall purpose of DOI-NPS partnering with AAAS on this agreement?

Overall, the opportunity functions as a mechanism for DOI-NPS to partner with AAAS to run or support a science-and-technology policy fellowship experience. The intent is to benefit fellows professional development while also strengthening the agencys ability to incorporate scientific evidence into federal decision-making.

What value do fellows bring to participating agencies?

Fellows contribute practical value by bringing strong technical expertise and analytical capacity to policy questions and program decisions that require rigorous scientific thinking and clear translation of technical knowledge into actionable solutions.

What does the fellowship experience aim to build for the long term?

The fellowship is intended to help build a lasting network and pipeline of science-and-policy professionals who understand how the National Park Service operates, how federal policymaking works, and how to connect technical expertise with real-world policy and program needs.