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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - NSF EXTREEMS QED (NSF 12-606)

1) What is the EXTREEMS QED grant program?

EXTREEMS QED (Expeditions in Training, Research, and Education for Mathematics and Statistics through Quantitative Explorations of Data) was a National Science Foundation (NSF) discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number NSF 12-606) aimed at modernizing undergraduate mathematics and statistics education to better match the needs of computational and data-enabled science and engineering (CDSampE).

2) What was the main goal of the program?

The central goal was to help institutions prepare undergraduate math and statistics majors to work effectively with large-scale data, computational methods, and complex systems, reflecting the growing role of computation, modeling, simulation, and data analytics in research and industry.

3) What types of changes did EXTREEMS QED expect institutions to make?

The program emphasized department-wide, institutionally supported change rather than isolated activities. Strong proposals typically involved meaningful curricular transformation, such as revising core courses, adding computational and data exploration components across the curriculum, and creating structured opportunities for hands-on, research-like experiences connected to CDSampE themes.

4) Was the program intended to benefit only a small group of students?

No. Projects were expected to enhance the knowledge and skills of most, ideally all, mathematics and statistics majors at the proposing institution. The focus was on broad, sustained impact within a department or institution rather than a small pilot that reached only a subset of students.

5) What did NSF mean by "significant and lasting curriculum changes"?

Based on the solicitation description, NSF was looking for changes that would endure beyond the grant period, backed by broad institutional support and clear department-level commitment. The program discouraged one-off workshops or small pilot efforts without a clear sustainability plan.

6) What is CDSampE in the context of this program?

CDSampE refers to computational and data-enabled science and engineering. In EXTREEMS QED, it signaled a focus on training math and statistics majors to engage with computation, modeling, simulation, and data analytics as part of modern scientific and engineering work.

7) What kinds of undergraduate experiences did the program encourage?

EXTREEMS QED expected institutions to create experiential learning pathways for undergraduates. This included undergraduate research opportunities and other hands-on experiences centered on CDSampE, such as student projects using modern computational environments, real data sets, and modeling tools that connect theory to practical computational workflows.

8) Did the program encourage interdisciplinary collaboration?

Yes. The solicitation encouraged collaboration within and across disciplines, recognizing that data- and computation-intensive challenges often sit at the intersections of mathematics, statistics, computer science, and domain areas such as biology, engineering, physics, geosciences, and the social sciences.

9) Were professional development activities allowed?

Yes. EXTREEMS QED welcomed professional development activities either for faculty (to help them adopt and teach with modern computational and data tools) or for K-12 teachers (to broaden the pipeline and strengthen preparation for undergraduate programs).

10) Which parts of NSF ran EXTREEMS QED?

EXTREEMS QED was a joint effort between NSF's Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences and the Office of Cyberinfrastructure (OCI).

11) What role did cyberinfrastructure play in this opportunity?

OCI involvement indicated that proposals were expected to incorporate cyberinfrastructure considerations at a fundamental level, not as an afterthought. The program emphasized educational efforts that leverage and advance major NSF investments in cyberinfrastructure and train students to use those resources as part of standard mathematics and statistics education.

12) What does NSF mean by "cyberinfrastructure"?

In NSF terms (as described in the opportunity summary), cyberinfrastructure includes advanced computing resources, data storage and management systems, instruments and data repositories, visualization environments, high-performance networks, and the human expertise and software that integrate these components.

13) Did the program have an interest in NSF-supported platforms and shared resources?

Yes. Projects could be strengthened by thoughtful use of shared computing systems, data repositories, or other NSF-supported platforms, and by integrating training on those resources into the undergraduate curriculum for math and statistics majors.

14) How many awards did NSF expect to make?

NSF anticipated making about six awards under this opportunity.

15) What was the estimated total funding level for the program?

The estimated total program funding level was $4,000,000.

16) What CFDA numbers were associated with EXTREEMS QED?

The CFDA numbers listed for the program were 47.049 (Mathematical and Physical Sciences) and 47.080 (Office of Cyberinfrastructure).

17) Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity did not require cost sharing or matching.

18) Who was eligible to apply as the lead organization?

Eligibility to submit as lead applicants was limited to accredited U.S.-based universities and four-year colleges applying on behalf of their faculty.

19) Could two-year colleges or community colleges apply as the lead?

No. Two-year colleges and community colleges were not eligible as lead organizations under this solicitation.

20) Could two-year colleges still participate in EXTREEMS QED projects?

Yes. While not eligible as lead organizations, two-year colleges and community colleges could participate as non-lead partners in collaborative proposals or receive support through subawards/subcontracts, allowing them to contribute to broader regional or multi-institutional efforts.

21) When was the opportunity originally posted?

The original posting date was September 5, 2012.

22) What were the proposal deadlines?

The original full proposal deadline was December 14, 2012. The solicitation later reflected an additional deadline of November 6, 2013, described as the first Wednesday in November annually thereafter.

23) Is EXTREEMS QED still open for submissions?

No. The opportunity is archived, with an archive date of May 29, 2014.

24) Where did NSF direct applicants for full requirements and guidance?

NSF directed applicants to NSF Publication 12-606 for the full requirements and guidance that applied at the time the solicitation was active.

25) What kinds of activities were discouraged by the program emphasis?

Based on the program description, the opportunity emphasized sustainable, department-wide change and discouraged one-off workshops or small pilot activities that lacked broad institutional support or a plan for lasting curriculum impact.