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Informal Science Education (ISE) Grant (NSF 09-553) FAQs

What is the Informal Science Education (ISE) grant opportunity (NSF 09-553)?

The Informal Science Education (ISE) opportunity (NSF Funding Opportunity Number 09-553) is a National Science Foundation program that supports STEM learning that happens outside traditional classrooms. It focuses on lifelong STEM learning in informal environments, such as museums, community programs, media, after-school settings, and other public or everyday-life contexts where people engage with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

What kinds of learning environments count as "informal" for this program?

Informal environments include places and experiences where STEM learning happens outside a formal classroom, including everyday life and public engagement opportunities. Examples mentioned in the opportunity include community programs, museums, after-school activities, and STEM experiences delivered through media or other public-facing formats.

What is the overall purpose of the ISE program?

The program is designed not only to deliver STEM learning experiences to the public, but also to strengthen the evidence base for what works in informal STEM learning, to create and test new approaches and resources, and to grow professional capacity among researchers and practitioners working in informal STEM education.

What are the main funding aims supported by ISE?

ISE supports projects across three broad aims: (1) advancing understanding of informal STEM learning (research on learners, motivation, design, and measurement in non-classroom settings), (2) developing and implementing innovative strategies and resources (such as exhibitions, digital tools, media, or program models), and (3) building national capacity (such as professional learning, networks, and workforce development for the field).

Does ISE fund research, or only educational programs?

ISE funds both. It supports research that advances understanding of informal STEM learning, as well as development and implementation work that creates or improves informal STEM learning experiences and resources.

What types of activities are included under research to "advance understanding" of informal STEM learning?

Examples described in the opportunity include research on how different audiences learn in informal settings, what motivates participation, how specific design features influence outcomes, and how learning can be measured in non-classroom contexts.

What kinds of "innovative strategies and resources" can be supported?

The opportunity notes that development and implementation can include new program models, exhibitions, digital tools, media, curricula for informal programs, and other learning experiences intended for public or community use.

What does "building national capacity" mean in this program?

Building national capacity refers to efforts that strengthen the informal STEM education field through activities like workforce development, professional learning, networks, and other initiatives that help researchers, developers, educators, and institutions improve practice and collaborate more effectively.

What grant categories are available under NSF 09-553?

The opportunity is organized into five categories: Research, Pathways, Full-Scale Development, Broad Implementation, and Communicating Research to Public Audiences (CRPA).

How do the five categories differ from each other?

They reflect different purposes and stages of work. Research focuses on generating new knowledge. Pathways supports pathway-related work for participants or professionals. Full-Scale Development supports creating and refining major projects. Broad Implementation supports expanding proven approaches to wider audiences or settings. CRPA focuses on translating NSF-funded research into accessible formats for public audiences.

What is the Communicating Research to Public Audiences (CRPA) category?

CRPA is a category specifically intended to translate NSF-funded research into formats that are accessible to public audiences. It is framed as communication of existing NSF-supported research rather than starting unrelated new research.

Is there a special eligibility rule for CRPA proposals?

Yes. A special eligibility condition applies only to CRPA proposals: the principal investigator must hold an active NSF-funded research award in any NSF directorate or program.

Does the CRPA PI need to have an NSF award specifically from the ISE program?

No. The opportunity specifies that the PI must hold an active NSF-funded research award in any NSF directorate or program (not limited to ISE).

Is cost sharing or matching required for this opportunity?

No. The notice states that cost sharing or matching is not required.

How much funding was anticipated, and how many awards were expected?

NSF anticipated approximately 40 awards from an estimated total funding pool of $25,000,000 for this opportunity, as listed in the notice.

What CFDA number is associated with this grant opportunity?

The opportunity is administered under CFDA 47.076 (Education and Human Resources).

What type of grant program is this administratively?

It is described as a discretionary grant program within the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broadly described as "Others," with the notice directing applicants to the additional information on eligibility section in the full announcement (NSF Publication 09-553). The description indicates that eligibility typically points to a wide range of potential applicants commonly involved in informal STEM education and public engagement, subject to NSF standard eligibility rules and any program-specific restrictions.

What kinds of organizations are typically involved in ISE-type projects?

The opportunity notes that applicants commonly involved in informal STEM education and public engagement can include museums, science centers, universities, school districts partnering with informal organizations, nonprofit organizations, and media and technology developers, as well as other entities capable of carrying out research, development, or implementation in informal learning contexts (subject to NSF eligibility rules).

What were the key deadlines listed for the original 2009 cycle?

The original posting date was April 23, 2009. The notice lists a required pre-proposal due date of June 25, 2009 and a full proposal deadline of November 19, 2009, with separate timing notes for CRPA proposals.

Why do the dates in the notice mention later updates and another opportunity number?

The notice indicates later updates and references a subsequent opportunity (10-565), along with later preliminary and full proposal dates in 2010. This suggests the NSF posting was updated and that applicants should check the most current opportunity information.

What does the archive date mean for applicants?

The listing shows an archive date of May 23, 2010. This signals that the posting is archived and that applicants should rely on the most current NSF posting and instructions when preparing submissions.

Where can applicants find the official requirements and proposal instructions?

The authoritative reference for full requirements, proposal preparation details, and category-specific expectations is the official NSF publication associated with this opportunity: NSF Publication 09-553.

Where should applicants go for technical help accessing the opportunity on Grants.gov?

NSF directs applicants to Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov for technical issues with the announcement, and also indicates there is additional contact support for problems linking to the funding announcement.