EHR Core Research (ECR:Core)

Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Solicitation Title: EHR Core Research (ECR:Core)
Funding Amount: $500,000 to $2,500,000; see Other Information
Sponsor Deadline: Thursday, October 7, 2021
Solicitation Link: https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2021/nsf21588/nsf21588.htm
Solicitation Number: NSF 21-588

Overview

6/1/2021 Update: NSF has updated guidance for this competition (NSF 21-588 replaces 19-508). See section Other Information below. The EHR Core research (ECR) program supports multiple solicitations under the ECR umbrella, including this ECR:Core solicitation and the ECR Building Capacity in STEM Education Research (ECR:BCSER) solicitation, <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf20521" style="font-size:1em">NSF 20-521</a>. This EHR Core research (ECR:Core) solicitation accepts fundamental research proposals in any one or more of the STEM disciplines that address Research Areas and Topic Clusters described in this solicitation. The ECR:BCSER solicitation requests proposals that build individuals’ capacity to carry out high quality STEM education and broaden the pool of researchers who can conduct fundamental research. Fundamental research generates knowledge and understanding with the potential for broad relevance. The potential implications of ECR fundamental research for improving STEM education practice may be indirect and long-term rather than direct and immediate. Moreover, whether they include basic or use-inspired basic research, all successful ECR:Core proposals focus on the advancement or refinement of foundational knowledge for STEM education. The EHR Core Research (ECR) program offers this ECR:Core solicitation and invites proposals for fundamental research (curiosity-driven basic research and use-inspired basic research) that contributes to the general, explanatory knowledge that underlies STEM education in one or more of the three broadly conceived Research Areas: (1) Research on STEM Learning and Learning Environments, (2) Research on Broadening Participation in STEM fields, and (2) Research on STEM Workforce Development. Within this framework, the ECR program supports a wide range of fundamental STEM education research activities, aimed at learners of all groups and ages in formal and informal settings. ECR:Core also welcomes and supports pilot studies, synthesis projects, and conferences related to advancing fundamental knowledge in one or more of the three Research Areas. ECR:Core Research Topic Clusters The ECR:Core solicitation invites proposals with a wide range of disciplinary perspectives and welcomes fundamental research proposals across the three research areas. Proposals submitted to ECR:Core often fall into one or more of the following research topic clusters. This list of research topic clusters is neither exhaustive nor mutually exclusive, and the program is open to other topic clusters that advance fundamental knowledge across the three research areas. <ul> <li>Diversity, equity, access, and inclusion in STEM education and the workforce.</li> <li>Cognitive and neural underpinnings of STEM learning.</li> <li>Discipline-based education research in STEM fields.</li> <li>Factors at the institutional, structural, organizational, societal, and systemic levels that affect STEM teaching, learning, and participation in STEM education and the workforce.</li> <li>Factors at the cultural, affective, psychological, and demographic levels that affect STEM teaching, learning, and participation in STEM education and the workforce.</li> <li>Research on technology-enabled learning.</li> <li>Studies of the diffusion of knowledge and research on the translation and implementation of advances in STEM education and workforce development.</li> <li>Advances in methodology, measurement, and assessment in STEM education and workforce development research.</li> <li>Policy research and research that builds on and expands the theoretical foundations for evaluating STEM education and workforce development initiatives.</li> <li>Other topics that involve fundamental research in STEM learning and learning environments, broadening participation in STEM, and STEM workforce development.</li> </ul>

Other Information:The amount of funding and duration requested in proposals submitted to this ECR:Core solicitation should align with the maturity of the proposed work and the size and scope of the empirical effort. The program has three levels of funding with a range of budget sizes, and proposals may request a duration of 3 to 5 years for any level: (1) Level I proposals may request up to $500,000; (2) Level II proposals may request up to $1,500,000; (3) Level III proposals may request up to $2,500,000. All proposals should justify the level of funding and duration in the project description. 6/1/2021 Revision Notes from funding announcement: The solicitation clarifies the types of fundamental research (curiosity-driven basic and use-inspired basic research) funded by the program. <ul> <li>New descriptions of the three research areas (STEM Learning and Learning Environments, Broadening Participation in STEM, and STEM Workforce Development) are detailed.</li> <li>A list of Research Topic Clusters is added. </li> <li>Pilot studies are added as a new proposal type at Level I. </li> <li>The Project Summary should specify the Level, Research Area, Research Topic Cluster(s) and include a list of five key words that best describe the theory, research methodology, the population to be studied (e.g., age, grade level, gender), any specific STEM disciplinary content that is to be studied (e.g., algebra), or potential stakeholder communities, as appropriate. </li> <li>The Project Description should include a justification for project level and duration. Proposals that request the highest level of funding are particularly expected to discuss the need for resources.</li> </ul>

Last Updated: 06/01/2021

RODA ID: 1359