Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) (R25)

Overview

<p>The over-arching goal of this NIH National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) R25 program is to support educational activities that complement and/or enhance the training of a workforce to meet the nation’s biomedical, behavioral and clinical research needs. To assure the vitality and continued productivity of the research enterprise, the NIGMS provides leadership in training the next generation of scientists, in enhancing the diversity of the scientific workforce and in developing research capacities throughout the country. The SEPA program supports P-12 and informal science education (ISE) activities that: (1) enhance the diversity of the biomedical, behavioral and clinical research workforce and (2) foster a better understanding of NIH-funded biomedical, behavioral and clinical research and its public health implications. Applications that target P-12 or ISE topics that may not be addressed by existing school, community or ISE-based activities are encouraged. Proposed projects may focus on any area of NIH-funded research.</p> <p>Research education programs may complement ongoing research training and education occurring at the applicant institution, but the proposed educational experiences must be distinct from those training and education programs currently receiving Federal support. R25 programs may augment institutional research training programs (e.g., T32, T90) but cannot be used to replace or circumvent Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) programs.</p> <p><strong>Courses for Skills Development:</strong> For example, advanced courses in a specific discipline or research area, clinical procedures for research, or specialized research techniques.</p> <p>Research Experiences: For example, for undergraduate students: to provide hands-on exposure to research, to reinforce their intent to graduate with a science degree, and/or to prepare them for graduate school admissions and/or careers in research; for graduate and medical, dental, nursing and other health professional students: to provide research experiences and related training not available through formal NIH training mechanisms; for postdoctorates, medical residents and faculty: to extend their skills, experiences, and knowledge base; for high school and college science teachers: to enhance their science teaching.<br>Mentoring Activities: For example, dedicated efforts at providing not only technical expertise, but advice, insight, and professional career skills to college students, graduate students, postdoctorates and/or early-career faculty.</p> <p>Curriculum or Methods Development: Innovative and inquiry-based P-12 curricula that will increase student interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) topics, understanding of the scientific research process and motivation to pursue careers in basic and medical research. example, to improve biomedical, behavioral or clinical science education, or develop novel instructional approaches or computer-based educational tools.<br>Citizen or Crowd-Sourced projects where non-scientists participate in scientific research either alone or in collaboration with scientists.<br>Maker Movement projects where students and teachers learn by "doing" or "making" in or outside the classroom.</p> <p>Curriculum or Methods Development activities for P-12 Teachers that provide instruction in novel approaches to STEM curriculum that challenge the current knowledge base of pedagogy and problem based learning.</p> <p>Interactive digital media (IDM)-based projects where scientists partner with educators and developers to create learning resources for P-12 students, Teachers, and the public. IDM applications may include, but are not limited to: interactive curricula; attitude changes towards learning; new skills development; teamwork and group activities; public participation in scientific research (citizen science) projects and behavioral changes in lifestyle and health Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) projects on important health prevention issues such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.</p> <p><strong>Outreach</strong>: Collaborations and leveraging with the following programs and other educational organizations are encouraged:</p> <p>P-12 STEM programs at other government agencies, e.g., Department of Education, Department of Defense, National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency.</p> <p>Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) projects on important health prevention issues such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.<br>Science center and museum-based exhibits, traveling exhibits and public outreach activities e.g., Science Cafes and Community Health Fairs, that will educate students, Teachers and the community on health-related topics.</p>