Research Proposal Project

Acquiring funds for special projects is a necessary part of many jobs, particularly in, but certainly not limited to, the sciences. The most well known funding organization for the sciences is the National Science Foundation (NSF). NSF has a large budget from which funds are given for programs in the sciences and engineering, for basic, applied, and educational purposes. In the humanities, NEH, the National Endowment for the Humanities, functions in much the same way. On a smaller scale, getting funds within a school system for special projects is based on the persuasiveness of a proposal and the estimated cost of the project. In this course you will have the opportunity to develop your own idea, write a proposal and create a realistic budget, review your peers' proposals, and sit on a panel that will prioritize a group of proposals for funding.

Research ideas can be pursued in all aspects of oceanography, including basic science, science education (including interdisciplinary educational efforts and research into learning science), environmental projects, and socioeconomic aspects of oceanography. You will be responsible for reviewing two of your classmates' proposals. In addition, review panels (selected at random) will meet on Wednesday, May 11, during our final exam period, and will be responsible for priority ranking of proposals. You will complete a process much like what scientists and others engaged in acquiring outside funds must undergo. I hope you will have wide-ranging discussions as part of the review process. 25% of your course grade will be based on the research proposal project.

A notebook is on reserve in the science library that contains examples of proposals from two of the panels from Spring 1997. In addition, the panel reviews are included so that you can see which proposals faired well and which were not so successful in attempts to get "funding". Please take a look at this notebook if you have questions about the scope of proposal topics and to get some ideas about how a successful proposal is constructed.

Grading Breakdown of Proposal Project:
instructor's grade on your proposal...................................70%
your 2 reviews of student proposals................................. 20%
1-2 page panel summary................................................. 10%

 

Additional tips and links:

For ideas on writing a strong proposal, see the links on my Faculty Grants Associate website on proposal preparation and budget preparation (factors to consider when putting your budget together). Some suggested journals for scientific information that is easily accessible to the layperson: Scientific American, American Scientist, Discover. Your references cited section can be formatted using the MLA guidelines.

 

Due Dates:

February 25 by 5 p.m.: Proposal Topic and Description

March 11 by 5 p.m.: Proposal Outline and Reference List

April 13 by 5 p.m.: Proposal in Blackboard drop box in Microsoft Word format with .doc extension

May 2 by 5 p.m.: Two Proposal Reviews, in drop box in Word format with .doc extension

May 11 by end of final period: Panel Review Document