Innovation through Institutional Integration (I3) Grant Opportunity

As discussed in the January 16 quarterly meeting (see section VI on page 3 of the meeting summary) NSF has released information about an Innovation through Institutional Integration grant (also known as I3 or I-cubed). The interests of the Research Impacts Team closely align with the stated goals of the I3 program, which challenges institutions to think strategically about the creative integration of NSF-funded awards with a STEM educational focus. RIT will be exploring options for crafting an I3 proposal. Please contact Chris Riggs if you wish to participate in the group that will meet to discuss this in greater detail.

description of I3
I3 FAQs

Please see the following abstracts for examples of how I3 grants are being implemented at other institutions:
University of Colorado I3
Georgia Tech I3
University of Florida I3
University of Hawaii I3
University of Washington I3
Louisiana State University I3

Report Supports State-level Coordination of Pre-college and Outreach Efforts

One of the discussion topics at the January 16 quarterly meeting was the need for a state-wide body to coordinate outreach efforts in Michigan. Supporting this notion is a report on Actions to Improve America's High Schools by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, National Conference of State Legislatures, National Association of State Boards, and Council of Chief State School Officers. Among the recommendations in this report is that "state leaders can encourage officials from the elementary and secondary education and postsecondary education systems, economic development agencies, and workforce boards to better coordinate their high school policy efforts by creating a K-16 council" (see page 28 of the report).

Summary of January 16 Quarterly Meeting

The Research Impacts Team held its quarterly meeting on January 16. Please review the draft meeting summary and contact Chris Riggs with any questions or comments so he can make any necessary corrections.

Announcing New Research Impacts Team Member

Please welcome Sandy Gregerman as a new member of the Research Impacts Team. As the Director of the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP), Sandy will work with Team to include more undergraduates in funded research proposals. As a starting point, Sandy will be meeting soon with Chris Riggs and Ann Verhey Henke to discuss strategies for getting faculty to take advantage of NSF and NIH supplements that would support more students on sponsored project related activities. Look for Sandy at the next quarterly meeting on January 16th.

Blog Updates

Just a few words about some recent changes to the blog and how to use it:

1. Until we have a website, wiki, or ning (a type of social network), to serve as a more public face for UM Research Impacts, this blog will serve as the primary means of communication for Team members. Remember that while this blog is used primarily for internal use by Team members, it is publicly accessible via the Web.
   
2. Please take advantage of the "subscribe to RIT blog feeds" feature at the top of the sidebar. These feed options will notify you (through email and/or a website such as Google) whenever there is a blog entry. You can sign up for feeds for new postings and/or comments. The two feeds I like are the Google and Atom. A Google feed shows you new blog entries whenever you open your i-google page (which you already have if you accepted the invitation to become an author of this blog). The "Atom" feed can send you an email whenever a new blog entry is added.
3. I have added space on the sidebar for posting documents and web links. I will be adding resources to these, and welcome suggestions for useful additions. If you have something to add, email me and I can put it up for you.
4. If you received an invitation to become an author for this blog and haven't signed up already, please do so. It's very simple and only takes a minute or two. Becoming an author lets you add your own postings.
   

Potential NSF grant for RIT involvement

RIT has an opportunity to assist in an internal competition for NSF-09-505-Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE). The DRDA is accepting abstracts to fill 3 preliminary proposal slots, due January 12, 2009. A synopsis of the announcement and details of the abstract requirements may be found on the DRDA website at http://www.research.umich.edu/funding/limited_submissions/nsfpire.html.

There are three ways that you can help:

1. Forward this announcement link to any faculty that may be intersted in submitting an abstract.
2. Share with Chris Riggs, Marvin Parnes, or the whole Team (by posting a comment on this blog) any ideas you may have for collaborative partnerships or activities that could strengthen or enhance the broader impacts criteria for proposals.
3. We would like to have RIT input on the abstracts from at least 1 or 2 RIT members. Please contact Chris Riggs or Marvin Parnes if you would be interested in reviewing the abstracts and providing input to Marvin.

Upcoming Meeting Dates

The next quarterly meeting of the Research Impacts Team is scheduled for Friday, January 16 from 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM. Please reserve this time on your calendar. Information on the meeting location and agenda will be posted as they become available.

In addition, the Research Impacts Executive Committee has tentatively agreed to meet on the first Monday of every month from 2:30-4:00. Please mark your calendars for the following meetings:

• December 1: Fleming Building #3081 (Provost)
• January 5: Fleming Building #4006 (OVPR)
• February 2: Fleming Building #4006 (OVPR)
• March 2: Fleming Building #4006 (OVPR)
• April 6: Fleming Builidng #4025 (Provost)
• May 4: Fleming Builidng #4006 (OVPR)

The Executive Committee held its first meeting on November 3. Please review the draft meeting summary and feel free to submit corrections, comments, or questions to Chris Riggs or post your thoughts on a comment to this posting.