Application: The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for FY 2016 is now available.
Grant Amount: Up to $1,000,000
Grant Period of Performance: Up to two years.
Cost Share Requirement: Because these are research projects, no cost sharing is required. Any cost share provided will not be considered in the review of the application.

Program Overview:
National Leadership Grants for Libraries (NLG-Libraries) and National Leadership Grants for Museums (NLG-Museums), under which this special initiative falls, support projects that address challenges faced by the library and museum fields and that have the potential to advance practice in those fields. Successful projects will generate results such as new tools, research findings, models, services, practices, or alliances that can be widely used, adapted, scaled, or replicated to extend the benefits of federal investment.

What is this special initiative?

This special joint NLG-Libraries and NLG-Museums initiative invites proposals for research on informal educational approaches that leverage community Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) professionals in the broadest sense. Funded research projects will create a foundation for reaching children and families from diverse economic, social, and cultural backgrounds, with different levels of knowledge about STEM.

We are interested in proposals for design-based research projects that develop and explore models for inquiry-based STEM programs delivered by scientists, engineers, and related technical practitioners (STEM experts) to children ages 6-10 and their families. In particular, proposals should address the role of expert oral narratives (e.g., storytelling, personal histories, and analogies) as part of object-based science inquiry. Proposals should include information about how findings from this research will be applicable in both museum and library settings.

Eligibility: Libraries, agencies, institutions of higher education, museums, and other entities that advance the museum and library fields and that meet the eligibility criteria set forth in the NOFO may apply.

Program Contacts:
If you have questions, please contact any of the staff listed under the category that best fits your project.

Webinars:

Learn more about STEMeX by participating in an IMLS webinar:

Find instructions for accessing IMLS webinars.

Grant Program Webinars:

• Wednesday, February 17, 2016, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. EST

• Thursday, February 18, 2016, 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. EST