APS Calls for Outreach Grant Proposals

For the second year in a row, APS is calling for members interested in outreach to submit proposals to get the public excited about physics. Successful applicants will receive mini-grants up to $10,000 to start a program aimed at bringing the fun of science to the general public.

“We are soliciting proposals from people interested in starting their own outreach program,” said Rebecca Thompson, APS’s head of public outreach.

The department is looking to fund original and creative programs for all ages, including adults. The idea is to get people involved in fun activities that highlight the importance of science and physics. Many outreach programs have traditionally focused on activities for kids between kindergarten and 12th grade, but the grant administrators say that they’re also looking to broaden the scope of audiences. They are especially looking for proposals that use grants as seed money, to get a program started that can continue on after the grant expires. Likewise, proposals that would potentially have a particularly high impact, for example by involving radio, TV, print or other media, will also receive careful consideration.

“We’re making it intentionally open-ended because we don’t want to squash creativity,” Thompson said. She added that they were particularly looking for ideas with a way to reach a wide audience. “Things using popular media, things that will get a lot of publicity, things that will make a big splash.”

The deadline for submissions is January 6, 2012, for programs that would run sometime in the 18 months following May 1, 2012. Since the grant program is for members of APS, the primary contact listed on the proposal has to be a member.
 About Physics Outreach Grants.