Quality Education for Minorities (QEM) Network

Proposal Development and Evaluation Workshop for the

National Science Foundation (NSF)Õs Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program

Embassy Suites Hotel New Orleans Convention Center ¥ 315 Julia Street ¥ Tel. 504/525-1993

March 5-6, 2010

 

AGENDA

 

Note: Participants are expected to take advantage each morning of the HotelÕs free breakfast. All workshop plenary sessions will take place in Bayou Jean Lafitte 1 & 2 on the HotelÕs Sixth Floor.

 

FRIDAY, MARCH 5

 

AM

  8:30            Registration                                                                                                 Bayou Jean Lafitte 1 & 2

 

  9:00            Opening Session                                                                                           Bayou Jean Lafitte 1 & 2

                    Welcome, Purpose, and Introductions

                              Shirley McBay, President, QEM Network

 

  9:30            -Overview of the National Science Foundation (NSF)

                    -Review of Purpose of NSFÕs Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program

                              Craig Henderson, Staff Associate, Office of Integrative Activities, NSF

 

10:15            Coffee Break

 

10:30            Weaknesses in Non-funded MRI Proposals and Strengths of Funded MRI Proposals

                              Craig Henderson, National Science Foundation

 

11:00            Criteria Used in the Evaluation of NSF and MRI Proposals

                              J. Arthur Jones, Senior Associate, QEM Network

 

11:30           Brief Individual/Institutional Team Presentation of Proposal Ideas

 

PM

12:30            Lunch                                                                                                                                  Atrium

 

  1:30            Preparation of MRI Narrative and Budget

                              Costello Brown, Senior Associate, QEM Network

 

  2:15            Discipline-focused Breakout Groups  (See Group Assignment Sheet in Packet)

 

                       Session Focus: Equipment to be Purchased and How it is to be Used

                              (Three-minute presentations per individual/institutional team)

 

                              -Biological Sciences                                                                     Andrew JacksonÕs Boardroom

                                      Arthur Grider, Associate Professor, University of Georgia

                                             and QEM Consultant

                                      Casonya Johnson, Associate Professor, Georgia State University

                                             and QEM Consultant

 

                              -Chemistry                                                                                                Bayou Jean Lafitte 3

                                      Edwin Walker, Professor of Chemistry

                                             Southern University and A&M College, and QEM Consultant

                                      Costello Brown, QEM Network

 

 

                              -Engineering                                                                                       Bayou Jean Lafitte 1 & 2

                                      Arturo Bronson, Professor, University of Texas at El Paso,

                                             Former NSF Program Director, and QEM Consultant

                                      Phyllis Nelson, Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering

                                             California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

 

                              -Physics and Computer and Information Science and Engineering

                         Bayou Jean Lafitte 1 & 2

                                      Wayne Lutters, Associate Professor, Information Systems Department

                                             University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and QEM Consultant

                                      Matthew Edwards, Dean of Arts and Sciences and Professor of Physics

                                             Alabama A&M University, and QEM Consultant

 

  3:45            Coffee Break

 

  4:00            Establishing the Need for Major Research Instrumentation                            Bayou Jean Lafitte 1 & 2

                              Edwin Walker, QEM Consultant

 

  4:45            Breakout Groups continue in same Locations

                       Session Focus: Broader Impacts of Proposed Use of Equipment

 

  6:00            Dinner (on your own)

 

                       Overnight Assignment:  Participants revise their one-page project summaries

 

 

SATURDAY, MARCH 6

 

AM

  9:00            Involving Undergraduate Students in Research                                          Bayou Jean Lafitte 1 & 2

                              Arturo Bronson, QEM Consultant

                              Casonya Johnson, QEM Consultant

 

  9:30            Integrating Research into Teaching

                              Wayne Lutters, QEM Consultant

                              Arthur Grider, QEM Consultant

 

10:15            Break

 

10:30            Breakout Groups Resume

                       Session Focus: Discussion of Revised Project Summaries

 

NOON/PM

12:00            Luncheon Plenary Session                                                                                               Atrium

                       Closing Comments from NSF Staff, QEM Consultants, and QEM Staff  

 

  1:30            Use of NSFÕs FastLane for Submitting Proposals/Required Reports

                              Evelyn Baisey-Thomas (Part 1)                                                     Bayou Jean Lafitte 1 & 2

                              Evelyn Baisey-Thomas (Part 2), Computer and Information Specialist

                                      Office of Information and Resource Management, NSF (retired),

                                      and QEM Consultant

 

  3:30            Adjournment