#FundingFriday: New Federal Grants from NARA, IMLS and DOE

Nearly 100 new federal grants were announced this week by the National Archives and Records Administration, the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Department of Energy, among other agencies. Below are a few highlights from this week’s announcements.

1. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) – State Board Programming Grants

The National Historical Publications and Records Commission seeks proposals that strengthen the nation’s archival network through activities undertaken by state historical records advisory boards. The purpose of this grant program is to assist state boards to broaden preservation of, and increased online access to, historical records; develop and promote best practices; support activities that put the American people in touch with primary sources in their communities and online; promote the institutional advancement of organizations in underserved communities; and assist locally based repositories with training and tools to improve their stewardship abilities.

 

2. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) – Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program

The Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (LB21) supports developing a diverse workforce of librarians to better meet the changing learning and information needs of the American public by: enhancing the training and professional development of librarians, developing faculty and library leaders, and recruiting and educating the next generation of librarians.

 

3. Department of Defense, Air Force Office of Scientific Research – Department of Defense (DoD) Defense Enterprise Science Initiative (DESI)

The Department of Defense (DoD) Defense Enterprise Science Initiative (DESI) is a pilot program that supports use-inspired basic research performed by university-industry teams. DESI is sponsored by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OASD/R&E), and is run in collaboration with the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), and the Army Research Office (ARO).

 

4. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health – Development of Socially-Assistive Robots (SARs) to Engage Persons with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)

The purpose of this Small Business Technology Transfer Research (STTR) FOA is to encourage small businesses and their research partners to develop assistive robotics and related technology that would enhance health and reduce illness and disability in older Americans suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), AD-related dementias (ADRD), and other comorbidities. In addition, this FOA encourages small businesses and their research partners to develop assistive robotics addressing the needs and conditions of caregivers to older Americans suffering from AD and ADRD.

 

5. Department of Energy, Office of Science – Energy Frontier Research Centers

The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Basic Energy Sciences (BES) announces a re-competition of the Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC) and encourages both new and renewal applications. Applications will be required to address priority research directions identified by the series of “Basic Research Needs” reports, the scientific grand challenges identified in the report Directing Matter and Energy: Five Challenges for Science and the Imagination, and the opportunities described in the report Challenges at the Frontiers of Matter and Energy: Transformative Opportunities for Discovery Science.