The National Science Foundation recently issued a Dear Colleague Letter calling for submission of conference proposals to inform the design of the communications and support structures for how individual NSF INCLUDES Alliances will work together with the NSF INCLUDES National Network. NSF seeks community input and participation in identifying and specifying the most critical design features of both Alliances and the National Network so that they can effectively work together to achieve mutual goals. As such, NSF invites those who have ideas and experiences in building successful large-scale Alliances and Networks (or Networks of Networks) to propose conferences, both face-to-face and virtual, that will bring together various stakeholders who can provide insight on models and designs. In particular, it is expected that representatives of the (soon to be funded) NSF INCLUDES Design and Development Launch Pilots will participate in the conferences, thereby influencing future Alliance proposals and formations.
Each conference proposal should focus on exemplary and/or innovative ideas supported by research for designing an infrastructure that helps to mobilize, coordinate, facilitate and achieve a continuous state of planning, execution and evaluation among the NSF INCLUDES participants. Ideas should build on proven mechanisms of success with technical assistance support structures, resource networks and centers, and other related efforts to create communities of practice.
NSF expects to fund 10-12 conferences, up to $250,000 each. The conferences should be inclusive in terms of presenters and participants, engaging a range of stakeholders and organizations (e.g., representatives from K-12, 2-year and 4-year postsecondary institutions, philanthropic and community-based organizations, and the business sector).
A link to the Letter requesting proposals is below. Dear Colleague Letter: Call for Submission of Conference Proposals to Inform the Design and Success of the Alliances and National Network for NSF INCLUDES
