In this call for proposals, the ASPB Education Foundation seeks projects that address the aims of the Foundation and at the same time catalyze new opportunities for ASPB members to promote plant biology in the context of the Foundation’s mission (see sidebar).

A total of $80,000 is available for Education Foundation grant awards for 2005. Proposals must be submitted to the Foundation by June 7, 2005, and should be sent by e-mail to Elizabeth Daerr, Education Foundation assistant, at foundation@aspb.org. No forms are needed, but full name and ASPB member number should be in the body of the submitted e-mail. Attached documents should be in Word (.doc extension) or saved as a pdf file.

Each grant proposal should include

1. A one-page cover with the title of the project, the names of the member project manager and others who are submitting the project, and the member’s ASPB number and contact information, including address, phone, e-mail, and fax.
2. A project description that is no more than five pages in length, double-spaced.
3. An itemized budget of up to $30,000 with justification for each item.

Guidelines for the 2005 program:

1. The project manager must be a current member of ASPB.
2. Proposals that leverage funds from the Foundation with support from other sources are encouraged, particularly with regard to larger grant requests.
3. No indirect costs (overhead) will be covered by the Foundation for project awards.
4. No language translations.
5. No direct publishing.
6. No support of other foundations.
7. No support to projects that would more appropriately receive their money from another source, especially when that project serves a limited audience (i.e., one campus).
8. The Foundation seeks projects with wide dissemination.
9. ASPB expects to have the right to the use of projects developed with grant funding.
10. Proposals are encouraged from members from both within and outside the United States, and projects may serve communities from any country.
11. Projects may run beyond one year, but grant funding will be made in one payment only, issued between September 1 and December 1, 2005, not to exceed $30,000.

Proposals will be reviewed, and successful awardees will be notified by e-mail and announced at the 2005 Plant Biology meeting July 20, 2005.

Refer to the ASPB website for details and to view the recipients of the 2004 awards: http://www.aspb.org/education/foundation/gap.cfm.

ASPB’s Education Foundation seeks proposals from ASPB members to support education and outreach activities that advance knowledge of and appreciation for basic concepts and contributions of plant biology.

In support of the mission of ASPB, the ASPB Education Foundation was established in 1995 to provide information and education to increase the public’s knowledge about the role of plants in all areas of life.

The Foundation reaches its goals through programs that

• promote a broad understanding of the importance of plant science in providing an ongoing supply of affordable, high-quality food, fiber, and renewable resources
• provide education on the importance of plants to agriculture, medicine, the environment, and more
• make available accurate information on the latest developments in genetic modification of crops and plant biotechnology
• contribute to the knowledge of plant biology among K–12 school children through developing educational materials and assisting teacher development
• encourage young scientists to pursue careers in the growing field of plant biology
• increase plant science activities in science museums and discovery centers by developing programs, exhibits, background information, and links to scientists.