The Dynamical Systems program in the Directorate of Engineering and the Applied Mathematics Program in the directorate of Mathematical and Physical Sciences Sciences, of the National Science Foundation, have just published a joint "Dear Colleague Letter", expressing interest in special topics in Dynamical Systems.  The letter encourages unsolicited proposals on the following topics:

• Fundamentals of complex systems
• Model reduction
• Long-term behavior
• Infinite-dimensional systems
• Discrete dynamical systems
• Uncertainty

For the 2009 solicitation, we will consider proposals that aim to investigate emerging frontiers in the following two specific research areas:

1. BioSensing & BioActuation: Interface of Living and Engineered Systems (BSBA)
2. Hydrocarbons from Biomass (HyBi)

Due dates

• Letter of Intent Deadline Date:  October 14, 2008
• Preliminary Proposal Deadline Date:  December 2, 2008
• Full Proposal Deadline Date:  April 30, 2009

ASTRA is delighted to report that the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking proposals for high-risk research projects to develop innovative technologies for inspecting, monitoring and evaluating critical components of the nation's roadways, bridges, and drinking and wastewater systems. The competition for cost-shared research and development (R&D) support released today is the first to be announced by NIST's newly established Technology Innovation Program (TIP).

TIP was established by the 2007 America COMPETES Act to support, promote, and accelerate innovation in the United States through high-risk, high-reward research in areas of critical national need.

Plans are underway to issue a solicitation for the Science and Technology Centers Program in July 2008. Please visit the STC website for updates: http://www.nsf.gov/od/oia/programs/stc/index.jsp

(This message was sent to iMechanica by Ken Chong, of the National Science Foundation).  This letter is to call your attention to an opportunity to broaden participation particularly of underrepresented students in Ph.D. programs in engineering through supplements to current research grants funded by the divisions in the Directorate for Engineering (ENG) at the National Science Foundation.

The NSF is preparing to handle the review of preliminary proposals submitted in response to the Cyber-enabled Discovery and Innovation (CDI) solicitation.

Helloooooo Friendz

 I need your help

I have to submit a research proposal and the topic is:

Foreign Trade is the key catalyst for the economic development of Pakistan

Kindly help me as soon as possible.....

Thanks

via Ken P. Chong, National Science Foundation 

In response to a NSF call for proposal on Cyberinfrastructure Training, Education, Advancement, and Mentoring for Our 21st Century Workforce (CI-TEAM), in June 2006, several of us submitted a proposal entitled "iMechanica:  Leveraging Cyberinfrastructure to Evolve All Knowledge of Applied Mechanics"

The proposal is not funded, but the exercise played a significant role in the creation of iMechanica.  I'm also pleased with the comments from the reviewers.  Here I take the liberty to post the project summary and the reviews from the NSF.  I also attach the full proposal.

Subject: NSF Proposal Writing Workshop ( August 22-23, 2007 - Alaska)

Sponsored by NSF, a Proposal Writing Workshop will be held on August 22-23, 2007, at University of Alaska-Fairbanks. The workshop mainly aims to provide future proposal submitters (in all disciplines funded by NSF) with knowledge and tools to write good proposals, proposal review experience, and it will enable interactions with NSF program directors and recent NSF awardees. The event is targeted at an EPSCoR state, Alaska. However, the workshop is open to participants from other states as space permits.

By George A. Hazelrigg, National Science Foundation

I have been an NSF program director for 18 years. During this time, I have personally administered the review of some 3,000 proposals and been involved in the review of perhaps another 10,000. Through this experience, I have come to see that often there are real differences between winning proposals and losing proposals. The differences are clear. Largely, they are not subjective differences or differences of quality; to a large extent, losing proposals are just plain missing elements that are found in winning proposals. Although I have known this for some time, a recent experience reinforced it.

The deadline of October 1, 2006 for my program of Mechanics & Structures of Materials was inadvertently omitted in our website. However, at the beginning of our CMS home page there are 2 deadlines listed for all programs. In the meantime any unsolicited proposals for my program, please put in GPG 04-23 as the Program Announcement [1st box]. In the 2nd box put in my program name [Mechanics & Structures of Materials].

UNSOLICITED PROPOSALS WILL BE ACCEPTED TWICE A YEAR BETWEEN SEPT. 1 AND OCT. 1 AND BETWEEN JAN 15 AND FEB 15.

Ken P. Chong, PhD., PE
Program Director of Mechanics & Structures of Materials /CMS
Engineering Directorate
National Science Foundation
4201 Wilson Blvd., Suite 545
Arlington, VA 22230 USA
kchong@nsf.gov. Tel. 703-292-7008 [direct]; 703-292-8360 [secretary]; Fax 703-292-9053