[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 196 (Wednesday, October 12, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-25211]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: October 12, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Office of Science Education and Technical Information

 

Energy Research Financial Assistance Program Notice 95-02: Museum 
Education Program

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Notice inviting grant applications.

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SUMMARY: The Office of University and Science Education Programs of the 
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), in keeping with the energy-related 
mission of DOE, announces its interest in receiving Financial 
Assistance applications from museums that will support development of 
or replication of successful projects, exhibits, and programs in the 
media of informal energy-related science education. The media of 
informal science education include but are not limited to: Interactive 
exhibits, hands-on activities, and film/video productions. Examples of 
energy-related areas within the fundamental energy sciences include 
high energy and nuclear physics, nuclear science and technologies, 
global warming, waste management, energy efficiency, new materials 
development, fossil energy resources, renewable energy, health effects 
research including the human genome, emerging energy technologies, risk 
assessment, energy/environment, space exploration initiative, public 
science literacy, and other timely topics. The purpose of the program 
is to fund the development, use, and/or replication of creative 
informal science education media which focus on energy-related science 
and technology. Replication of informal science education funded under 
this program or other DOE supported programs will be considered.
    For the purpose of this notice, ``museum'' means: An established 
nonprofit institution serving the public on a year-round basis, 
providing interactive exhibits, demonstrations, and informal 
educational programs designed to further public understanding of 
science and technology. The term also includes organizations referred 
to as science centers, science-technology centers and youth museums. 
Thus, museums, as defined in this document, are eligible to submit 
Financial Assistance applications.

DATES: Preapplications are to include an original and one copy and must 
be received by February 14, 1995. To permit timely consideration for 
award in Fiscal Year 1996, formal applications submitted in response to 
this notice should be received no later than 4:30 p.m., E.D.T., May 14, 
1995.

ADDRESSES: Preapplications should be sent to the following address: 
Billie L. Stooksbury, Program Coordinator, Oak Ridge Institute for 
Science and Education, Science/Engineering Education Division/CP, P.O. 
Box 117, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-0117, or street address: 230 Warehouse 
Rd., Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Completed formal applications referencing 
Program Notice 95-02 should be forwarded to: U.S. Department of Energy, 
Office of Energy Research, Acquisition and Assistance Management 
Division, ER-64, Room F-220, Washington, DC 20585, Attn: Program Notice 
95-02. The following address must be used when submitting applications 
by U.S. Postal Service Express Mail, a commercial mail delivery 
service, or when handcarried by the applicant: U.S. Department of 
Energy, Office of Energy Research, Acquisition and Assistance 
Management Division, ER-64, 19901 Germantown Road, Germantown, Maryland 
20874.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kasse Andrews-Weller, Program Manager, 
Office of University and Science Education Programs, ET-32, U.S. 
Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20585. Telephone: (202) 586-8949.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DOE is strongly committed to increasing 
the public's science literacy as well as increasing the number of 
students interested in science and technology careers. Projects which 
are designed to enhance public awareness of, and to encourage all young 
people to consider careers in, science and technology are strongly 
desired. While the application must be submitted by a museum, 
collaborative efforts are encouraged. Such efforts by potential 
applicants may include: Partnerships of several small museums, of a 
small and large museum, or of a history museum and youth museum in 
collaboration with museum organizations; and cooperative enterprises 
which utilize the scientific and technical expertise of the DOE 
laboratories, industry, and the broader educational community in 
conjunction with a museum.
    As a part of DOE's effort to promote public science literacy; 
enhance the Nation's mathematics, science, and engineering education; 
and fulfill the National Education Goal of ``by the year 2000, U.S. 
students will be first in the world in science and mathematics 
achievements,'' eligibility for awards under this notice is restricted 
to U.S. museums which will offer informal energy-related science 
education. In accordance with 10 CFR 600.7(b)(1), this restriction is 
necessary to support established U.S. institutions which provide a 
valuable supplement to formal education and will enhance meeting the 
national education goals. While this program anticipates awarding 
grants only from Fiscal Year 1996 appropriations, the period of support 
of a grant may extend up to two years.
    Before preparing a formal application, potential applicants are 
asked to submit a brief preapplication in accordance with 10 CFR 
600.10(d)(2) and (3), which consists of no more than two pages of 
narrative describing the major project objectives and method of 
accomplishment to be utilized by the applicant to determine the 
effectiveness of the intended exhibit or media forum, collaborators, 
advisors, dissemination plan, work schedule, and approximate cost of 
the project to DOE.
    The purpose of the preapplication is to give the program staff the 
opportunity to determine the level and appropriateness of interest in 
the project or activity. The program staff will also look at the 
approach the museum is considering. Each museum will receive a written 
response to its preapplication. Once you have submitted a 
preapplication, however, you may submit a formal application, 
regardless of the written response to the preapplication. Telephone and 
telefax numbers are required to be part of the preapplication.
    A formal application consists of an original and seven copies, a 
copy of the museum's Internal Revenue Service nonprofit determination 
letter, and other documents as stated in the Application Guide for the 
Office of Energy Research Financial Assistance Program.
    No electronic submissions (including fax) of preapplications or 
formal applications under this Program Notice will be accepted.
    This notice requests further that the ``Detailed Description of 
Research Work Proposed'' component of a complete grant application as 
established by 10 CFR Part 605 should not exceed 15 double-spaced, 
typed pages. This project description should include: Conceptual design 
and how that design relates to the program objectives; description of 
how the impact of the project will be maximized (dissemination); 
identification of the target audience(s) the project will serve and 
efforts planned to serve that audience; identification of the 
mechanisms to be used to organize and manage the project, including the 
rules and responsibilities, financial and otherwise, of any 
partnerships; clarification of the monitoring and evaluation plan, 
including how those plans can be used for possible project 
modification; delineation of the planned outcomes and how these 
outcomes will be assessed and reported; and discussion of the 
anticipated significance of the project and how this will be confirmed. 
In addition, formal applications need to include information that will 
provide the expected impact in terms of populations served and any 
evaluation plan.
    General information about development and submission of 
applications, eligibility, limitations, evaluations and selection 
processes, and other policies and procedures are contained in the 
Application Guide for the Office of Energy Research Financial 
Assistance Program and 10 CFR Part 605. Multiple applications are 
permissible; however, each application must be limited to a single 
project. The DOE expects to make several grants in Fiscal Year 1996 to 
meet the objectives of this program. It is anticipated that $1 million 
will be the total funds available in Fiscal Year 1996 subject to the 
availability of appropriated funds. Awards are expected to range from 
$10,000 to $200,000, with the number of awards determined by the number 
of fundable applications and the total amount of funds available for 
this program. The application guide is available from Billie L. 
Stooksbury and/or Marie Kitts, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and 
Education, Science/Engineering Education Division/CP, P.O. Box 117, Oak 
Ridge, TN 37831-0117. Telephone requests may be made by calling (615) 
576-1087.

    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number for this program 
is 81.049.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 5, 1994.
William A. Lewis, Jr.,
Director, Office of University and Science Education Programs.
[FR Doc. 94-25211 Filed 10-11-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P