<b>1) EPA Environmental Education Regional Model Grants:</b> The US Environmental Protection Agency has released the solicitation for the 2012 EE Regional Model Grants program (<a href="http://www.epa.gov/education/grants/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.epa.gov/education/grants/index.html</a>). Applications must address at least one EPA educational priority:<br>
<ol><li><b>Community Projects:</b> Addressing environmental stewardship in a local formal or informal educational context in rural, suburban and urban settings, and using outdoor, place-based, experiential, service learning and/or community-focused stewardship activities as the primary teaching tool(s). </li>
<li><b>Human Health and the Environment:</b> Educating students of any age group, from the very young through the elderly, and training their educators or community leaders on how to teach, in formal and non-formal settings, in the outdoors and in classrooms, about human health threats from environmental pollution and how to minimize human exposure to preserve good health. </li>
<li><b>Career Development:</b> Educating students of any age group, from the very young through the elderly, and training their educators or community leaders on how to teach, in formal and non-formal settings, about environmental issues, solutions and stewardship for the purpose of encouraging interest in careers in environmental fields.</li>
</ol>Applications also must address at least one EPA environmental priority:<br><ol><li><b>Protecting Air Quality</b> – These efforts help protect the health of all Americans and the ecosystems we depend on by preventing pollution and increasing energy efficiency, improving indoor and outdoor air quality, reducing industrial air pollution and pollution from vehicles and engines, protecting the stratospheric ozone layer, reducing acid rain, and addressing climate change. See more information at <a href="http://www.epa.gov/air/" target="_blank">http://www.epa.gov/air/</a>. </li>
<li><b>Assuring the Safety of Chemicals and Preventing Pollution</b> – These efforts protect all Americans and the environment from potential risks from pesticides and toxic chemicals and prevent pollution before it begins. See more information at <a href="http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/ocspp.html" target="_blank">http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/ocspp.html</a>. </li>
<li><b>Cleaning Up Our Communities</b> – These efforts provide guidelines for safe and environmentally-friendly practices in waste management and support the redevelopment and reuse of potentially contaminated sites. See more information at <a href="http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/oswer.html" target="_blank">http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/oswer.html</a>. </li>
<li><b>Protecting America’s Waters</b> – These efforts ensure that drinking water is safe, and restores and maintains oceans, watersheds, and their aquatic ecosystems to protect human health, support economic and recreational activities, and provide healthy habitat for fish, plants, and wildlife. See more information at <a href="http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/ow.html" target="_blank">http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/ow.html</a>.</li>
</ol>Budgets may be up to $216,000 over 1-2 years and must include 25% in non-federal matching funds. Applications are due November 21. Two webinars/conference calls for prospective applicants will be held but have not yet been scheduled.<br>
<br>2) The EPA is expected to release the solicitations for the 2013 <b>Science To Achieve Results (STAR) Fellowships For Graduate Environmental Study</b> and <b>Greater Research Opportunities (GRO) Fellowships for
Undergraduate Environmental Study</b> within the next 30 days (<a href="http://epa.gov/ncer/rfa/#CurrentFellow" target="_blank">http://epa.gov/ncer/rfa/#CurrentFellow</a>). In the past, applications to these programs have been due in early November (STAR) and mid-December (GRO).<br>
<br>-- <br><p>Christopher <span><span>Andersen</span></span><br>Director, <span><span>STEM</span></span> Initiatives<br>
College of Arts and Sciences<br>The Ohio State University<br>186 University Hall<br>230 North <span><span><span>Oval</span></span></span> <span><span><span>Mall</span></span></span><br>Columbus, OH 43210-1335 USA<br><a href="mailto:andersen.18@osu.edu" target="_blank">andersen.18@osu.edu</a><br>
<a href="http://stemoutreach.osu.edu/" target="_blank">http://stemoutreach.osu.edu/</a><br>
<br><i><span><span>STEM</span></span> Initiatives social media</i><br><b>Facebook:</b> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/stem.initiatives" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/stem.initiatives</a><br>
<b>Twitter:</b> <a href="http://twitter.com/osuSTEMfunding" target="_blank">@osuSTEMfunding</a> (grant opportunities) and <a href="http://twitter.com/OhioStateSTEM" target="_blank">@OhioStateSTEM</a> (outreach)<br>
<b>Diigo:</b> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/list/ohiostatestem/stem-rfp-library" target="_blank">http://www.diigo.com/list/ohiostatestem/stem-rfp-library</a> (<span><span>STEM</span></span> RFP <span><span>funding</span></span> library)<br>
<b><span><span>STEM</span></span>-<span><span>funding</span></span> listserv signup:</b> <a href="https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/stem-funding" target="_blank">https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/<span>stem</span>-<span><span><span>funding</span></span></span></a> </p>
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