The Board of Directors provides grants of up to $2,500 to individuals and organizations in order to enable them to run a mathematical biology-based events and activities for public audiences at science festivals and other venues. Through the fund we can support our members to engage with different audiences and provide people with an entry point into mathematical biology. Please note that applicants must be active and current members of the Society. Membership is required for at least one year prior to requesting funds.
Through the Education and Outreach grants, we aim to encourage and support the development of projects that:
- Raise awareness of the place of mathematical biology in people’s everyday lives, especially those not already interested in mathematics or biology, and/or
- Develop the science communication skills of people who are already highly trained in mathematical biology
Applications will be judged against the following criteria and should clearly demonstrate:
- that the applicant is committed and qualified to create and run this outreach activity
- that the project has significant mathematical and biological content
- that the project explores underlying concepts and issues in mathematical biology, rather than just providing information
- the relevance of the project to the people that are going to take part. Involvement of people who do not have a pre-existing interest in the mathematical or biology is particularly encouraged
- that the applicant has a clear understanding of effective ways to engage with the people who are going to take part in the project
- that the aim of the project is not solely to deliver the curriculum to school age students
- that the applicant has a clear understanding of the link between
- what the project is trying to achieve with relation to the people who will take part
- how it might achieve this
- how the applicant will be able to find out whether it has done so
- that the project is cost effective
- how our funding will be used and how it will add a significant element to the project
- that the project plan is robust. In particular, that there is a plan to meet any shortfall in funding not covered by the Society for Mathematical Biology Education and Outreach grant, and that there is a plan to cover unexpected absences of key personnel (eg. through illness)
- that the applicant has made a realistic assessment of practical issues such as safeguarding, copyright, insurance and health and safety issues
Grants will not be awarded to:
- Cover the cost of textbooks or equipment required to deliver the core curriculum in schools or universities
- Projects whose primary aim is to generate a financial gain through the development of educational software or apps
- Projects where our support does not significantly enhance the activity
- Cover the cost of projects which are part of an organization’s usual program of activities
- Cover the cost of general purpose hardware, apparatus or equipment such as digital cameras or computers etc, unless it is shown to be integral to the project and will be used in other outreach activities
- Cover the cost of project staff who receive a full-time salary from their organization or employer
Eligibility:
We can only accept applications from individual members in good standing with the Society for Mathematical Biology. Applications from student members are strongly encouraged. Organizations can apply if the individuals directing the activity are Society members. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older at the time of submitting their application.
Applications & Deadlines:
Applications should be submitted via email to Society’s secretary. Please ensure that you have read our eligibility and criteria before completing your application form. Application should be submitted six months in advanced to the USA Science & Engineering Festival. If the grant will be supporting another education and outreach activity, the deadline for submission should be six months before the activity will take place.