Award Deadlines

Entrepreneurship Challenge, Materials Research Society

The Materials Research Society (MRS) will launch its second MRS Entrepreneurship Challenge, an international competition pairing students and professional materials scientists and engineers with business school students to develop concepts for materials-based start-up companies. The grand prize is $3000—the top three teams will each additionally receive travel funding of up to $3000 so that they can present their entries at the 2007 MRS Spring Meeting in San Francisco. The deadline for registration is December 15, 2006.

The Challenge is structured to be virtual—partnerships and collaborations are encouraged to use telephone or the Internet. The plans that are submitted to MRS headquarters will be forwarded to a judging panel who are also geographically dispersed, an approach that allows for networking across and between schools and continents.

For more information about the Challenge, including entry instructions and eligibility requirements, visit the Web site (accessed Sep 2006).

Travel Awards, ACS Women Chemists Committee

Eli Lilly & Co. is sponsoring a program to provide funding for undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral women chemists to travel to scientific meetings in 2007 to present the results of their research. Grants may be applied only to registration, travel, and accommodations, and are restricted to travel to meetings within the U.S. Grant funds are limited, but there are some funds set aside for undergraduates. Only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible. Applications should be limited to one per research group. Awards will be given with preference to the following order: (1) any applicant who will be making her first presentation (regardless of format) at a national or major meeting; (2) graduate or postdoctoral applicants who have not presented at a national or major meeting since leaving undergraduate school. Women who have received a prior award under this program are ineligible.

The next deadline is February 15, 2007, for meetings between July 1 and December 31, 2007. To apply, the following items are needed: a résumé; completed official application form; abstract of work to be presented; letter detailing the reasons you want this award and specifying whether you have made a previous presentation at a national or major meeting; letter from your advisor confirming your participation in the meeting, commenting on your technical ability and potential, and listing any other travel support that would be available from department funds or research grants.

Further information is available or contact the ACS Women Chemists Committee Office; phone 202/872-6334 (both accessed Sep 2006).

Nominations, Leaders in Learning Awards

Cable in the Classroom (CIC), the education foundation of the cable industry, opened nominations for the third annual Leaders in Learning Awards. These awards recognize classroom and community program teachers, administrators, community leaders, and policymakers, as well as others who have had a major impact on educating youth both in and out of the classroom. The awards categories reflect the growth in the use of education technology and digital content for learning.

Application forms are online (accessed Sep 2006). The application period ends December 15, 2006.

The Leaders in Learning Awards recognize innovative programs that are transforming education in five categories:

• General Excellence: For leaders who have demonstrated excellence in expanding and enhancing learning opportunities by employing a diversity of traditional and non-traditional approaches to producing measurable improvements in educational outcomes in formal or informal settings
• Cable Partnerships for Learning: For leaders who are working in partnership with the cable industry to expand and enhance learning opportunities for children and youth in or out of the classroom
• Pushing the Envelope: For leaders who push the envelope and/or redefine the education frontier through the use of cable technology and/or cable content
• Policymaker Excellence: To recognize the contributions of state and local officials, such as mayors, state legislators, and state education officials, who conceive and execute programs that have significant positive effects on schools and students
• Media Literacy Education: In partnership with National PTA, to recognize leadership in advancing media literacy skills

Winners receive a $3000 cash prize in addition to an all-expenses-paid trip and award ceremony in Washington, DC, in late spring, 2007, where they will also visit members of Congress to talk about their award-winning programs.

Courses, Seminars, Meetings, Opportunities

Special Offer from CHED Exams Institute

If you are not now a CHED member but become one, for the first two months of your membership you are eligible for a special discount on the purchase of Exams. When you join the Division, you may also want to become involved with the Institute by volunteering your services. It’s a great way to get to know some fine people as well as contribute your expertise.

Information about standardized examinations, general and organic chemistry study guides, test-item banks, small-scale laboratory assessment activities, and other Exams Institute products is available (accessed Sep 2006).

Contact Examinations Institute, UW–Milwaukee Chemistry Department, 3210 N. Cramer Street, Milwaukee, WI 53211-3029; phone: 414/229-5680.

International Congress of Nanotechnology 2006

The International Association of Nanotechnology invites participation in the Third International Congress of Nanotechnology, to be held October 30–November 2, 2006 at the San Francisco Airport Marriott Hotel, San Francisco.

There will be a special focus, Roadmap for Nanotechnology Industry, to be presented October 31, 2006. The conference theme is Building Infrastructure for the Next Frontier, expressed in these topics:

• Focusing on the converging of nano–bio–info technologies
• Presenting the state-of-the-art scientific and technological advancement
• Highlighting a wide spectrum of applications: electronics, chemical, biotechnology, semiconductor, aerospace, automotive, and textile industry
• Working groups and forum on developing nomenclature and standards
• Working groups and forum on workforce education and training
• Investment forum for emerging nanotech companies
• Discussion forum on ethics, social, environmental and health safety
• Open public forum and debate on nano economy

For answers to questions or for more information, contact the Event Coordinator, International Association of Nanotechnology (alternative site) Sacramento, CA 95824 (both sites accessed Sep 2006).

Proposal Deadlines National Science Foundation Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE) The following NSF deadlines have been established or are anticipated. Course, Curriculum and Lab Improvement (CCLI) Full Proposals, Phase 2 and 3: January 10, 2007 Graduate Research Fellowship Program (Chemistry, Physics, Astronomy) (GRFP) Full Proposal: November 13, 2006 Informal Science Education (ISE) Full Proposals: December 14, 2006 Preliminary Proposals: March 8, 2007 Full Proposals: June 21, 2007 Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI) Full Proposals: January 25, 2007 Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE) Preliminary Proposals (required): October 30, 2006 Full Proposals (by invitation only): February 28, 2007 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring Full Proposals: March 6, 2007 Official deadline dates for proposals will be specified in the new program solicitation for each program, to be published at least three months before the relevant deadline date. Consult NSF Education and Human Resources (EHR), Division of Undergraduate Education for the most up-to-date listings and guidelines; phone: 703/292-8670; email. The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation, Inc. Camille Dreyfus Teacher–Scholar Awards Program: November 9, 2006 Faculty Start-Up Award Program: May 10, 2007 Henry Dreyfus Teacher–Scholar Awards Program: June 28, 2007 New Faculty Awards Program: May 10, 2007 Postdoctoral Program in Environmental Chemistry: May 24, 2007 Senior Scientist Mentor Program: Completed Proposals: October 4, 2006 Special Grant Program in the Chemical Sciences: Preliminary Proposals: June 7, 2007 Completed Proposals: August 23, 2007 Further information and confirmation of the above deadlines may be obtained from The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation, Inc., 555 Madison Avenue, Suite 1305, New York, NY 10022-3301; phone: 212/753-1760; email. Research Corporation Cottrell College Science Awards: May 15 and November 15 Cottrell Scholar Awards: September 1 Research Innovation Awards: suspended 2004-2006 Research Opportunity Awards: May 1 and October 1 Special opportunities in Science Awards: suspended 2006-2008. Further information may be obtained from Research Corporation, 4703 East Camp Lowell Drive, Suite 201, Tucson, AZ 85712; phone: 520/571-1111; fax: 520/571-1119; email.