NSF Solicitations – December 2010

Dimensions of Biodiversity – The goal of the Dimensions of Biodiversity campaign is to transform, by 2020, how we describe and understand the scope and role of life on Earth. The campaign promotes novel, integrated approaches to identify and understand the evolutionary and ecological significance of biodiversity amidst the changing environment of the present day and in the geologic past.  This campaign seeks to characterize biodiversity on Earth by using integrative, innovative approaches to fill the most substantial gaps in our understanding of the diversity of life on Earth. It will take a broad view of biodiversity, and in its initial phase will focus on the integration of genetic, taxonomic, and functional dimensions of biodiversity. Read more

DHS Solicitations – December 2010

DHS HS–STEM Career Development Grants (CDG) for Post Secondary Institutions – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), Office of University Programs (UP) is announcing the fifth annual competition for the Homeland Security Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (HS-STEM) Career Development Grants (CDG). The CDG program enables U.S. accredited four-year colleges and universities with existing and/or proposed programs in homeland security-related science, technology, engineering or mathematics to award undergraduate scholarships and/or graduate fellowships to qualified students who intend to pursue homeland security scientific, technology, engineering, or mathematic careers. DHS S&T invites applications to this program from U.S. accredited four-year colleges and universities with HS-STEM curricula.  Total Funding: $2.5M. Read more

Darpa Solicitations – December 2010

Proposers’ Day Conference for ADAPTable Sensor System (ADAPT) Program – DARPA will host a Proposers’ Day conference in support of the DARPA-BAA-11-17, ADAPTable Sensor System (ADAPT) program on January 7, 2011 at The Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas, NV.  The purpose of this conference is to provide information on the ADAPT program; promote additional discussion on this topic; address questions from potential proposers; and provide a forum for potential proposers to present their capabilities for teaming opportunities.  The objective of the ADAPT program is to employ commercial technology, techniques, and processes for rapid development of low-cost ISR sensor systems. Read more

NIH Solicitations – December 2010

NIAID Science Education Awards (R25) – This FOA encourages applications from organizations that focus on the development of science education for K-12 students. It is expected that these education programs will provide outreach to a large audience of students at a national level, directly or through their teachers, using approaches where successes can be measured.  The overall goals of the NIAID in developing science literacy enhancing education programs are: 1) to provide and increase public education and outreach on NIAID-funded research to diverse audiences; 2) to raise awareness of scientific method and the availability of careers in the biomedical sciences among K-12, 3) to encourage the integration of the NIAID scientific mission areas as stated in our strategic plan in the day-to-day teaching of science at theK-12 level in the hope that the public at large will understand and appreciate the work of NIAID more fully. Read more

BD – Canada Headquarters in Mississauga, Ontario Achieves LEED Gold Certification for Environmentally Responsible Design, Construction and Operations

(Becton Dickinson, December 02, 2010) — BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE:BDX), a leading global medical technology company, today announced that its new BD – Canada corporate office in Mississauga received Gold Certification from the Canada Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Green Building Rating System.  BD’s office in Mississauga is the Company’s first of four LEED-certified locations to achieve LEED Gold.  LEED certification is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and a healthy place to work.  Click here to read more…

Department of Energy Finalizes Loan Guarantee to Support World’s Largest Wind Project

(DOE, December 16, 2010) Washington D.C. — U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced that a partial loan guarantee for a $1.3 billion loan has been finalized to support the world’s largest wind farm.  The loan will finance the Caithness Shepherds Flat project, an 845-megawatt wind generation facility located in eastern Oregon sponsored by Caithness Energy, LLC and GE Energy Financial Services.  ”Renewable energy investments like these are creating jobs while helping to maintain America’s global competitiveness in the clean energy economy,” said Secretary Chu.  ”By leveraging our nation’s vast natural resources, we can help provide alternative sources of energy and stimulate economic growth and job creation.”  Click here to read more…

Salazar, Chu Announce Next Step in Nation’s March toward Renewable Energy Future

(DOE, December 16, 2010) – Today Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Secretary of Energy Steven Chu announced a comprehensive environmental analysis that has identified proposed ‘solar energy zones’ on public lands in six western states most suitable for environmentally sound, utility-scale solar energy production.  The detailed study, known as the Draft Solar Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, was compiled over the past two years as part of the Obama Administration’s efforts to create a framework for developing renewable energy in the right way and in the right places. The public is encouraged to provide comment on the draft plan during the next 90 days.  “This proposal lays out the next phase of President Obama’s strategy for rapid and responsible development of renewable energy on America’s public lands,” Secretary Salazar said. Click here to read more…

The Importance of Project Alignment in 2011

-Dan Coughlin, SR. Program Manager, ITECS Innovative Consulting

The Continuing Resolution (otherwise known as the CR) will extend funding to Federal Agencies until March 4, 2011. The added uncertainty will mean that agencies will stay closer to their core mission, focusing on essential programs as many planned new programs are delayed or cancelled.  Longer term, the appropriations process will be faced with difficult choices.  However, the US will need to invest to meet the growing challenges and remain competitive globally in health care, renewables, sustainability, and defense.   The additional pressure to control spending and maximize the leverage from government R&D spending in creative ways will favor programs with technical merit. Read more

Human Networking Theory Gives Picture of Infectious Disease Spread

(NSF, December 13, 2010) It’s colds and flu season, and as any parent knows, colds and flu spread like wildfire, especially through schools.  New research using human-networking theory may give a clearer picture of just how, exactly, infectious diseases such as the common cold, influenza, whooping cough and SARS can spread through a closed group of people, and even through populations at large.  With the help of 788 volunteers at a high school, Marcel Salathé, a biologist at Penn State University, developed a new technique to count the number of possible disease-spreading events that occur in a typical day.  This results are published in this week’s issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.  Click here to read more…

Secretary Chu Announces Up To $30 Million For Research To Advance The Next Generation Of Biofuels

(DOE, December 14, 2010) – U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu today announced the Department is now accepting applications for up to $30 million in total funding for small-scale process integration projects that support the development of advanced biofuels that will be able to replace gasoline or diesel without requiring special upgrades or changes to the vehicle or fueling infrastructure.  This announcement is part of the Obama Administration’s continuing commitment to accelerating R&D to develop a more sustainable transportation system, lower our dependence on foreign oil, and grow America’s clean energy economy. “Developing the next generation of American biofuels will enhance our national energy security, expand the domestic biofuels industry, and produce new clean energy jobs. Click here to read more…

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