The United States Institute for Peace (USIP) offers financial support for research, education and training, and the dissemination of information on international peace and conflict resolution. The institute intends to support projects that launch pilot programs, pursue unofficial peacemaking efforts, conduct training, advance scholarly policy-oriented research, and develop conflict-specific strategies, feasibility studies, or educational resources.
For Solicitation B: Bridging the Divides: Improving Relations With and Within the Muslim World, USIP is inviting proposals designed to improve understanding, enhance mutual respect, and prevent, manage, and resolve major conflicts between Muslim and non-Muslim states. Projects may also focus on societies where Muslims and non-Muslims are divided along religious lines or where there is conflict among adherents of different Islamic faith traditions.

The institute is particularly interested in projects that explore and evaluate the tools and strategies available to empower peaceful elements of society and marginalize violent extremists. USIP also encourages the submission of training and educational projects designed to promote religious tolerance. The institute will not consider projects focused on religious cooperation or divides within the United States.
Topics may include, but need not be limited to, issues raised in the following themes:

The Role of Education: Education in formal school settings as well as informal community programs can both promote and overcome conflict along religious lines. How can education programs enhance understanding of, and respect for, the other?

The Role of Religious Organizations: What roles can and do religious organizations play in facilitating understanding or conflict between Muslim and non-Muslim groups? How can interfaith dialogues support peacemaking at the community, national, or international levels?

The Role of Economic Factors and Tools: What roles do international financial institutions, trade organizations, and donor states play in promoting conflict management and cross-cultural engagement, and how can they be more effective?

The Role of Public Diplomacy: What role does public diplomacy—including statements of public policy, professional and educational exchanges, international visitors programs, and media strategies targeted at the “other” population—play in bridging or expanding religious divides? What tools are available to evaluate the impact of public diplomacy?

Funding: Most institute grants are one to two years in duration. Most awards fall in the range of $25,000 to $45,000, although somewhat larger grants are also awarded. The amount of any grant is based on the proposed budget and on negotiations with successful applicants.
Letter of Intent: Unspecified
Date of Proposal Submission: March 01, 2004

This program provides awards to enhance the quality of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) instructional and outreach programs, with an emphasis on the leveraged use of information technologies at tribal colleges and universities, Alaskan Native-serving institutions, and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions. Support is available for the implementation of comprehensive institutional approaches to strengthen STEM teaching and learning in ways that improve access to, retention within, and graduation from STEM programs, particularly those that have a strong technological foundation. Through this program, assistance is provided to eligible institutions in their efforts to bridge the digital divide and prepare students for careers in information technology, science, mathematics, and engineering fields. Proposed activities should be the result of a careful analysis of institutional needs, address institutional and NSF goals, and have the potential to result in significant and sustainable improvements in STEM program offerings. Typical project implementation strategies include curriculum enhancement, faculty professional development, undergraduate research and community service, academic enrichment, infusion of technology to enhance STEM instruction, collaborations, and other activities that meet institutional and community needs.

NSF 03-592 replaces NSF 02-163

Funding: Estimated program budget, number of awards, and average award size and duration are subject to the availability of funds. The estimated number of awards is four implementation awards and six planning grants each year. Implementation awards will be managed through cooperative agreements. These will range from $200,000 to $500,000 per year for up to five years. Support is also available for planning grants of up to $50,000 with a one-year duration to fund institutional self assessments and the development of action plans to enhance STEM programming. Funds should be budgeted for the project director of an implementation award to attend a two-day grantee meeting in the Washington, District of Columbia area each award year.
Letter of Intent: Unspecified
Date of Proposal Submission: February 05, 2004

Educational Research Grants support research in anesthesia education. The foundation acknowledges the importance of anesthesia education in recruiting talented medical students into the specialty, providing excellent practitioners as products of residency programs, and continuing the education of anesthesiologists in all types of practice.

Examples of proposals include
- design and evaluation of specific educational techniques and curricular development of tools for prediction and evaluation of outcomes of the educational process;
- identification of characteristics in students and resident applicants that predict eventual career success;
- methods of faculty development; and
- prevention of stress-related problems and physician impairment.

Funding: A Research Education Grant provides up to $25,000 to support research in anesthesia education over the two-year duration of the award.
Letter of Intent: Unspecified
Date of Proposal Submission: February 15, 2004

The purpose is to enhance the academic performance of students who are gifted through the innovative redesign of instruction and collaboration.

Funding: No more than $10,000 awarded per applicant
Letter of Intent: N/A
Date of Proposal Submission: January 23, 2004