BIO AC November 18, 2004

1. Broadening the Participation of Underrepresented Groups in Science BIO AC November 18, 2004

2. Working Group Members Godfrey Bourne (IOB) Tom Brady (IOB) Penny Firth (DEB) Sally O’Connor (DBI) Muriel Poston (DBI) Jermelina Tupas (MCB)

3. Charge to BIO Working Group for Broadening Participation The BIO Working Group for Broadening Participation is established to: • Assist the Biological Sciences Directorate in defining the scope of its role with respect to increasing the involvement of underrepresented groups • Conduct an assessment of current diversity of BIO staff and panelists/reviewers, as well as diversity of PI’s and institutions supported by BIO related activities • Determine the best means of implementing activities in this area The Working Group will develop an action plan for broadening participation of individuals and institutions both within NSF and in the biological sciences community.

4. Elements of an Action Plan for Broadening Participation This plan is to include, but will not necessarily be limited to: 1. A vision and general goals for broadening participation. 2. Specific objectives, metrics and timelines for addressing the goals of the plan. 3. Recommendations for BIO that may be used for designing or updating an appropriate portfolio of activities, consistent with the BIO Education Strategy, the NSB Broadening Participation guidance, various activities within EHR, and across NSF. The draft Strategic Plan is to be presented to AD-BIO for approval one month before the spring BIOAC meeting.

5. Potential Outcomes • Revision of Program announcement for Career Advancement Awards (CAA) / Research Planning Grants (RPG) to focus on minority serving institutions and minority PIs • Revision of Research Assistantships for Minority High School Students (RAMHSS) program announcement • Development of a BIO Research Training Group (RTG) program for minority serving institutions and development of a draft program announcement • Recommendations for enhancing BIO mechanisms for funding research opportunities for minority undergraduates

6. Potential Outcomes (cont.) • Recommendations for outreach to minority serving institutions including resources needed (people/time/$’s) • Recommendations for outreach to professional societies • Recommendations for Training/Diversity Workshops including best practices • Assessment of current status of BIO in terms of: • A diverse workforce (metrics - Administrative and Support Staff, Program Directors) – develop goals, recruitment plan • PIs (metrics - community size, PI’s submitting, success rate, PIs supported) • Students supported (metrics, mechanisms)

7. MCB Award to Quality Education for Minorities (QEM) • QEM is a not-for-profit organization based in Washington, DC that provides technical assistance to faculty members at minority institutions and underrepresented minority faculty at other institutions • The award allows QEM to provide technical assistance to Biology faculty in the form of proposal development workshops and alerts regarding opportunities within BIO, including funding opportunities and possible service as ad hoc reviewers, members of review panels, or rotators. • Proposal Development Workshops in 2004-2005: • Baltimore, MD, on October 29-30, 2004 • Memphis, TN, on April 1-2, 2005 • Workshop Participants: • hold the rank of assistant professor or above • are on tenure track • teach Biology courses taken by students majoring in Biology/Biological Sciences • actively engaged in research

8. QEM Network Meeting October 29-30, 2004Baltimore, Maryland • Attendees included representatives from 38 institutions. Each representative was a faculty member at a minority serving institution or an underrepresented minority. • NSF/BIO staff members discussed: • NSF organization and research areas funded • NSF review criteria, proposal format, and electronic submission process • management of research grants, funding mechanisms for building infrastructure, and integration of research and teaching • BIO program directors and BIO grantees from each division co-facilitated discussions of attendee’s proposal concepts • A final meeting report will be posted online and made available to other, interested institutions that were not able to attend. For more information see: http://qemnetwork.qem.org/BIO.html

9. Potential Research Funding Mechanisms for Workshop Attendees: Research Planning Grants Career Advancement Awards (Maryanna Henkart and Muriel Poston)

10. Research Planning Grants for Broadening Participation (RPGBP) • Provide funding for beginning investigators to perform planning activities in preparation for competitive grant submissions. Activities include acquisition of preliminary data and establishment of collaborative interactions. • Eligible PIs: • hold faculty or research-related positions • have not previously served as Principal Investigator on an independent Federal award for scientific research • explain how the award will advance the applicant’s faculty career and broaden participation of underrepresented minorities • Maximum award size is $150,000 for up to 24 months

11. Career Advancement Awards for Broadening Participation (CAABP) • Provides career-development support to mid-career scientists for a broad array of activities, including collaborative training and development of innovative research methods • Eligible PIs: • hold faculty or research-related positions • may have previously served as Principal Investigator on an independent Federal award for scientific research • explain how the award will advance the applicant’s faculty career and broaden participation of underrepresented minorities • Maximum award of $100,000 (with possible addition of $20,000 for equipment) for up to 24 months