Seed Grant Program

Purpose: The Discovery Learning Center's Seed Grant program is intended to stimulate innovation and research in interdisciplinary teaching and learning; encourage implementation tests of new teaching and learning initiatives based on research into discovery-based learning; and develop learning initiatives that build on Discovery Park research programs.

Who: Purdue faculty and staff who are DLC affiliates are eligible to apply. Affiliate information can be found at www.purdue.edu/dp.

What: The Discovery Learning Center Seed Grant Program is a small grant program that aims to support the early stages of projects that will grow through more significant external support. Seed grant funds can be used for faculty release time or summer salary, equipment, materials and supplies, graduate student support, conferences, or other costs directly related to the goals of the funded project. Projects are to support activities that lead to grant submission to an external funding agency. The Discovery Learning Center will provide seed grant recipients with assistance in identifying funding opportunities and preparing the resulting proposals.

How: Applicants must submit a 2-5 page project description that describes the need, background, plan of work, deliverables, anticipated outcomes, assessment plan, and long term plan for development of external funding. In addition, the proposal must include a budget, budget justification, and a transmittal check sheet.

When: Proposals are due in the DLC office by 5:00 PM, May 2, 2005. The anticipated start date for these projects is July 1, 2005, with one-year duration.

Funds: In the past, funded project budgets have included graduate student support, a small amount of faculty release time, and a modest budget for travel, supplies, and expenses.