Open Call: Heising-Simons Foundation – Support of Science Events and Gatherings

Jul 3, 2024 | Awards & Funding, Research, Uncategorized

To: Science Faculty & Researchers
From: Office of Foundation Relations
Subject: Funding Opportunity

The Office of Foundation Relations is pleased to share this open call for funding from the Heising-Simons Foundation.

UCSC Contact: Samantha Forde | forde@ucsc.edu
Funder: Heising-Simons Foundation
Opportunity: Support of Science Events and Gatherings
Deadline: August 30, 2024 11:59 a.m. PT

Overview

The Heising-Simons Foundation’s Science program is soliciting proposals for support of meetings, workshops, conferences, summer schools, research collaboration gatherings, and other events related to astronomy, cosmology, fundamental physics, climate change science, as well as increasing the representation and retention of underrepresented groups within these areas.

Through its funding, the Science program has three main goals:

  • Enable basic scientific research,

  • Connect key stakeholders, and

  • Communicate scientific results.

Events play a pivotal role in these efforts: they facilitate connections between attendees; allow for the communication of progress and findings; and push science forward through discussion, collaboration, and shared learning. Communities are built through interaction, and events can provide a vital space to network and encounter diverse perspectives. For those early in their careers or that have identities that are underrepresented in their field, events can offer the opportunity to find a mentor or a sense of belonging and scientific identity.

Award Amount & Terms

The Foundation expects to fund up to $400,000 total in grants during this open call for proposals. Each grant will be between $20,000 and $80,000, in increments of $10,000, including indirect costs.

Relevant Eligibility Requirements

  • The request must be related to organizing or hosting an in-person, hybrid, or virtual event related to the fields of astronomy , cosmology, fundamental physics, climate change science, and/or increasing the representation and persistence of underrepresented groups in these fields.

  • For existing Heising-Simons Foundation grantees: applicants may not already have an active grant for the proposed event, or have received more than $100,000 cumulatively from the Foundation for the proposed event or event series within the last four years.

  • The event must take place between November 1, 2024 and November 30, 2025.

  • The total event cost must be less than $500,000.

  • The primary audience of the event must be undergraduate level and above, and aimed at the scientific community.

  • Events may not restrict attendance to a particular identity group.

Timeline

  • August 30, 2024 11:59 a.m. PT Submission deadline
  • By October 1, 2024 Applicants notified of selection status
  • November 30, 2024 Anticipated payment date

Special Instructions

Please notify the Office of Foundation Relations if you are interested in applying to this opportunity (fr@ucsc.edu). Please submit a proposal intake form prior to UCSC’s internal Institutional Deadlines. For support developing your proposal, please contact the Research Development Specialist assigned to your unit or send a request to resdev@ucsc.edu. Within the Division of Social Sciences, please contact Ashlee Tews (ashleeac@ucsc.edu) to initiate notification and proposal support.

Call Sent: July 3, 2024


The Office of Foundation Relations is a unit of University Advancement. The FR team creates and maintains mutually beneficial, long-term relationships with private organizations, matching grant initiatives with educational and research programs and centers. FR supports faculty and staff to identify and approach these and other private foundations for funding, to assist in strategic positioning of the grant application, and to facilitate funder campus visits. For a list of recent funding opportunities, please visit the FR website. FR Calls for Funding

If you have any questions or comments, please contact forde@ucsc.edu