8 July 2018

Call for Bipartisan Candidate Engagement Proposals

Ashlee Wilkins

Research!AmericaThe AAS is now a cosponsor of the bipartisan candidate engagement initiative, a partnership of Research!America and the newly-formed National Science Policy Network (NSPN). The bipartisan candidate engagement initiative is a focused program as part of the NSPN's broader microgrant program, which is supporting projects led by early career scientists who are advocating for science policy and diplomacy.

The bipartisan candidate engagement initiative will provide $1,000 to $3,000 (with the potential for up to $5,000 for high-impact proposals) in grant funding to support activities designed by early career scientists that focus on civic engagement and elevating the importance of scientific research, innovation, and public health in the national conversation to increase awareness among candidates running for national office. All activities funded under the microgrant must completed by 6 November 2018. Highly competitive proposals would be innovative, engage a diverse group of early career scientists, and collaborate with other science policy groups for activities such as lab tours or roundtable discussions with candidates, community science events, social media engagement, media outreach, and/or webinars.

Student- and postdoc-led science-policy groups are invited to apply. Update as of 18 July: The deadline for proposals has been extended to Friday, 10 August 2018.

Apply Now!

Both AAS and Research!America are 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and do not participate in or support activities that favor specific political parties or candidates. As such, no portion of funds will be used for any lobbying or lobbying-related activities, nor to distribute propaganda or attempt to influence legislation, nor to directly or indirectly participate in, or intervene in, any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate running for public office.

Read more about the eligibility, criteria, and review process of the bipartisan candidate engagement initiative microgrant program and apply!