SPARK

The SPARK Program supports hosting scientific conferences, symposia, and workshops that will increase the interest of South Carolina students (undergraduate, high school and middle school) in STEM. Proposals under this funding priority are envisioned to reach students from across South Carolina.

Conferences and meetings may provide a platform to present research and scholarly work results, STEM specific discussions, and engage students to stimulate interest in STEM majors and degrees. Funds may be used for venue rental, speaker fees, equipment rental, publication costs, supplies, and travel support. The proposed activity must occur during the award period. PIs must submit promotional/marketing materials to the SC EPSCoR State Office for review before publication. Acknowledgement of SC EPSCoR funding must be included on all promotional and marketing material.

Proposals in this category should address the following:

• • An articulation of the project’s goals, impact, and execution plan.
  • The purpose and justification of the event, including the scientific need, how the activity will address the scientific need, and how it will increase interest in STEM.
  • Description of the event to include the dates, location, topics and tentative agenda, audience type, projected number of attendees, and exhibits.
  • Description of the event planning process.
  • Brief description of the qualifications of tentative speakers, panel members, and moderators.
  • Description of how students will be selected.
  • Description of marketing plan to promote the event. 
  • Description of other sources of funding that will support the activity, if any.

3. Other Approaches

The SPARK Program will support funding other creative activities that aim to increase the number of South Carolina students in STEM. Below are some examples:

STEM Research Experiences for South Carolina High School Students and Teachers. Funding can be allocated to materials and supplies, housing, and meals, location and/or equipment rental, and salary support for faculty and staff. Proposals should address the following:

• • An articulation of the project’s goals, impact, and execution plan.
  • Description of the research experience, start and end dates, location, estimated number of participants, recruitment and selection process, marketing plan, opportunities to disseminate results, other sources of funding to support the activity, and plans to follow up with participants upon conclusion of research experience.
  • Description of the activities that will be carried out, person(s) responsible and their experience with the proposed activity, and the expected impact and outcomes.
  • Proposals for research experiences for high school students should describe how the proposed activity will increase college and career readiness.
  • Proposals for research experiences for teachers should address how the proposed activity will improve instructional practices and increase student learning.
  • NOTE: Institutional approval (e.g., Pre-College Program Office) is required for research experiences for high school students. Written institutional approval is required to be submitted to the SC EPSCoR State Office prior to award start date.

STEM Camps for South Carolina High School Students and/or Middle School Students. Funding can go towards materials and supplies, housing and meals, transportation, salary support for faculty and staff, stipends for camp counselors, evaluator services, location and/or equipment rental, and portion of insurance coverage for minors. Proposals should address the following:

• • An articulation of the project’s goals, impact, and execution plan. This should include a description of the STEM topics to be included in the camp, start and end dates, location, expected number of participants, marketing plan, student recruitment and selection process, opportunities to disseminate results, other sources of funding to support the camp, and plans to follow up with participants upon conclusion of the camp.
  • Describe the activities that will be carried out, person(s) responsible, experience with proposed activity, and projected impact and outcomes.
  • NOTE: Institutional approval (e.g., Pre-College Program Office) is required for STEM camps for high school students and middle school students as they are minors. Institutions must ensure background checks of all persons working with students including paid, volunteer, new, and reoccurring persons; securing driving records for persons transporting minors; and procedures for handling student medications at camp. Written institutional approval must be submitted to the SC EPSCoR State Office prior to award start date.

STEM on the Move. To take science (models, lectures, etc.) to middle and high schools. A successful proposal that is designed to bring hands-on science models, engaging lectures, and interactive STEM experiences to middle and high schools should include:

• An articulation of the project’s goals, impact, and execution plan. This should include a description of planned activities, including the types of science models and lectures to be built/used, the STEM concepts covered, measurable objectives such as addressing key areas of STEM, the number of schools visited, and students reached. PIs should ensure that the schools and students visited represent a broad cross-section of schools and students in South Carolina.
• Description of the target audience and school selection criteria.
• The roles of team members and any partner organizations should be specified.
• An evaluation plan must be included to measure the program’s effectiveness through surveys or learning assessments (pre- and post-tests are acceptable with analysis).

Other creative ideas. Programs that can result in increased interest in STEM degrees among South Carolina students.