Friends Education Fund
Inspiring and Educating the Next Generation!
Friends of the National Center launched the Friends Education Fund in 2023 to inspire, support, and educate the next generation of scientists and researchers. In a world where the stability of our Earth’s systems is under increasing threat, UCAR and NSF NCAR are committed to addressing the intricate challenges posed by our Earth’s systems by ensuring that cutting-edge research and innovation in atmospheric and Earth system science is carried forward into the future.
The Friends Education Fund has been created through generous donations from individuals.
What Your Gift Supports
The Friends Education Fund supports early-career scientists, internship and fellowship students, post-docs, and visiting scientists with professional development and career support. It also helps fund all of our educational programs that are inspiring and teaching children of all ages (pre-K through 12) about atmospheric research and Earth system science. Examples of how the Friends Education Fund could support the NSF NCAR | UCAR community include:
- Travel Stipends to help early career scientists attend conferences and present their ground-breaking research.
- Conference registration fees for students to attend conferences and continue to build connections to enhance their education.
- Receptions for students to build new networks for advancing their future careers.
- Super Science Saturday – a community-wide event for adults and children to experience science hands-on
- A new video to support high-school Science teachers better explain climate change
- Programs that bring NSF NCAR’s science and scientists into historically marginalized communities
Eligibility Requirements
All successful applicants must:
- Be an employee of UCAR or NSF NCAR or a graduate or active student in any UCAR or NSF NCAR internship or fellowship programs
- Be aligned with the mission of the Education Fund to inspire and educate the next generation about atmospheric research and Earth system science
- Articulate the impact of their work on either the community, themselves, or both
- If using the funds for travel, be willing to share other funding sources applied for and other conferences traveled to within the past 12 months
Awards Received
Since the Fall of 2023, the Friends Education Fund has generously provided over $38,000 to support various education-related activities like the following:
- Supporting early-career NSF NCAR scientists to attend the American Meteorological Society 2024 Seminar to present on their research.
- Creating a new way-finding app for our Center for Science Education’s public exhibits at the NSF NCAR Mesa Laboratory
- Vital funding for our NSF NCAR SOARS internship program.
- An exhibit booth at the National Science Teachers Association Conference in March 2024, allowing staff from UCAR SciEd and the GLOBE Program to share about their STEM education programming.
With the generous support of donors, the Friends Education Fund will continue to fund new initiatives and projects each year.
Questions
NSF NCAR, UCAR, and UCP Staffers, please find the link to the funding request portal on our internal Sundog page.
Please contact us at info@friendsofthenationalcenter.org if you have any questions or ideas!