Up to two of the five teams receiving $100,000 research grants will be awarded $200,000 research grant renewals on a highly competitive basis.

Application Process

Applications for the $200,000 renewal grants must include:

1. A 2000-4000 word statement describing how a renewal grant will further the research supported by the $100,000 research grant, including discussion of the following topics:

The research question or topic being pursued

The significance of the research topic

The methodology used in the research, specifically how this methodology
    represents the interdisciplinary nature of the STARS program and includes a
    combination of methods drawn from the sciences and the humanities as
    represented by the members of the Research Team

How the progress of the continuing research will be measured

Projected outcomes, including scholarly publications, new graduate-level courses,
    media communications, etc.

The calendar for undertaking and completing the research

Where the research will be undertaken

How the members will participate in the research (meeting together at one location,
    sabbatical leave, telecommuting, etc.)

A budget and brief budget narrative

2. A curriculum vitae for each team member
3. Two sample publications from each team member

4. A completed application form from each team member

Applications are due November 1, 2008.

Judging Criteria

$200,000 research grant renewal proposals will be judged according to the results and accomplishments of the $100,000-funded research, the likelihood of building on and extending these results in bold, new ways, and the methods by which this new research will be formulated and disseminated.

Desired Outcomes

Building upon the outcomes of the $100,000 Research Grants, the desired outcomes for the $200,000 Renewal Grants include courses, books, lectures, and articles as follows:

Courses:

At least one doctoral seminar scheduled to be taught (preferably by the entire team) at an outstanding research university, divinity school or seminary (e.g., Cal Tech, Princeton University, Harvard Divinity School, The Graduate Theological Union) based on the lectures and articles produced by the $100,000 research grant and jointly sponsored by departments in the sciences and philosophy and/or religious studies and/or theology.

 

Books:

At least one jointly-authored book manuscript submitted for publication by a leading university press (e.g., Oxford University Press) based on the lectures and articles produced by the $100,000 research grant.

 

The desired outcomes also include additional lectures and articles which communicate this research to a wider audience of educators through the following means:

Lectures:

At least one lecture planned / scheduled at a professional science teaching society (e.g., The American Association for the Advancement of Science, The American Association of Physics Teachers)

 

—and—

 

At least one lecture planned / scheduled at a professional philosophy, religious studies or theological teaching society (e.g., constituent members of The Council of Societies for the Study of Religion)

 

Articles:

At least one jointly-authored article submitted to a scientific teaching journal (e.g. Scientific American, American Journal of Physics)

 

—and—

 

At least one jointly-authored article submitted to a philosophy and/or religious studies teaching journal and/or a science and religion teaching journal (e.g., Teaching Theology and Religion)

 

Finally the proposal should include a well-crafted and aggressive media campaign to insure maximum impact on the cultural opinion leaders as well as the general public:

 

Public Impact:

Two jointly-authored articles distributed to non-technical media (e.g., Atlantic Monthly, NY Times Science Times, Chronicle of Higher Education, The New Republic, The New Scientist)

 

—and—

 

Coverage in a major PBS-type program