The AAG, through the Enhancing Departments and Graduate Education (EDGE) project funded by NSF, announces a grant program to support outreach, professional training, and related activities aimed at improving awareness of and preparation for business, government, and nonprofit careers in geography.
Twenty-four awards of $500 are available and will be granted on a competitive basis to support activities that address one or more of the following priority areas of the AAG’s EDGE project:
1. Broaden the participation of underrepresented students in undergraduate and graduate geography programs in the United States for careers and professional development;
2. Improve the preparation of students to work in international contexts and/or on issues that cross national boundaries or are global in scope;
3. Promote awareness of relationships between learning outcomes in geography programs and the needs of business, government, and nonprofit employers;
4. Enhance career development resources that prepare students for and connect them to business, government, and nonprofit employers.
To assist these efforts, the AAG will also provide awardees with an EDGE Career Development Kit that includes resources produced by EDGE and related AAG programs for careers and professional development. The Career Development Kit will include:
* A copy of the new AAG book, Practicing Geography: Careers for Enhancing Society and the Environment;
* 20 copies of the AAG Careers in Geography brochure;
* 20 copies of the second edition of Why Geography Is Important, a brochure developed in partnership with Texas State University’s Grosvenor Center for Geographic Education illustrating how geographers are contributing to the study of important social and environmental issues;
* 20 copies of tip sheets on various professional development topics including working internationally, internships, career planning, and networking;
* Offprints of research manuscripts stemming from the EDGE project;
* A CD-ROM containing Powerpoint slides with information about professional geographers and geography careers
* Various other careers-related giveaways, project brochures, flyers, and posters.
The AAG will consider a wide range of proposals that make use of the $500 grant, the EDGE Career Development Kit, and other available resources to support the priority areas outlined above. Potential activities eligible for support may include but are not limited to:
* Organizing a professional development workshop at an AAG regional or annual meeting;
* Planning an outreach event in collaboration with a careers center on a school or university campus with significant numbers of underrepresented students;
* Preparing a proposal for an undergraduate or graduate course, seminar, instructional module or webinar on professional development in geography;
* Sponsoring a visit by a professional geographer to a local high school or community college;
* Implementing EDGE materials into an existing professional development course, workshop, or program for geography students;
* Raising awareness among employers of how geographers are contributing to businesses, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations;
* Developing outreach and educational materials for local implementation which could also be shared more broadly through the AAG's Jobs and Careers website (www.aag.org/careers) or other distribution channels (e.g., videos, webinars, slideshows, posters, or brochures).
Per NSF regulations, awards may be used to pay for “direct costs for items such as stipends or subsistence allowances, travel allowances and registration fees paid to or on behalf of participants or trainees (but not employees) in connection with meetings, conferences, symposia or training projects.” Awards may also defray the costs of producing training and outreach materials such as those described above. To be eligible, awardees must be affiliated with a geography program in the United States and agree to complete a short evaluation report at the conclusion of their activities for NSF reporting purposes. Activities funded by the EDGE grant program should occur between September 1, 2012 and July 31, 2013. Awards will be granted on the basis of the alignment of proposed activities with the EDGE priority areas and their potential for reaching diverse audiences and institutions.
To apply, please send a professional résumé or c.v. and a 250-500 word proposal describing the activities to be supported by the $500 grant to Dr. Michael Solem (msolem@aag.org). Applications are due by July 1, 2012 at the latest.
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