DoD announces its intent to establish a Center of Excellence for STEM Scholarship.

(hereafter “Center”) at an HBCU/MI (see Section II.C.1, Eligibility Information – Eligible Applicants, for a definition).

The Center will be funded for a 4-year period of performance

credit: Design Boom

with an optional fifth year of support.

This initiative will support multiple objectives of benefit to the recipient HBCU/MI and its students, as well as to DoD.

Primary among those objectives are (1) developing innovative approaches to the education and training of students in STEM disciplines that ensure they pursue such studies throughout their undergraduate education and, upon graduation or after obtaining an advanced degree(s), enter research careers, whether in the public or private sectors, in science and engineering fields that are critical to national security; and (2) supporting a cadre of students dedicated to obtaining an education in a STEM discipline and being well prepared for research careers.

Establishing such a Center at an HBCU/MI will also contribute to the objective of increasing the diversity of the Nation’s STEM workforce.

The STEM disciplines of primary interest to DoD include:
• Biological Sciences • Physical Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, and Materials Science) • Mathematical Sciences • Computer and Information Sciences • Engineering (all categories) • Geosciences • Environmental Sciences • Neuro Science and Cognitive Science Funding will support activities that further the research education and training of those students (e.g., internships; travel to seminars and workshops; publications, etc.).