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Welcome to the archive of Kansas NSF EPSCoR (KNE) news and announcements blog. Stay up-to-date with all the happenings, discoveries, events and funding opportunities associated with KNE by visiting https://nsfepscor.ku.edu./

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Applications are now available for Biology and Environmental Studies Teachers to participate in The Ecosystems of Kansas Summer Institute at the KU Field Station

   Kansas NSF EPSCoR in conjunction with its RII track-1 award, The Microbiomes of Aquatic, Plant and Soils Across Kansasis now recruiting Kansas teachers to participate in the 2018 Ecosystems of Kansas Summer Institute.  This workshop will be held June 4-8, 2018 at the University of Kansas Field Station.  High school biology and environmental studies teachers are encouraged to apply.  Participants will be paid a stipend of $750 and a travel allowance for participants who live more than an hour from the field station will also be provided.  Ten teachers will be selected to participate. 
   During the workshop, participants will conduct investigations, learn about the current research on ecosystems, explore the diverse outdoors, and work with researchers to develop inquiry-based curriculum to take back to their classes.

For more information, go to: https://epscoroutreach.ku.edu/

Applications can be found at: https://goo.gl/McoVSk


Application deadline is April 1, 2018

Education and outreach funding is provided by the Kansas NSF EPSCoR RII Track-1 Award OIA-1656006 titled: "Microbiomes of Aquatic, Plant, and Soil Systems across Kansas."  The grant's educational objectives are designed to enhance STEM education in Kansas by supporting activities that will lead to an expanded STEM workforce or prepare a new generation for STEM careers in the areas of aquatic, plant and soil microbiome environments and ecological systems.

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

2018 Spring Semester begins with a Collaborative MAPS Course

   
   The Microbiomes of Aquatic, Plant and Soils across Kansas (MAPS)  collaborative course started last week for undergraduate and graduate students from across Kansas enrolled.  Biology 890d at KSU and Biology 701 at KU make up this educational collaboration that is specifically designed to study the structure and functions of microbiomes. Every Tuesday and Thursday, students and professors from the University of Kansas (KU), Kansas State University (KSU), Wichita State University (WSU) and Fort Hays State University (FHSU) meet in a common area on their campus to participate in a ZOOM video conference learning experience.  The goal of the class is to review existing information on linkages between and feed backs among plant, soil and freshwater microbiomes. The lead instructors Walter Dodds, from KSU, and Jim Bever, from KU, plan to facilitate an in depth review of existing literature on this rapidly expanding area of research. Each member of the Kansas EPSCoR MAPS research team has a role in presenting their research and assigning key papers for students to read as part of the effort to achieve this goal. Using what they learn from the faculty presentations and class discussions, students will then prepare individual reports and lead discussions on key papers that reflect their area of interest. The final product from the class will be a publication-quality review manuscript to be submitted following the course.  All students who have continued participation on the manuscript will be listed as co-authors.


Education and outreach funding is provided by the Kansas NSF EPSCoR RII Track-1 Award OIA-1656006 titled: "Microbiomes of Aquatic, Plant, and Soil Systems across Kansas."  The grant's educational objectives are designed to enhance STEM education in Kansas by supporting activities that will lead to an expanded STEM workforce or prepare a new generation for STEM careers in the areas of aquatic, plant and soil microbiome environments and ecological systems.

Monday, January 8, 2018

Informational Webinar for the EPSCoR RII Track-4

NSF EPSCoR would like to invite interested faculty to participate in an informational webinar on the FY18 competition for EPSCoR’s RII Track-4 awards at 2:00pm (EST) on either Thursday, January 11, or Friday, January 12.  All attendees are encouraged to review the program solicitation - NSF 18-526 prior to the webinar.

This virtual meeting/webinar will consist of both an audio portion via teleconference and a presentation component via WebEx. In addition to a computer connection for the visual part of the meeting, you will need a separate phone connection to participate in the teleconference. (Cell phones/iPhones are NOT recommended due to the increased likelihood of connectivity issues and interference.)

Click the Meeting ID 743011839 to connect to the Webinar
Audio Component – Teleconference:
Direct (Toll Free) Call-in Number: 888-680-8032
* Password: EPSCoR

The meeting will be open 15 minutes prior to the start time for you to login/call-in. You are encouraged to login/call-in early to ensure connectivity.

Web Ex Instructions
To join the meeting directly through WebEx: 
1. Click the link (above) for the meeting you are attending.  
2. When requested, enter your name and email address.
3. Click "Join." 
4. You are now in the “web” portion of the webinar. 

WebEx will automatically setup Meeting Manager the first time you join a meeting using WebEx. To save time, we strongly encourage you to setup prior to the meeting to ensure connectivity. To set up the meeting manager, click this link: https://nsf.webex.com/nsf/meetingcenter/mcsetup.php. 

Trouble shooting issues:

If you cannot access the direct login link for the webinar, you can still login through WebEx. To join the online meeting through the WebEx Website: 

1. Click NSF WebEx link: https://nsf.webex.com
2. Enter the WebEx meeting ID (743011839), then click “Join Meeting.” 
3. When requested, enter your name and email address and password; it is EPSCoR18! 
4. Click "Join"
5. Be sure to call in as well: 888-680-8032, Password: EPSCoR

Administrative Support: If you have any questions about WebEx meeting access, please contact
Liz Lawrence at least 24 hours prior to the webinar (Email: elawrenc@nsf.gov; Phone: 703-292-8997)

For Technical Assistance:
On the left navigation bar, click "Support". 

The playback of UCF (Universal Communications Format) rich media files requires appropriate players. To view this type of rich media file in the meeting, please check whether you have the players installed on your computer by going to https://nsf.webex.com/nsf/systemdiagnosis.php.