NASA competitively selected 35 meritorious, peer-reviewed
research proposals under the Experimental Program to Stimulate
Competitive Research, or EPSCoR. The 3-year performance-based awards
cover 19 states at a total cost of $6.6 million, subject to
appropriation in future years.
What makes the EPSCoR program unique is its goal to target states of
modest research infrastructure. EPSCoR provides funding to assist
states in developing a more competitive research base within their
selected academic institutions.
In addition to the research awards, each of the NASA EPSCoR states
will receive awards of $125,000 for core funding for research
infrastructure development. The funding enables researchers to
initiate technical discussions and onsite visits with NASA
researchers and allows the states to become more competitive for
future NASA research opportunities.
“For the first time in the history of NASA EPSCoR, we are making
awards to proposals whose research directly supports NASA’s research
needs”, said Frank Owens, Director, NASA Education Division. “These
awards will continue to contribute to the academic research efforts
of the universities and to the state priorities, while also directly
contributing to NASA’s mission.”
EPSCoR began in 1993 after NASA saw the need to strengthen the
research capability of states that previously had not participated
equably in competitive aerospace research activities.
EPSCoR also works closely with the states’ NASA Space Grant College
and Fellowship Programs to help improve the opportunities for
science, mathematics, engineering and technology education. For a
list of research and core funding awards on the internet, go to:
http://calspace.ucsd.edu/epscor/contents.html
