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Travel Awards for Tribal Colleges and Universities

Purpose of Travel Awards

The purpose of the travel awards is to involve faculty and students from Tribal Colleges and Universities not currently included in NAI programs or astrobiology. Five travel awards will be given to faculty of Tribal Colleges and Universities to attend the Astrobiology Science Conference (AbSciCon) in April of 2008. These competitive awards will cover the following expenses:

• Conference registration
• Air and ground transportation
• Federal per diem
• Hotel accommodations
• Attending the opening reception at the Smithsonian's Natural History Museum.

Eligibility For Travel Awards

All applications must originate from faculty according to the following categories:

Applicants must be a faculty member from a two- to four-year Tribal College or University as cited in Section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land Grant Status October of 1994; Tribally Controlled Community College Assistance Act of 1978; or the Navajo Community College Assistance Act of 1978, Public Law 95-471.

For a list of the Department of Education identified Tribal Colleges or Universities, see the Links section of this website.

Application Process

1. Submit an Intent to Apply online by January 25, 2008. Be sure to answer all of the questions describing how the information gained in attending AbSciCon:

• will be incorporated into the science curriculum of your Tribal College or University; and
• will fit into the undergraduate academic or research programs at your institutions, and/or into the educational outreach done by your institution.

2. A member of the NAI-MIRS staff will call you to discuss your application and interest.

3. Email the following supporting materials by February 1, 2008 to Dr. Todd Gary (or fax to 615-523-2535) after you have completed the online portion of the application:

• Cover letter, from the department chair or dean of your college, supporting your interest in astrobiology;
• Curriculum Vitae.

This is an Equal Employment Opportunity. In accordance with Federal statutes and regulations and NASA policies, no person on the grounds of race, color, age, sex, national origin, or disability shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any program or activity receiving financial assistance from NASA.