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Metanexus Institute Program
Grant Request for Proposals
The Local Societies Initiative provides three-year
grants to fund start-up costs for dialogue groups
exploring the dynamic interface between religion
and science. While focused on colleges, universities,
and seminaries, the program also welcomes applications
from a wide spectrum of interested parties in
other venues worldwide.
Each grant is for $15,000 paid over a three year
period. The applicant must be able to match the
grant with $15,000 in additional funding over
this three year period. There will be a number
of supplemental grants of $10,000 each awarded
annually to those projects that are particularly
innovative, creative, and effective. Thus each
group is eligible for $30,000 in additional funding
over the three year grant period. Funds may be
used for society events, speakers, the purchase
of books for group study, communications, publicity,
outreach, public forums, and travel directly related
to the project.
A panel of three judges will select the winners
of the grant and supplemental grant awards. The
list of recipients will be published on http:www.metanexus.net/localsocieties
Purpose
Science can inspire greater reverence, wonder,
and awe. It also poses critical religious questions
of meaning and purpose, of virtues, and values.
Science provides a continuous stream of remarkable
insights into the nature of reality across a wide
range of domains. By giving rise to astonishing
technological transformations, science changes
both our world and our worldviews. As the pace
of scientific discovery and technological innovation
accelerates, there is an urgent cultural need
to reflect thoughtfully about these epic changes
and challenges in constructive dialogue involving
science and religion.
The Local Societies Initiative seeks to encourage
thoughtful and dynamic exploration of the interrelationship
of science and religion, to promote greater appreciation
of these issues, and to enhance increased cooperation
between science and religion. This three-year
project is designed for established or newly formed
groups to be catalysts for progress in diverse
communities worldwide. The program seeks to create
long-term networks for vibrant and broadly significant
exchange.
Program Goals
- To promote the study of science
and religion in local societies and organizations
around the world and the development of a network
of such groups.
- To encourage a greater appreciation
of the religious and spiritual significance
of science and of the value of religious insights
for science and society.
- To broaden the participation
of individuals and groups involved in the constructive
dialogue between science and religion.
- To exemplify a spirit of a “humble
approach” in the quest for understanding,
which links the progress of scientific inquiry
with metaphysical, religious, philosophical,
and moral concerns in a coherent, intellectually
responsible, and collaborative manner.
Criteria for Applications
- The applicant must demonstrate
a commitment to a balanced and exploratory exchange
between religious and scientific views.
- The applicant must be a group,
existing or newly created for this purpose,
of persons formally or informally affiliated.
Such groups could include committees of faculty,
campus ministries, student organizations, interdisciplinary
programs or departments, groups of clinicians
and students in the practice of medicine, seminary
faculty and students, denominational bodies,
rabbinical and clerical groups, professional
and civic associations, employee groups in science
and technology industries, private and public
secondary schools, teacher associations, and
organizations specifically incorporated to advance
the dialogue between science and religion. Applications
will not be accepted from individuals.
- Funds must be used to develop
new programs.
- The applicant that receives funds
must operate as, or be under the auspices of,
a nonprofit organization.
- The group must hold regular meetings
for conducting study, discussion, and business.
- The applicant must have a commitment
to engage in outreach through free and well-publicized
public events. Speakers should represent expertise
in the fields of both science and religion.
- The applicant must send at least
one delegate to the Annual Convention of Local
Societies to be held in Philadelphia in June
each year. The first convention will be held
in June 2002. The estimated cost of the convention
is $650 for registration, room, and board not
including travel. All costs are the responsibility
of the local group and may be funded from the
grant or matching funds. Some travel stipends
are available for international delegates.
- The applicant must include a
brief resume or curriculum vita of the chairperson
of the local group.
- The applicant must have a commitment
of $15,000 in matching funds over the three
years, payable in the amount of $5,000 annually.
In special hardship circumstances consideration
will be given to matching funds being in-kind
rather than in funds.
- The applicant must submit a satisfactory
written annual report to qualify for ongoing
funding of the grant.
- The applicant must designate
a contact person for the administration of the
grant, including name, address, telephone and
fax numbers, and email address.
- Five (5) copies of the printed
applications must be submitted by mail. Online
applications will not be accepted.
Additional Criteria of
Merit
Additional criteria of merit include:
- The potential of the program
for broad public outreach.
- Evidence of innovative and creative
approaches to the subject matter.
- The quality and cost effectiveness
of the project.
- The potential for the long-term
viability of the local group beyond the three-year
period.
- The intellectual and spiritual
content of the program.
- The ability of the local group
to leverage other funding and resources.
Additional Funding Opportunities
A limited number of supplemental $10,000 grants
will be awarded annually, based on the annual
reports, to programs that demonstrate particular
innovation, creativity, and effectiveness. There
is no matching fund requirement for these supplemental
grants, but the ability to leverage additional
resources is also a criterion of merit. Thus,
over the three years of the project, a local society
is eligible to win an additional $30,000 in funding.
Application Procedures
- Applications deadlines are January
1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 of each year
through April 1, 2005. Up to fifty grants will
be awarded each year.
- The application should include
five (5) copies of the following:
– a cover letter signed by the chairperson
– a maximum 200 word description of the
host organization
– a maximum 200 word description of the
program
– a proposed budget, with appropriate notes
– evidence of commitment of the $15,000
matching funds
– a three-to-five page proposal narrative
detailing the content and programs envisioned
– a brief Curriculum Vitae or resume of
chairperson of local group
- Single copies of supplemental
materials are welcome with the application,
including short biographies, resumes or curricula
vitae of the group participants, and copies
of relevant publications, institutional brochures,
and press clippings.
- We do not have the capacity to
receive applications or annual reports that
are not written in English. However, the project
may be conducted in any language.
- Five (5) copies of the application
packet should be submitted by mail to:
Eric Weislogel, Ph.D.
Associate Director
Metanexus
Institute on Religion and Science
3624 Market Street
Suite 301
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Tel. 215.789.2200
Fax: 215.789.2222
Email: lsi@pc4rs.org
Applicants are invited to reapply
in the event they are not selected.
The Local Societies Initiative is a project of
the Metanexus Institute with special funding from
the John Templeton Foundation.
The Metanexus
Institute advances research, education, and
outreach on the constructive engagement of science
and religion. We seek to create an enduring intellectual
and social movement by collaborating with persons
and communities from diverse religious traditions
and scientific disciplines. In a spirit of humility
and with a deep concern for intellectual rigor,
the Metanexus Institute promotes a balanced and
exploratory dialogue between science and religion.
While mindful of the complexities of this endeavor,
we work to develop integrative approaches that
enrich the domains of both science and religion.
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