WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today announced the National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded grants totaling $16.5 million to the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), University of Maryland, College Park, and the University System of Maryland.  NSF grants work to promote the progress of science and to advance the national health, prosperity and welfare by supporting research and education in all fields of science and engineering.  Senator Cardin is a member of the Budget Committee, which each year sets priorities for funding to federal agencies.  Senator Mikulski is Chairwoman of the Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee, which funds this grant program.  

“These grants are critical to maintaining America’s competitive advantage in scientific education and research,” said Senator Cardin.  “I am committed to ensuring Maryland’s universities remain some of the best research institutions in the nation.”  

“Right now, our nation is in an amazing race – a race for discovery and new knowledge,” said Senator Mikulski.  “This federal investment will help foster breakthroughs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics that will lead to new products and new jobs.  Education is the engine of an innovative economy, and I’m proud that this money will keep Maryland in the lead and engage students in the careers of their future.”

The Maryland grants awarded can be found below:

• $12.4 million to the University System of Maryland for the Minority Student Pipeline Math Science Partnership to expand education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields in higher education.   

 

• $2.2 million to University of Maryland Baltimore County for R&D: The INSPIRES Curriculum for Engineering and Technology Education to advance knowledge about effective instruction and curriculum design to increase public literacy and better preparation for the next generation of engineering and technology professionals.

• $1.3 million to University of Maryland College Park for the Grid, Public and GPU Computing for the Tree of Life project.  The grant money will be used to upgrade technology in order to take better advantage of a diversity of computing resources, particularly existing desktop processing capacity available through public-computing.

• $500,000 to University of Maryland Baltimore County for Maryland’s Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) Professiorial training for Mathematicians, Information Technologists, Scientists and Engineers (PROMISE).  This program has been extremely effective at increasing the number of minority doctoral students in STEM disciplines and building a strong sense of community.