Small Research Projects

Goals  

Several people sitting around a table having a discussion

Adaptation science proceeds more effectively, and with the greatest chance of implementation, when co-produced by researchers, rightsholders, stakeholders, and practitioners working closely together. However, this kind of collaboration can be challenging, as building the relationships that lead to effective partnerships takes time, and there may be few opportunities for interested parties to interact, build trust, and learn from each other. Even when a group of potential partners identify areas of shared interest, limited staff capacity or resources are often barriers to engagement.

Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (MW CASC) Small Research Projects (SRP) are intended to help overcome these barriers to jumpstart the creation of new collaborative teams and enhance their capacity to conduct targeted research and needs assessments related to MW CASC research priorities. This funding is not related or tied to any U.S. Geological Survey federal solicitation for climate adaptation research proposals.

SRP funding will provide resources for activities that have high potential to help inspire or promote collaborative, decision-relevant research projects now or in the future. 

These activities can include tasks such as:

  • Initial project scoping and data generation
  • Preliminary relationship building activities
  • Demonstration projects
  • Listening exchanges
  • Field visits or workshops
  • Related travel 

An example Scope of Work might detail a research visit to field sites where active ecosystem management, restoration, or other adaptation projects are taking place and a related workshop to generate relevant scientific questions and begin forging co-produced research with the practitioners operating at these (and/or similar regional) sites.

Areas of Focus

A river flowing throw snowy banks

Proposed work must be relevant to one or more of the MW CASC’s Science Priorities related to: 

  • Heavy precipitation events and drought
  • Loss of winter
  • Altered hydrological regimes
  • Novel terrestrial landscapes 
  • Barriers to and opportunities for adaptation

Initial SRPP funding will be directed to projects and teams that are led by or include Tribal partners and/or address adaptation issues of direct concern to Tribal governments and communities in the Midwest. In other words, those projects should advance adaptation issues or concerns related to Tribal nations and/or center Indigenous knowledge and its application in natural resource management across the region.

Submitting a Scope of Work

  • The SRPP Scope of Work will be submitted via Google Form. We invite you to review this summary of questions included in the form to prepare your responses. 
  • Total project costs, including indirect costs, shall not exceed $15,000. Expenses will be reimbursed by invoice.
  • Projects must be completed within 12 months.
  • Projects must designate:
    • A project lead (or co-lead) from a Tribal government, college/university, or intergovernmental agency that has natural resource interests in the Midwest; and,
    • A project lead (or co-lead or team member) affiliated with the MW CASC Consortium (University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Michigan State University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Indiana University, College of Menominee Nation, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, The Nature Conservancy)
  • Anticipated Timeline:
    • Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis starting Sept 5, 2024.
    • Review will begin on Sept 30 and continue as submissions are received.
    • Successful projects will be notified within 60 days of submission.
    • When funding for the year has been nearly allocated, and/or when reviews are suspended, a notification will be posted on the MW CASC website. 

Review Criteria

Scopes of Work will be reviewed by a committee of MW CASC staff and affiliates and evaluated on:

  1. Alignment with MW CASC management challenges, science priorities, and values
  2. Role of Tribal governments, intergovernmental agencies, colleges/universities and/or communities in the project, with respect to advancing adaptation issues or concerns of Tribal nations, and/or centering Indigenous knowledge and its application in natural resource management across the region
  3. Plans to foster researcher-rightsholder-stakeholder-practitioner relationships and collaborations related to natural or cultural resources in new or extended ways
  4. Clear identification of deliverables and data ownership
  5. Plans for dissemination or sharing of findings within and beyond the group of partners
  6. Feasibility of project within timeline and budget
  7. Relevance and strength of the project to jumpstart additional action, including research activities or other work that the team might pursue ultimately leading to research

Submit Scope of Work

 

If you have questions about the SRPP or the submittal process, or if your project team needs accommodations related to the process described herein, please contact Elissa Welch, Midwest CASC Program Manager, at [email protected].