Science In Vivo: Answers to questions from prospective applicants

As Science Festival Alliance staff receive questions related to the Science In Vivo Call for Applications, we will post our replies here. Q: Do applications have to be for large events, or are smaller programs OK? A: There is a preference for proposed activity that has the potential to reach large numbers of people. However, the project is also meant to support a wide range of activity with a diversity of audiences. It may be that smaller scale interventions are appropriate for different formats, outcomes, and audiences. Q: We have a free-standing event we’ve wanted to do for a while. Would it be a good fit? A: Applications should describe activity that integrates science experiences into existing gatherings. A good rule of thumb might be: if the activity requires inviting people to come out and go to a special science event, then what you are planning probably is not a good fit for this particular Call for Applications. We don’t want to be prescriptive, so there may be exceptions to this. (And of course we love free-standing science events, and are interested in hearing what you are up to. Perhaps you should join us at the Science Events Summit!) Q: Would we be eligible to apply from a Canadian nonprofit organization? A: We welcome applications from Canada, but do expect that most awards will be made for teams working within the US. Q: Might we be able to apply for existing festivals with the intent to further engage certain audiences, add more events, new experiences, or engage a whole new audience/create some brand new events and/or experiences. A: Proposed activity can build off of or connect in some way to ongoing existing initiatives, but successful applications will describe substantially new activity and/or approaches for the team applying. Q: Materials for the first call for applications (with a March 5, 2018 deadline) mention that a second call-out will be issued. Any idea of the timeline on this? A: The timing of a second call for applications will be depend to some degree on the response to the first. We are currently planning to set a second out a second call for applications in late spring or early summer of 2018. There is no reason to delay an application though. You are welcome to reapply, and to submit multiple applications.