Planning Grants for Interdisciplinary Initiatives

Program Purpose

The Planning Grants for Interdisciplinary Initiatives builds on and expands the University Seminars Funding Program established in 1985. In order to foster sustained discussion of issues that cross traditional disciplinary boundaries among members of the George Washington University faculty, the Provost Office will award small grants (up to $5,000) to support planning around potential interdisciplinary research avenues, educational innovation, or both, with encouragement to include external partners, whether faculty from other universities, NGOs, community organizations, federal agencies, international organizations, or private industry throughout the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. We are returning to this theme for the upcoming year with a renewed sense of purpose. Our new strategic framework specifically reaffirms the importance of promoting interdisciplinary academic endeavors along with scholarship that has impact.

This initiative, in sync with the university seminars program that preceded it, should promote new inquiry and interdisciplinary community-building rather than already established programs. We seek proposals from at least three active-status, full-time GW faculty members from at least two different disciplines; we encourage inclusion of faculty from multiple GW schools/colleges, as well as participants beyond GW.

Applicants might propose:

A seminar meeting periodically during the academic year on the GW campus
A retreat or symposium to refine an emerging research agenda
A series of planning meetings to develop an interdisciplinary educational pathway; or
Some other vehicle to cultivate an interdisciplinary project.

The initial nucleus for any proposal should be a group of highly qualified faculty from a range of appropriate departments and schools. Proposals should identify a lead faculty convener.

The goal is to encourage planning for a projected interdisciplinary undertaking, whether the launch of an interdisciplinary working group, the refinement of ideas for an external grant application, the translation of scholarly findings for policy-makers, or the seeding of new courses or co-curricular programs.

Eligibility

Proposals must include at least three active-status, full-time GW Regular or Specialized Faculty.

Tracks

There are three (3) tracks as outlined below. A proposal may be considered for funding in one or multiple tracks, but successful proposals will receive only one award. Applicants will select the track(s) that best fit their submission.

Discovery Track

The Discovery track, funded by the Provost’s Office, supports the development of new interdisciplinary communities. Designed to foster sustained collaboration across traditional disciplinary boundaries, this track provides faculty with resources to convene colleagues from different schools, departments, and sectors to explore pressing issues, identify innovative approaches, and develop impactful research and educational initiatives. Priority will be given to proposals that catalyze new interdisciplinary partnerships, engage external stakeholders where appropriate, and demonstrate the potential to evolve into sustained efforts with broad scholarly and societal impact.

All proposals are eligible for this track. Questions should be directed to gwprovostgwu [dot] edu (gwprovost[at]gwu[dot]edu).

Sustainability Track

Funded by the GW Alliance for a Sustainable Future, awards in this track will advance interdisciplinary scholarship in the field of sustainability. Proposals should lead to outcomes such as publications, white papers, grant proposals, scholarly discussion blogs, or contributions to public policy in any of the following priority areas:

Health and extreme weather
Displacement and migration
Disaster preparedness and response, including humanitarian aid
Land use and development
Energy, technology, and infrastructure
Sustainability related community-based research
Climate communications and trustworthy information
Water quality and access, particularly as related to climate

Proposals for other sustainability topics or outcomes will be considered. In addition to funding, teams awarded in this track may receive additional support from the Alliance such as meeting and event scheduling, logistics, communications support, and assistance in identifying external funding opportunities.

Questions specific to this track should be directed to sustainalliancegwu [dot] edu (sustainalliance[at]gwu[dot]edu).

Global Food Track

The Global Food Institute is sponsoring three (3) to four (4) aligned convenings on one or more of the following priority areas:

Food security as national security
Access to healthy affordable food
Humanitarian and disaster response
Food-related research in partnership with communities

Proposals for other food-related topics or outcomes will be considered. In addition to funding, teams awarded in this track may receive additional support from the GFI such as meeting and event scheduling, logistics, communications support, and assistance in identifying external funding opportunities.

Questions regarding the GFI priority areas should be directed to the GFI Director of Research, Caitlin Grady, at Caitlin [dot] Gradygwu [dot] edu (Caitlin[dot]Grady[at]gwu[dot]edu).

Deadline

Proposal Components due September 28, 2026 by 1:00PM

Proposals must be submitted through OVPR's InfoReady Portal. Please select the "Login for George Washington University Users" to login through your GW credentials (NetIDgwu [dot] edu and password). Paper and emailed copies of proposal components will not be accepted.

Complete applications will consist of the following components:

Discussion, Participants and Plan (no more than 3 pages, single spaced)

This section should include:

A discussion of the topic’s importance
A plan of actions for Academic Year 2026-27, including specific events and/or convenings, indicating the rationale for those activities
A discussion of anticipated outcomes, processes and/or products
Names, affiliations, and expertise of GW faculty and any external participants who are committed to being a part of the event(s) or convening(s)
Specification of whether proposals wish to be considered for the Sustainability or GFI Tracks, with explanation of alignment the focus of the relevant track

Budget (1 page limit)

A proposed high-level budget that does not exceed $5,000. Allowable costs may include facilities, marketing, catering, honoraria, speaker travel and student support/compensation. Supplemental salary is not an allowable cost.

Review Process

The Provost’s Office will base funding decisions based on the merits and design of the proposed planning activities, and the clarity of the written proposal. We will give preference to proposals that align with goals of the Strategic Framework, including efforts to galvanize interdisciplinary research teams and educational experiences that promote experiential learning, especially through research that takes full advantage of GW’s DC location. Proposers should address each item outlined in the Proposal Components.

Award Administration

Once awarded, OVPR, the Alliance or GFI will notify the PI regarding how to fiscally manage their award. In some cases, the funds will be transferred to the PI’s home department, and all award expenses should be charged to this cost center. In other cases, the PI will work with the sponsoring unit to manage the award. In all cases, the PI is expected to expend the funds in a manner consistent with the approved budget and in keeping with the university’s policies.

PROJECT REPORT - At the conclusion of the award, the PI will submit a status report detailing the outcomes achieved by the planning group and how the funds were spent. Project Reports will be submitted through OVPR's InfoReady Portal. Awardees will receive two e-mail reminders from OVPR's InfoReady Portal to submit their Project Reports. The final Project Report will be due June 30, 2027.

Administrative Contact

Please send questions to univseminargwu [dot] edu (gwprovost[at]gwu[dot]edu).