August 2014
Often at iDigBio sponsored workshops, symposia, and outreach events, we are asked the question: “How can I write a successful ADBC proposal?”
For those new to our alphabet soup, Advancing Digitization of Biodiversity Collections (ADBC) is the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) program for bootstrapping museum collections digitization and establishing a national resource for specimen data. Annually, NSF solicits proposals for innovative projects that fill gaps in the effort to provide online access to these data. Successful proposals are awarded in two-to-four year awards for Thematic Collections Networks (TCNs), networks digitizing specimens based on a particular research theme, or Partners to Existing Networks (PENs), allowing other institutions and collections to join an existing TCN. iDigBio is the coordinating center for the national digitization effort and collaborates with TCNs and PENs on delivering standards and technology to produce an interoperable network.
As a resource for you, we have worked with NSF program officers and iDigBio senior staff to create a document to begin to answer this question. Although this guide may seem prescriptive, please remember that this document is merely a compilation of notes on writing a successful proposal and that NSF will award proposals as outlined in the program solicitation.
As always, we welcome your feedback. Feel free to leave us a comment or suggestion through our contact page: https://www.idigbio.org/contact/Contact_iDigBio
Other helpful ADBC Links:
- Notes on writing a proposal for the ADBC program at NSF
- Collaborating with iDigBio on grant proposals
- What Has Been Funded (Recent Awards Made Through The ADBC Program, with Abstracts)
- Map Showing Recent Awards Made Through The ADBC Program
