Griep Project Wins $45,000 Award
Dr. Mark Griep, associate professor of chemistry at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and artist Marjorie Mikasen of Lincoln, received a $45,000 Officer Grant in August from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to research and develop a book and companion website to be published by Oxford University Press USA. Their project will examine the relationship between movie narratives featuring chemical themes and the real world of chemistry and explore this intersection of art and science with the goal of furthering the public understanding of science. The New York City-based Alfred P. Sloan Foundation was founded in 1934 and makes Trustee Grants and Officer Grants in the areas of science, technology, and economic performance. Trustee Grants require approval of the board and are awarded to very few programs. Typical Officer Grants range from $500 to $45,000 (the maximum allowed), with very few toward the upper end of the range. The goal of the Sloan Foundation’s Public Understanding of Science program, directed by Doron Weber, is to enhance people's lives by providing a better understanding of the increasingly scientific and technological environment in which we live. In 2004, the Foundation received the National Science Board's Public Service Award citing Mr. Weber's program "for its innovative use of traditional media--books, radio, public television--and its pioneering efforts in theater and commercial television and films to advance public understanding of science and technology.” |
