James Randi Educational Foundation has Grants for Teachers

In the ongoing effort to put more ‘E’ into the JREF (James Randi Educational Foundation), there is a new grant available via the JREF Swift blog to teachers who wish to incorporate more critical thinking & skepticism into their lessons.  Read on…

Announcing The James Randi Grants for Educators

Written by Michael Blanford – Wednesday, June 9th

In its continuing efforts to provide resources to teachers and other educators, the James Randi Educational Foundation is proud to announce its grants for educators.  These grants are intended to help offset the cost of developing or improving critical thinking and scientific skepticism programs in the classroom and beyond. The grants will be awarded annually to educators of grades K-12 to help improve the education of their students, school and/or community in the methods of science and critical thinking through the examination of the paranormal and pseudoscience. Grants will allow teachers to:

• Purchase materials and / or equipment for the classroom, school or community for use in skepticism and critical thinking education.
• Begin new school and / or community skepticism and critical thinking outreach and educational programs.
• Enhance and expand existing skepticism and critical thinking educational programs.
• Attend courses, workshops or conferences related to scientific skepticism that will significantly enhance their teaching activities.

The James Randi Educational Foundation will award a limited number of grants of up to $500 each. In general, those educators selected to receive the grant are those whose applications are deemed to:

• Have the greatest need.
• Will have the most significant and widest impact.
• Have submitted the most detailed proposal describing how the grant money will be spent.
• Be most likely to succeed with their proposal.

We ask that curricula and other resources developed with the help of this grant be made available to other educators through the James Randi Educational Foundation.

Grant proposals should be sent to mblanford@randi.org and must include information about the educator’s school or institution, a detailed description of the critical thinking/skepticism project, biographical information about the applicant, and a project budget.  Grant proposals are due on or before July 31st, 2010 and recipients will be announced August 16th 2010.

The James Randi Educational Foundation’s grants for educators program is supported by our generous members. To help support this program click here.