
May 2026
What's Inside Research Policy Funding Education Community From our Science Partners More from KAS Calendar of Events Research Kentucky Biological Assessment Tool (KY BAT) Looking for a BIO class activity or resource? KY BAT runs reports to identify endangered species, important natural communities, and the presence of conservation lands in a specified project area for which the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves maintains data. Explore KY BAT and run a report Journal of the Kentucky Academy of Science Our Journal is easier than ever to access! We're participating in an Open Access pilot, so you don't have to be a KAS member to access the Journal! (Photo: W Baker, J. of the Kentucky Academy of Science, 87(1):1-5, 2026 Find ou r Journal online Mark your calendars and make your travel plans! Policy Meet with your legislator this summer to talk about science We'd like to set up meetings between our members and your state legislators, to talk about science. Would you like to set one up? Curious to learn more and get prepared? RSVP here for a May 12 webinar with Dr. Rachel K Owen about engaging your state legislators in between sessions. AAAS Responds to Dismissal of National Science Board "The dismissal of the National Science Board is the latest in a string of erratic decisions that are destabilizing not only the National Science Foundation, but all of American science. Whatever the reasons, this action sets a precedent and implies that scientific priorities and policies will swing with the political whims of every administration. If we want the United States to lead in science and technology and the benefits to accrue to the American people ..." Read more Science Policy Committee Welcomes you The Science Policy committee will meet Wednesday, May 13 at 12:30pm ET on Zoom. All are welcome. Email policy@kyscience.org for the zoom link or more information, and Follow our Policy work at the KAS website. Funding NSF Soliciting applications from EPSCoR states (including KY!) Recently, NSF program officers have strongly encouraged proposal submissions from EPSCoR states, including Kentucky. Under the federal Chips and Science Act, NSF must increase its percentage of funding to EPSCoR states each year. Current proposal volume from EPSCoR jurisdictions is down, so program officers are especially encouraging researchers from EPSCoR jurisdictions to submit proposals to standing programs, many of which have rolling deadlines. NSF is seeking large proposals and small scale proposals that could be written and reviewed quickly. These include Supplements, EAGERS, REU, and conference proposals. Search all NSF programs Standard NSF Programs Water, Landscape, and Critical Zone Processes Engineering for Civil Infrastructure (ECI) Environmental Sustainability Infrastructure Systems and People NSF Opportunities for Early-Career Researchers Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) Early-Concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) Building Capacity in STEM Education Research (ECR: BCSER) EPSCoR Research Fellows General NSF Opportunities Conference Proposals Supplemental REU & supplemental funds for HS students Research Equipment Major Research Instrumentation Program Supports requests for up to $4 million from NSF for the development or acquisition of multi-user research instruments that are critical to the advancement of science and engineering. Mid-scale Research Infrastructure-1 Supports the design and implementation of research infrastructure — including equipment, cyberinfrastructure, large-scale datasets, and personnel — whose total project costs exceed the NSF Major Research Instrumentation program but are under $20 million. Mid-scale Research Infrastructure-2 Supports the implementation of research infrastructure — including equipment, cyberinfrastructure, large-scale datasets, and personnel — whose total project costs fall between $20 million and $100 million. More Funding Opportunities Check out KAS' list of Funding Opportunities Education Professional Development Resources for KAS members Learn new skills, advance your careers, and make a greater impact. Check our our Professional Development Resources at the KAS website. If you know of resources you would like to share with fellow scientists, send them our way. Real Science PD for Teachers K-12 Teachers can spend time with scientists this summer and earn professional development credits. Check out our 2026 STEM Educators' PD listing Summer Camp Directory It's not too late- Find a summer camp experience near you in our STEM Summer camp listing. New York Junior Academy research opportunities Students ages 13-17 can join an online community of peers solving real world problems. Applications are due July 2. Details Do you know an outstanding PK-12 STEM+ Educator? PK- 12 STEM Educators (teachers, administrators, and informal educators) are encouraged to nominate themselves or others in one of the following categories. · Outstanding STEM Educator Career Achievement Award (30+ years of service) · Outstanding STEM Educator Career Achievement Award (20-29 years of service) · The Mid-Career STEM Educator Award (10-19 years as an educator) · The Early Career STEM Educator Award (0-9 years as an educator) Awardees will be recognized on Thursday, October 15, at the 2026 Tri-State STEM+ Conference. Nominations will close on Sunday, August 23, 2026 at midnight. Nominate someone here KAS Education and Engagement Team welcomes your participation Our Education & Engagement team makes connections with K-12 Teachers, Kentucky field stations, supports the Junior Academy, and connects with other partners around the state. E&E meets on June 5 (and each first Friday) at 10 am ET. All are welcome! Email our Executive Director Amanda Fuller to get added to the list. Community Lights Out for bird migration! Birds are migrating north right now and they fly at night. You can keep them safe by turning out extraneous lights at night, especially in buildings with large glass windows, and any lights pointing upward into the sky. Find live maps of migrations and forecasts at birdcast.org Why does light interfere with bird migration? Here's a possible explanation from Radiolab How to Share your Science Graduate & Professional Members can sign up for KAS' Speakers Bureau. Tell teachers, librarians, youth organizations and and community groups about this fantastic resource! After you join the Speakers Bureau, consider signing up for Skype a Scientist, where you can reach a global audience: https://www.skypeascientist.com/ Looking to level up your Science Outreach & Science Communication? Check out KAS Professional Development resources Link your Kroger card to get Community Rewards for KAS If you shop at Kroger, did you know that you can link your card to KAS to earn us small Community rewards with every purchase? Log in at kroger.com to link your rewards card to the Kentucky Academy of Science. We get quarterly payments from Kroger based on our members' purchases and small donations add up! Thank you! From our Science Partners Kentucky Infrasructure Network for Biomedical Research (KY-INBRE) Offers free trainings, and funding opportunities- check out their monthly news EPSCoR/ IDeA News, training and funding opportunities from Established Program for Stimulating Competitive Research (EPSCoR) and Institutional Development Award (IDeA) NASA- KY Funding and training opportunities, Teaching materials, internships: https://nasa.engr.uky.edu/ Connect with other Scientific Organizations in Kentucky Anthropologists & Sociologists of Kentucky American Chemical Society (ACS), Lexington or Louisville or Kentucky Lake or Owensboro American Society for Microbiology (ASM) in Kentucky/ Tennessee or at UK Bluegrass Amateur Astronomy Club Geological Society of Kentucky Kentucky Area Astro nomical Society Kentucky Paleontological Society Kentucky Psychological Association Kentucky Science Teachers Association Louisville Amateur Astronomers Mathematical Association of America, Kentucky chapter Sigma Xi - chapters in Kentucky Did we miss any? Send info to executivedirector@kyscience.org More from KAS Check out our KAS Jobs Board KAS Membership Cards now available! If you would like documentation of your KAS membership, you can now print or save a Membership Card when you log in at the KAS website. Find "Membership Cards" under your member menu, and explore other member resources while you're there. In memoriam: Dwight Smith We remember KAS member Dwight Smith, who was retired from the Math department of Big Sandy Community and Technical College and was also an avid amateur astronomer and paleontologist. Remember KAS in your Will or Trust KAS' programs advancing the sciences in Kentucky are possible because of donations from Kentuckians who have been champions for science and science education. How to include the Kentucky Academy of Science in your will or trust, or donate now. Thank you! Like and follow the Kentucky Academy of Science Stay updated on all things KAS! kyscientists Kentucky Academy of Science kyscience kentuckyscience KAS Channel Calendar of Events Day of Science Learning with KDE 05/07/2026 Bench Talk: The Week in Science Podcast Every Mon 7:30pm, Tue 11:30am, Wed 7:30am and online anytime Public Service Commission's Nuclear Innovation Conference Free, Tickets required. Kentucky Historical Society, in Frankfort 05/12/2026- 05/13/2026 KAS Science Policy Committee meeting 05/13/2026 06/10/2026 UK Sky Talk 05/14/2026 06/11/2026 eeHEN (Environmental Education Higher Education Network) Spring Summit & Workshop 05/21/2026 Summer Seminar Series at Thomas More Biology Field Station 06/04/2026 06/11/2026 06/18/2026 06/25/2026 KAS Education & Engagement Committee 06/05/2026
KAS Newsletter* - May 2026