Activity Groups
An activity group (AG) is formed to study a specific topic or undertake a specific activity related to transformation of underground infrastructure systems. We invite your applications.
Example AGs of interest include:
- Hosting a Webinar series featuring big engineering projects with an outcome of a series that is entered into the archives.
- Hosting a podcast series featuring big thinkers in the underground (individual, panels,…) with outcome of recordings for the TUUI Library and Repository. This could involve an AI-generated podcast in different languages, such as might be facilitated through a chat-bot development using materials gathered in this library.
- Mini-proposal writing AG efforts with outcome of submitted proposal to agency/company.
- Developing training materials with outcomes that can be added to the TUUI Library and Repository. This might including collaborating with professional bodies or associations to bring their materials (such as, training videos) to this initiative.
- Scientific and organizing committee (AG) for a TUUI Collaborative Annual Workshop.
- Creating a rapid response AG to conduct very short-term study after an urgent event involving underground infrastructure. The AG might obtain initial findings to support the writing of a larger grant to a proper funding agency. The outcome would be the submission of a proposal by AG members.
- An AG to write an op-ed for a leading news outlet, with the outcome being the article (also housed in the TUUI Library and Repository) and an attempt at getting it published in a news outlet.
- An AG to write a perspective paper, with the outcome being the article (also housed in the TUUI Library and Repository) and its submission.
Stipend opportunities for significant involvement in AGs:
Leadership Stipends for substantial activities, like leading a significant AG (e.g., running a Webinar series, taking the lead for a TUUI Collaborative Annual Workshop) ($1000-$3000).
Lead Librarian and Curator Stipend for the TUUI Library and Repository, collecting, maintaining, managing, and publicizing the TUUI Library and Repository collection ($1500 -$3000).
Travel grants to support new collaborations, attendance at a TUUI Collaborative Annual Workshop, or similar (up to $1500).
Funds for stipends and travel grants or conference/workshop/symposium participation will be issued in the form of participant support (https://fiscal.gmu.edu/accountspayable/pay-participant-support/), and are not subcontracts of this NSF project.
A few notes:
- To serve on an AG, a participant must sign up to be a member of TUUI.
- While ad hoc activities of great interest to the TUUI Collaborative Steering Committee might be funded off cycle, deadlines for submission of funding requests are due each year of the grant (ending summer 2028) on the first Monday of May and December (December 22, 2025 for the first round).
- An AG will be closed once it meets its goal(s) and completes its outcomes. No AG should be created to last longer than one year, but AGs with successful continuous activities, such as one hosting a Webinar series, may be renewed or, in the case of a Webinar series, could be reconstituted for a new topic area.
- Selection is competitive.
- Funds are available only for participants eligible to work in the U.S. according to NSF rules.