Organizing Your Scientific Research

Lessons/Activities 20

Partnership For The Delaware Estuary

Rationale, Content, And Research Extension Statements

One of the keys to securing adequate funding for a science project or environmental study is your rationale statement. This is the first area that selection committees read. Funding groups always ask for a concise statement describing the importance and purpose of your project. Referring to local, state and national research showing deficiencies or needs in your topic area is a good starting point. Reviewing rationale statements of other grants similar to yours will help you with your wording and alert you to 'catch phrases' used by effective grant writers and successful grant submissions. A caution here though is sometimes 'catch phrases' like mentor shadowing, cooperative learning, habitat studies, and back to the basics come and go faster than a late afternoon summer rain storm. Use the spaces below to design a rationale statement, introduce the content of your project and to list the follow-ups and extensions that another research group might pursue. Review grants in your topic area that have been previously funded. This will help you to develop a budget, purchase necessary equipment and give even more direction to your ideas. The internet is an excellent 'review a grant' location. Type in the keyword "grants" and off you go.