Chicago Zoological Society

SUPPORTING A COMMUNITY'S INFORMATION EDUCATION NEEDS: CONFIDENCE AND EMPOWERMENT IN STEM (SCIENCES) PROGRAM

CCEP-I: CLIMATE LITERACY ZOO EDUCATION NETWORK

KING CONSERVATION LEADERSHIP ACADEMY: STEM EDUCATION FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES

"CHICAGO'S BROOKFIELD ZOO WILL CONDUCT A LARGE-SCALE, MULTI-INSTITUTIONAL STUDY TO ADDRESS THE WELFARE OF CETACEANS IN ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS AND TO UNDERSTAND HOW PHYSICAL HABITAT, ENVIRONMENTAL ENRICHMENT, AND ANIMAL TRAINING INFLUENCE THE WELFARE OF BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH 39 ACCREDITED ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS, THE BROOKFIELD ZOO WILL GATHER DATA FROM 336 COMMON AND INDO-PACIFIC BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS, 21 BELUGAS, AND NINE PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHINS. THE FIRST COMPONENT OF THE PROJECT WILL COMPILE PHYSIOLOGICAL HEALTH DATA FROM THE THREE STUDY SPECIES. THE SECOND COMPONENT WILL IDENTIFY FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE WELFARE OF BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS BY APPLYING A SCIENTIFIC APPROACH WITH TARGETED RESEARCH QUESTIONS COMMONLY ASKED WITHIN INSTITUTIONS. TO STRENGTHEN THE INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS, THE STUDY WILL MEASURE WELFARE ACROSS THREE DIMENSIONS: ACTIVITY AND MOVEMENT; BEHAVIOR; AND PHYSIOLOGY. THE PROJECT UNITES CETACEAN-HOLDING ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS IN A TIMELY EFFORT TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO PROVIDE CETACEANS WITH THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF CARE DIRECTED BY SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE."

THE BROOKFIELD ZOO WILL PARTNER WITH SIX ZOOS TO ESTABLISH THE ZOO AND AQUARIUM RADIOLOGY DATABASE, A CENTRALIZED DATABASE OF RADIOLOGY IMAGES. PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS WILL CONTRIBUTE MORE THAN 65,000 RADIOGRAPHIC AND CT/MRI STUDIES, AND A DATABASE MANAGER AND SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT TEAM WILL CODE EACH STUDY WITH PARAMETERS SUCH AS SPECIES, AGE, SEX, AND HEALTH STATUS. USERS WILL ACCESS THE DATABASE THROUGH A WEB BROWSER, ENABLING VETERINARIANS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE TO SEARCH FOR ANONYMIZED IMAGES THAT SUPPORT DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF DISEASE. THE DATABASE WILL CREATE A FOUNDATION THAT ENABLES FURTHER DISEASE RESEARCH, EVALUATION OF POPULATION HEALTH, AND INTEGRATION WITH MEDICAL RECORD KEEPING SOFTWARE, SUPPORTING THE CONTINUED STEWARDSHIP OF LIVING COLLECTIONS AND SPECIES SUSTAINABILITY.

RCN: USING METAMODELS TO ENABLE TRANSDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH FOR THE STUDY OF DYNAMIC BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS UNDER GLOBAL CHANGE

NATIONAL LEADERSHIP GRANTS - MUSEUMS

NATIONAL LEADERSHIP GRANTS

NATIONAL LEADERSHIP GRANTS - MUSEUMS

THE CHICAGO ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY?WHICH OPERATES THE BROOKFIELD ZOO?WILL DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT AN INCLUSION CAPACITY-BUILDING PROGRAM FOR ZOO STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS IN THE CONSERVATION, EDUCATION, AND TRAINING DEPARTMENT. AN INCLUSION PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT WILL JOIN A TEAM OF STAFF MEMBERS TO CREATE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING IN INCLUSIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION. A ZOO FOR ALL ADVISORY COUNCIL AND INCLUSIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS AFFINITY GROUP WILL PROVIDE PROGRAM FEEDBACK. THIS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING PROGRAM WILL ALLOW THE INSTITUTION TO BETTER MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL ITS AUDIENCES.

THE BROOKFIELD ZOO WILL BUILD THE CAPACITY OF K-12 EDUCATORS TO ADVANCE CONSERVATION LEADERSHIP THROUGH STUDENT-CENTERED, INQUIRY-BASED INSTRUCTION WITH MULTI-DISCIPLINARY CONNECTIONS. BUILDING ON A PILOT TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, THIS PHASE OF THE PROJECT WILL DEVELOP A SUSTAINABLE AND ROBUST MODEL THROUGH OUTREACH TO EXPAND THE EDUCATOR APPLICANT POOL, ESPECIALLY AMONG THOSE WHO TEACH IN SCHOOLS WITH LOW-INCOME POPULATIONS. PROJECT ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE REVISING AND DEVELOPING TRAINING CURRICULUM; IMPLEMENTING EIGHT COHORTS FOR TEACHERS OF GRADES K-5 AND 6-12; AND IMPLEMENTING A SERIES OF NETWORKING EVENTS FOR PROGRAM ALUMNI. ZOO STAFF WILL ALSO OFFER ONE-HOUR VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP PREPARATION WORKSHOPS FREE OF CHARGE TO ALL EDUCATORS. THE PROJECT WILL BE EVALUATED USING AN IN-HOUSE ANALYSIS TOOL OF THE RUBRIC DATA.

THE BROOKFIELD ZOO WILL DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IN EVALUATION CAPACITY BUILDING FOR THE ZOO'S CONSERVATION, EDUCATION, AND TRAINING DEPARTMENT MANAGERS. THE TRAINING WILL FOCUS ON BUILDING THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROLE OF FRONT-END, FORMATIVE, AND SUMMATIVE EVALUATION; UNDERSTANDING HOW LOGIC MODELS SUPPORT PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND FRAME EVALUATION; INTEREST IN BEING A PARTNER IN EVALUATION; INTEREST IN EVALUATION-BASED PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT; CONFIDENCE TO APPLY EVALUATION FINDINGS; AND CONFIDENCE TO CONSTRUCT AND USE LOGIC MODELS. THE PROJECT IS DESIGNED TO BUILD MANAGERS CAPACITY TO BE PARTNERS WITH THE ORGANIZATION'S PROFESSIONAL RESEARCHERS AND EVALUATORS IN ORDER TO BOLSTER THEIR ABILITY TO DEVELOP OUTCOMES-FOCUSED PROGRAMS AND ACT ON EVALUATION FINDINGS. THE ZOO'S PUBLISHED FRAMEWORK FOR EDUCATOR ENGAGEMENT IN PROGRAM EVALUATION WILL PROVIDE THE GROUNDWORK FOR PROJECT ACTIVITIES.

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: TOWARDS UNDERSTANDING COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOR IN HIGHLY INTELLIGENT ANIMALS -ACOUSTIC COMMUNICATION CAN BRING INDIVIDUALS TOGETHER, COORDINATE ACTIVITIES, AND MAINTAIN OR END ASSOCIATIONS. HOWEVER, THE PRECISE ROLE PLAYED BY SOUND IN MEDIATING BOTH PHYSICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF MEMBERS OF THEIR FLUID GROUPS HAS NOT BEEN UNCOVERED. THIS IS IN LARGE PART DUE TO 1) AN INABILITY TO SIMULTANEOUSLY MONITOR INDIVIDUAL VOCALIZATIONS, THE RESULTING MOVEMENT OF BOTH FOCAL AND CONSPECIFIC ANIMALS DURING HIGHLY DYNAMIC BEHAVIOR, AND THE PHYSIOLOGY OF THE ANIMALS; AND 2) THE LACK OF A PHYSICS-BASED MODEL OF HOW THE ANIMALS PERCEIVE SOUND IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT. TO DATE, SCIENTISTS HAVE TENDED TO INVESTIGATE HOW INDIVIDUAL-SPECIFIC SIGNATURE WHISTLES ARE USED FOR IDENTIFICATION, HOW SIGNATURE WHISTLES ARE USED AS CONTACT CALLS, HOW ACOUSTIC FEATURES MAY INDICATE STRESS LEVELS AND HOW ONE DOLPHIN MAY COPY THE SIGNATURE WHISTLE OF ANOTHER TO INITIATE AN INTERACTION. HOWEVER, HOW THE ANIMALS PERCEIVE ACOUSTIC INFORMATION DURING COORDINATED MOVEMENT IS STILL AN OPEN QUESTION. FURTHER, THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE RESULTING BEHAVIOR AND EMOTIONAL STATE OF THE ANIMAL IS NOT WELL UNDERSTOOD. UNCOVERING HOW THE PERCEPTION OF ACOUSTIC INFORMATION DRIVES COMPLEX COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOR REQUIRES A NEW FRAMEWORK TO COLLECT, ANALYZE, AND SYNTHESIZE DATA FROM MULTIPLE DOLPHINS AT THE SAME TIME. THIS INCLUDES A NEW UNDERSTANDING OF HOW ANIMALS SELECT, ORGANIZE, AND INTERPRET ACOUSTIC INFORMATION IN A SYSTEM WHERE MULTIPLE SIGNALS CAN OCCUR SIMULTANEOUSLY AND IN A COMPLEX ACOUSTIC ENVIRONMENT. TO THIS END, THIS AWARD WILL COMBINE EXPERIMENTAL MEASUREMENTS OF SOUND AND MOVEMENT WITH PHYSICS-BASED MODELS OF ACOUSTIC PERCEPTION AND ANIMAL SWIMMING MECHANICS TO GENERATE NEW KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HOW CONTEXT DRIVES OBSERVED GROUP MOVEMENT PATTERNS. LEVERAGING THIS APPROACH, THE INVESTIGATORS WILL CREATE FIRST OF THEIR KIND MAPS BETWEEN OBSERVED ANIMAL MOVEMENT/ACOUSTICS AND EMOTIONAL STATE USING PHYSIOLOGICAL MEASUREMENTS COLLECTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH CONTROLLED BEHAVIORAL EXPERIMENTS. THIS EFFORT WILL GENERATE NEW KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HOW COORDINATED BEHAVIOR IS INFLUENCED BY ENVIRONMENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL CONTEXT, HOW THE PHYSICS OF THE ACOUSTIC ENVIRONMENT INFLUENCES COMMUNICATION, AND HOW ACOUSTIC INFORMATION IS USED TO COORDINATE COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOR. INTELLECTUAL MERIT OF THE AWARD STEMS FROM THE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR?S EFFORTS TO: (1) USE A PHYSICS-BASED MODEL OF ACOUSTIC PERCEPTION TO GENERATE A NEW UNDERSTANDING OF COLLECTIVE DOLPHIN BEHAVIOR; (2) ENABLE THE FUNDAMENTAL SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING OF HOW BEHAVIOR AND FEATURES FROM VOCAL CUES CAN BE USED TO IDENTIFY PHYSIOLOGICAL AND EMOTIONAL STATE OF THE ANIMAL; (3) CREATE DYNAMIC MOVEMENT PROFILES FROM INDIVIDUAL ANIMALS TO PROVIDE NEW KNOWLEDGE ABOUT INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP BIOMECHANICS DURING COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOR; AND (4) INVESTIGATE HOW A SPECIALIZED ACOUSTIC SIGNAL, A WHISTLE WITH LEARNED INDIVIDUALLY DISTINCTIVE FEATURES, IS USED TO FACILITATE BEHAVIORAL INTERACTIONS. NEW KNOWLEDGE DERIVED FROM THE RESEARCH WILL IMPACT THE AREAS OF PHYSICS-BASED MODELING, BIOLOGGING, COMMUNICATION, ANIMAL BEHAVIOR, ANIMAL WELFARE, CONSERVATION, AND ACOUSTICS. THIS AWARD WILL GENERATE NEW KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HOW VOCAL COMMUNICATION, WITH INFLUENCE FROM EMOTIVE STATE, FACILITATES COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOR IN BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS. AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW INFORMATION ENCODED IN VOCAL CUES IS USED TO COORDINATE BEHAVIOR WILL IMPROVE OUR FUNDAMENTAL UNDERSTANDING OF DOLPHINS. THE RESULTING ABILITY TO ESTIMATE EMOTIONAL STATE NON-INVASIVELY FROM ACOUSTIC PARAMETERS OF CALLS AND OBSERVED MOVEMENT WILL IMPACT ANIMAL WELFARE AND CONSERVATION IN MANAGED AND WILD SETTINGS. THE TEAM OF RESEARCHERS WILL ALSO HAVE IMPACT THROUGH A MULTI-TIERED EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAM, WITH A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON RECRUITING TALENTED INDIVIDUALS FROM A VARIETY OF NON-DOMINANT FIELDS IN STEM. K-12 EDUCATION AND PUBLIC OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES IN THE GREATER CHICAGOLAND AREA WILL LEVERAGE EXISTING RESOURCES AT BROOKFIELD. THIS COLLABORATION WILL CREATE OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE AND SHARE NEW KNOWLEDGE GENERATED BY THE PROJECT ABOUT THESE IMPORTANT BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, AND AID IN THE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF CETACEANS IN GENERAL. AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, THIS NOVEL ENGINEERING PROJECT FOR THE STUDY OF AN ENGAGING BIOLOGICAL SYSTEM WILL BE USED TO RECRUIT STUDENTS FROM A DIVERSE AND UNDERREPRESENTED POOL OF STUDENTS OUTSIDE OF THE TRADITIONAL TRACK. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.- SUBAWARDS ARE NOT PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

THE BROOKFIELD ZOO WILL LAUNCH THE ZOO EXPLORERS CLUB TO PROVIDE UNDERSERVED MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH FREE INFORMAL STEM EDUCATION IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND COMMUNITY CENTERS IN MAJORITY AFRICAN AMERICAN AND LATINO NEIGHBORHOODS IN CHICAGO, CICERO, AND MELROSE PARK, ILLINOIS. THE PROGRAM WILL CONSIST OF TWO FOUR-WEEK UNITS PER YEAR, THEMED AROUND STEM TOPICS OF INTEREST TO SIXTH-EIGHTH GRADERS. STUDENTS WILL PARTICIPATE IN INFORMAL SESSIONS THAT INCLUDE HANDS-ON SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS, OUTDOOR OBSERVATIONS, CRAFT PROJECTS, OR ANIMAL EXPERIENCES DESIGNED WITH THE VARIED LEARNING STYLES OF MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IN MIND. STUDENTS WILL ALSO PARTICIPATE IN A FREE FIELD TRIP TO A ZOO, NATURE CENTER, MUSEUM, OR OTHER DESTINATION RELATED TO THE UNIT TOPIC. THE CURRICULUM WILL BE DESIGNED TO FACILITATE SCIENCE LEARNING THROUGH INQUIRY FOR UP TO 180 STUDENTS PER YEAR, AND EMPOWER YOUNG PEOPLE TO SEE THEMSELVES AS AGENTS OF CONSERVATION SOLUTIONS.

21ST CENTURY MUSEUM PROFESSIONALS PROGRAM

MUSEUMS FOR AMERICA

MUSEUMS FOR AMERICA

MUSEUMS FOR AMERICA

MUSEUMS FOR AMERICA

MUSEUMS FOR AMERICA

MUSEUMS FOR AMERICA

MUSEUMS FOR AMERICA

DOLPHIN INTERVENTIONS IN THE NORTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO

PURPOSE: SMALL CETACEAN INTERVENTION AND POST-RELEASE MONITORING SERVICES PROJECTS OBJECTIVES: THE OVERALL GOAL IS TO PROVIDE SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE U.S. TO FACILITATE INTERVENTIONS AND RELEASES FOR INJURED, OUT-OF-HABITAT, OR STRANDED SMALL CETACEANS, AND OBTAIN HIGH-QUALITY DATA FROM POST-RELEASE FOLLOW-UP MONITORING, USING THE BEST AVAILABLE TECHNIQUES AND EQUIPMENT, TO PROVIDE TRAINING TO ENHANCE CAPACITY, AND TO DISSEMINATE FINDINGS. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES INCLUDE: 1. OBTAIN, PREPARE, MAINTAIN, AND DISTRIBUTE A SUPPLY OF ELECTRONIC TAGS FOR POST-RELEASE MONITORING AND TRACKING OF INJURED, OUT-OF- HABITAT, OR STRANDED, REHABILITATED, AND RELEASED SMALL CETACEANS THROUGHOUT THE U.S. 2. ASSIST STRANDING NETWORK MEMBERS WITH PREPARATION OF INTERVENTION AND/OR RELEASE PLANS, INCLUDING SELECTION OF RELEASE SITES AND METHODOLOGIES FOR FOLLOW-UP MONITORING. THIS INCLUDES MAINTAINING THE GULF OF MEXICO DOLPHIN IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM (GOMDIS) AS A MEANS FOR POTENTIALLY DETERMINING THE SITES OF ORIGINS OF STRANDED DOLPHINS, AND THEREFORE THE MOST APPROPRIATE RELEASE SITES. 3. ASSIST STRANDING NETWORK MEMBERS WITH INTERVENTIONS BY PROVIDING EXPERIENCED STAFF AS CATCH LEADS, TAGGERS, ETC. AS REQUESTED BY NOAA AND/OR STRANDING NETWORK MEMBERS. 4. ENHANCE CAPACITY OF STRANDING NETWORK FOR TAGGING BY OFFERING GUIDANCE AND TRAINING TO STRANDING NETWORK MEMBERS ENGAGED IN POST-RELEASE MONITORING. 5. ASSIST STRANDING NETWORK MEMBERS WITH TRACKING, BY PROVIDING NECESSARY TRACKING EQUIPMENT, TRACKING SERVICES OR TRAINING IN TRACKING TECHNIQUES, AND ANALYSIS, INTERPRETATION, AND DISSEMINATION OF DATA FROM TAGS. 6. PROVIDE REGULAR REPORTS ON FOLLOW-UP MONITORING TO NMFS, STRANDING NETWORK MEMBERS, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED IN THE CASE, AND THE PUBLIC, AND ASSIST STRANDING NETWORK MEMBERS WITH DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLICATIONS SUMMARIZING CASE FINDINGS. 7. ENHANCE SAFE DOLPHIN HANDLING CAPACITY FOR THE NETWORK BY PROVIDING TRAINING/EXPERIENCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR POTENTIAL DOLPHIN CATCHERS, AND FOR VETERINARIANS, STRANDING RESPONSE PERSONNEL, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENTS, AND GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL DURING BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN HEALTH ASSESSMENT PROJECTS.

CONTINUATION OF A NATIONAL SERVICE CENTER FOR POST-RELEASE MONITORING OF SMALL CETACEANS

CONTINUATION OF A NATIONAL SERVICE CENTER FOR POST-RELEASE MONITORING OF SMALL CETACEANS

EVALUATION OF TAG ATTACHMENTS ON SMALL CETACEANS

POST-RELEASE MONITORING OF INJURED OR STRANDED CETACEANS IN FLORIDA

THE BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN (TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS) AS A MODEL TO UNDERSTAND VARIATION IN STRESS AND REPRODUCTIVE HORMONE MEASURES IN RELATION TO SAMPLING MA

THE BROOKFIELD ZOO WILL EXAMINE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BEHAVIORAL DIVERSITY AND OTHER INDICATORS OF ANIMAL WELFARE SUCH AS MARKERS OF ADRENAL ACTIVITY AND STEREOTYPIC BEHAVIOR. THE PROJECT TEAM WILL CONDUCT RESEARCH WITH A SUBSET OF BROOKFIELD ZOO MAMMALS REPRESENTING MANY TAXONOMIC GROUPS AND COLLECT BEHAVIORAL DATA AND SAMPLES OVER A THREE-MONTH PERIOD FROM 30 INDIVIDUAL ANIMALS REPRESENTING 10 MAMMAL SPECIES. IF BEHAVIORAL DIVERSITY COULD BE VALIDATED AS AN INDICATOR OF POSITIVE WELFARE, ANIMAL CARE STAFF WILL HAVE A NEW TOOL TO USE FOR WELFARE MONITORING. WITH THE LINK BETWEEN ANIMAL WELFARE AND REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS, ENSURING HIGH LEVELS OF WELFARE WILL HELP ENSURE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE COLLECTION AND ALLOW THE ZOO TO BETTER SERVE ITS ANIMALS AND THE PUBLIC.

2009 CHICAGO ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY DOLPHIN RESEARCH PROGRAM ASSESSING POST-RELEASE SUCCESS OF REHABILITATED ODONTOCETE CETACEANS

CHICAGO ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY: PARTNERSHIP FOR INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION & CONSERVATION LEADERSHIP

A NATIONAL SERVICE CENTER FOR POST-RELEASE MONITORING OF SMALL CETACEANS

NATIONAL LEADERSHIP GRANTS

POST-RELEASE MONITORING OF INJURED OR STRANDED CETACEANS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN U.S.

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: EAGER: ZOO-BASED NETWORK SCIENCE EXPERIMENTATION AND MODELING

SUPPORT FOR THE SOCIETY FOR MARINE MAMMALOGY'S 19TH BIENNIAL CONFERENCE ON THE BIOLOGY OF MARINE MAMMALS

SPONSORSHIP OF THE SOCIETY FOR MARINE MAMMALOGYS 19TH BIENNIAL CONFERENCE ON THE BIOLOGY OF MARINE MAMMALS

GULF OF MEXICO DOLPHIN IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM (GOMDIS) TO MONITOR BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN POPULATIONS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE-SPECIAL PROJECT NEIGHBORHOOD INITIATIVE AND MISCELLANEOUS GRANTS