The School of Science is pleased to launch a two-year pilot Science Quality of Life (SQoL) program designed to build community within the school, promote inclusiveness for students, staff, and faculty of diverse identities, backgrounds, and abilities, and support the physical, emotional, and intellectual well-being of our community members. The program’s goals are to:

  • Provide faculty, staff and students opportunities to interact and socialize outside of the current research driven seminar series and other department-based events.
  • Integrate academic and social aspects of life within the School.
  • Improve communications and outreach.
  • Build collaborations and connections with other community groups on campus.

The SQoL program encourages projects that have wide appeal among school community members, but will also consider proposals that focus on specific groups if they cut across existing departmental and programmatic lines. Projects need not be ambitious in scope, so long as they encourage positive connections within the community. The program will consider proposals of all sizes, but generally caps projects at $3,000 per year. In addition, proposals that have matching funds from other sources will be viewed favorably by the selection committee.

Please contact Heather Williams at 617-253-8904 or scienceqol@mit.edu for additional information.

Proposal process and guidelines

Proposals are reviewed and funded four times a year with notifications made within 30 days of the submission deadlines noted below:

July 15th deadline for fall semester funding
December 14th for spring semester funding
April 15th for summer funding

Please be sure to include the following information in your proposal:

  • Detailed description of the event or activity
  • Rationale for how this will build community within the School
  • Clarify that the effort is achievable within the proposed time frame and budget
  • Explain how your proposal makes a difference in the quality of life of participants.
  • A list of the types of people who you expect to attend the event (faculty, staff, students, with their affiliated units)
  • A detailed budget.
    • Please note: In general, funding will not cover equipment (cameras, computers, furniture). Proposals for house parties or research will not be considered. In addition, these funds cannot support charities. Proposal authors are expected to volunteer their time; stipends for the organizing team will not be considered.

After funding

Grant recipients will be asked to submit a summary report at the end of the semester describing their planning, activities, schedule, budget, and community participation and impact. We would also appreciate any photos of your events or activities, if available!

Apply for funding

Please enter the names of any co-applicants, their affiliated units, and contact information including email. Proposal authors are expected to volunteer their time; stipends for the organizing team will not be considered for funding.

Implementation plan

Please include a detailed implementation plan below, including a timeline for planning, your publicity plan, target audiences, and a detailed budget. and estimated time frames for events.
(Check all that apply)
If there are specific event dates (e.g. a kickoff event, seminar series, final presentations), please note those above.
Please let us know any additional information that will help the selection committee evaluate your proposal.
​Have you:
  • Demonstrated how your proposal will build community within the school?
  • Explained how your proposal makes a difference in the quality of life of participants?
  • Clarified that your proposal is achievable within the proposed time frame and budget?
The selection committee will consider proposals of all sizes, but generally caps projects at $3K per year. Proposals that have matching funds from other sources will be viewed favorably by the selection committee.
Funding will not cover:
  • Equipment (cameras, computers, furniture)
  • Charities
  • House parties
  • Research projects
  • Stipends for the organizing team