Science Catalyst Grants

Credit: LSST-DA/T. Licul

Science Catalyst Grants (formerly known as “Enabling Science Grants”) have been a mainstay of LSST Discovery Alliance (LSST-DA) support for the Rubin LSST community since 2015.

Initially supported by gifts from Microsoft visionaries Bill Gates and Charles Simonyi, these grants help the community maximize the scientific impact of Rubin Observatory’s LSST by supporting bold ideas, inclusive participation, and interdisciplinarity. 

Call for Proposals

Details of the 2024 Call for Proposals will be announced in early 2024. We will publicize announcements here and through Rubin Observatory community networks. We strive to create an inclusive program and particularly encourage applications from students from traditionally underrepresented groups in astronomy.

Program Success

This program prioritizes engagement with students and early career researchers and is designed to provide low barrier of entry playgrounds for innovation, science community impact, and new scientific networks. It has:

  • paved the way for new ideas to turn into enduring programs
  • enabled new scientific ideas to be explored
  • invited new people to the Rubin LSST scientific table 
  • supported undergraduate and graduate student training

Specific examples of success include:

  • The original 2015 grant supporting Data Science Fellowship Program (DSP) – Now in its eighth year,  the DSFP is a highly oversubscribed grad student training program with applicants from around the world
  • Grants to send students to present their work at scientific meetings – Now an annual summer student program that engages a diverse set of students in cohort building, networking, and training
  • Support for the LSST@Europe meeting series
  • Support for dozens of scientific conferences and collaboration meetings

Past Grant Awardees

Learn about the exciting work of our past grant awardees.

Award Reporting Guidelines

LSST-DA does not offer administrative and/or logistical support for these awards. Awardees are responsible for the acceptance and management of LSSTC grant funds. See the grantee responsibilities. All awards are made in one lump sum, with the recipient responsible for managing the funds. We require a Final Report and a Financial Report submitted by the proposal team after the event has taken place. Required documents include: