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The National Science Foundation (NSF) supports fundamental research across
the entire range of science and engineering disciplines. NSF does not
operate laboratories. All of its funding is devoted to extramural research.
NSF makes approximately 20,000 awards per year -- through competitive
merit review -- to more than 2,000 colleges, universities, and other research
institutions in all parts of the U.S.
NSF supports research and education to enhance understanding of the complex
dynamics among natural and human systems; to generate knowledge needed
to preserve, manage, and enhance the environment; and to support national
and international policymaking activities.
NSF seeks to draw on the participation of relevant science and engineering
disciplines to promote interdisciplinary research necessary for improved
understanding of complex environmental and global change processes. To
accomplish these goals, NSF environment and natural resources activities
involve support of basic disciplinary research, focused interdisciplinary
research, and a broad range of educational and outreach functions that
cut across the entire portfolio of environment and natural resources scientific
interests.
Types of Environment and Natural Resources Research Supported
Examples of the types of research that NSF contributes to the U.S. Global
Change Research Program (USGCRP) follow: Research on climate processes
and interactions, and seasonal to interannual variability; monitoring
and research on ozone depletion and ultraviolet (UV) radiation; modeling
of oceanic, atmospheric, vegetative, economic, and other components of
the whole Earth system as well as research to integrate those components
in an integrated assessment framework; research on ecological diversity,
ecosystem dynamics, and terrestrial ecology; and research on the human
dimensions of global change, including research on social dynamics, human
interactions, and influences, as well as research on policy sciences and
options for responding to environmental change.
NSF has also been serving as a major catalyst for related research on
other important environment and natural resources issues within the context
of the CENR. NSF actively supports research activities across a broad
spectrum of scientific disciplines to address issues related to the preservation,
management, and enhancement of the environment. Several specific areas
of interest include air quality, biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics,
environmental technology, natural disaster reduction, water and watersheds
research, and risk assessment.
The Directorates for Biological Sciences (BIO); Education and Human Resources
(EHR); Engineering (ENG); Geosciences (GEO); Mathematics and Physical
Sciences (MPS); and Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE); and
the Office of Polar Programs (OPP) all contribute to environment and natural
resources activities. International research activities can be supported
by any of the directorates; those involving collaboration with international
partners are also eligible for support from the Division of International
Programs (INT). The combined environment and natural resources activities
seek to encourage scientific understanding of our environment through
support of unsolicited investigator-initiated research and activities
in the following categories:
- Understanding Fundamental Processes: The bulk of
environment and natural resources support helps fund research efforts
focused on understanding fundamental processes involved in physical
system, biological system, and human system interactions. These analyses
might include any disciplinary or interdisciplinary effort that seeks
to deepen or broaden understanding of different elements or interactions
of a particular system. Research that focuses on the interactions among
those systems is also supported. Several examples of environment and
global change basic research focused on the understanding of fundamental
processes include ecosystem dynamics, cell function, atmospheric chemistry,
political or economic institutional processes, chemical and biogeochemical
dynamics, Earth system history, solar influences, and the study of the
interactions responsible for the ozone hole. Many other fields of research
contribute to the understanding of fundamental processes.
- Observation Systems and Data Management: These activities
include long-term observation platforms supported by NSF (e.g., long-term
ecological research sites, the National Center for Ecological Analysis
and Synthesis, seismic networks, ocean lines, and other facilities and
activities to promote the continuous and continued collection of relevant
data sets). In order to support and facilitate environment and global
change research by individual scientists, NSF also provides funds for
the maintenance and management of important databases such as climatic
data bases at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and
other networks or activities to encourage access, maintenance, and sharing
of data.
- Modeling Activities: To enhance understanding of
Earth, biological, and human systems and processes, NSF also supports
diverse modeling activities. This emphasis includes research on modeling
approaches, model enhancement, and model integration. Examples of modeling
activities supported by NSF include economic modeling, vegetative modeling,
weather and climate modeling, geochemical modeling and methods and models
for an integrated assessment program.
- Analysis and Development of Mitigation, Harm Avoidance, and
Response Options: This category includes research and analyses
of possible human and technological responses to environmental changes.
Examples of activities in this category include the study of economic
evaluation and impact methodologies, mitigation and risk assessment
approaches, policy sciences analysis to evaluate the tools and options
for decisionmakers, and engineered technologies to avoid, alleviate,
or minimize environmental harms.
- Education and Outreach: In addition to research activities,
NSF also seeks to advance science education and human resource capabilities.
NSF supports science education and science literacy related to the environment
using a diverse set of approaches. Other programs supported by EHR encourage
participation by traditionally under-represented groups and provision
of quality science education experiences for all students at all levels.
Among these are the science, mathematics, and engineering programs that
support graduate and undergraduate studies as well as programs designed
to enhance elementary, secondary, and informal educational opportunities.
- International Research Infrastructure: NSF environment
and natural resources programs also involve international collaborations,
participation in international scientific field experiments, research
networks, and coordination activities. For information on funding activities
through INT, request NSF Publication 96-14. In addition, NSF has been
the lead agency for the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research
(IAI) within the U.S. For additional information, contact Dr. Paul Filmer,
IAI Program Director, at 703.306.1515.
Research Funding Opportunities
General information on NSF-supported environment-related activities is
available in the NSF Guide to Programs (NSF Publication 95-138).
The NSF Grant Proposal Guide (NSF Publication 95-27) provides necessary
forms and information for the submission of proposals. Copies of either
publication can be requested by calling the NSF Publication Unit at 703.306.1130,
or by sending an Internet message to pubs@nsf.gov.
NSF also maintains a Home Page that provides similar program information
(http://www.nsf.gov). To access information
on NSF's environment and global change research opportunities, the extended
address is http://www.nsf. gov/stratare/egch.
A research opportunities guide for FY95-FY96 USGCRP-related NSF programs
is available in hard copy or on STIS. This publication (NSF 95-45) can
be requested from the Publications Unit. It provides basic information
on NSF global change opportunities similar to those available through
the environment and global change Home Page. These opportunities are supported
by multiple NSF programs in support of interdisciplinary and focused research
goals. Please note that one should contact the proper program officer
before submitting a proposal. Abbreviated descriptions on some of the
focused environment and natural resources research opportunities follow:
- Air Quality Research is conducted on air pollution, including
ambient air pollutants (oxidants and their precursors, sulfur dioxide,
nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and particulates), acid deposition
and its precursors, and indoor air.
Contact:
Jarvis Moyers/Division of Atmospheric Sciences, GEO
703.306.1522 (voice)
jmoyers@nsf.gov
- Antarctic Ecosystems interdisciplinary investigations of terrestrial,
limnetic, and marine ecosystems in Antarctica are conducted through
ecosystem monitoring and studies of long-term ecological responses to
global change at the Palmer Station LTER site.
Contacts:
Polly Penhale/Office of Polar Programs
703.306.1033 (voice)
ppenhale@nsf.gov
Dennis Peacock/Office of Polar Programs
dpeacock@nsf.gov
- Arctic Systems Sciences (ARCSS) interdisciplinary studies are
supported to understand the physical, geological, chemical, biological,
and social processes of the Arctic system that interact with the total
Earth system, therefore contribute to or are influenced by global change.
Contact:
Michael Ledbetter/Office of Polar Programs
703.306.1030 (voice)
mledbett@nsf.gov
- Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics research on biodiversity
includes population biology, biological surveys, habitat analysis, conservation
biology, and ecological dynamics. Also included are physiological and
biochemical ecology, genetic processes and responses, basic ecosystem
processes, and population/community responses to stress. Contacts:
Joann Roskoski/Division of Environmental Biology, BIO
703.306.1480 (voice)
jroskosk@nsf.gov
Clifford Dahm/Division of Environmental Biology, BIO
703.306.1479 (voice)
cdahm@nsf.gov
- Climate Modeling, Analysis, and Prediction (CMAP) supports
research leading to improved understanding and modeling of the processes
that affect climate variability and change. Priority is given to studies
that address issues related to coupling the atmosphere to its lower
boundaries -- the ocean, land surface, and cryosphere. Temporal and
spatial scales of interest are seasonal, interannual, decadal-to-centennial,
and regional-to-global.
Contact:
Jay Fein/Division of Atmospheric Sciences, GEO
703.306.1527 (voice)
jfein@nsf.gov
- Climate Variability and Predictability (CLIVAR) research goals
are to describe and understand the physical processes responsible for
climate variability and predictability on time scales ranging from seasonal
to centennial, and to extend the range and accuracy of seasonal to interannual
climate prediction through the development of global coupled models.
CLIVAR is organized around three areas: 1) Climate variability and predictability
from seasons to years, 2) climate change and the world ocean, and 3)
human impacts on climate.
Contacts:
Eric Itsweire/Division of Ocean Sciences, GEO
703.306.1583 (voice)
eitsweir@nsf.gov
Jay Fein, Division of Atmospheric Sciences, CEO
703.306.1527 (voice)
jfein@nsf.gov
- Earth System History (ESH) supports coordinated projects that
focus on the past behavior of the coupled Earth-ocean-atmosphere-biosphere
system conducted to provide insight into the factors that govern environmental
variability, rates of climate change, and large-scale responses to climate
forcing.
Contacts:
Herman Zimmerman/Division of Atmospheric Sciences, GEO
703.306.1527 (voice)
hzimmerm@nsf.gov
Bilal Haq/Division of Ocean Sciences, GEO
703.306.1586 (voice)
bhaq@nsf.gov
John Maccini/Division of Earth Sciences, GEO
703.306.1551 (voice)
jamaccin@nsf.gov
- Ecological Diversity research support is provided for interdisciplinary
activities that focus on the relationship between ecological processes
and biological diversity through improved understanding of total community
composition, survival and adaptation mechanisms, natural rates of change,
and human-caused changes such as exotic invasions, increased extinction
rates, and habitat loss. In FY96, the focused Terrestrial Ecological
Research Initiative (TECO) competition will be the primary contributor
to this program.
Contacts:
Scott Collins/Division of Environmental Biology, BIO
703.306.1479 (voice)
scollins@nsf.gov
Clifford Dahm/Division of Environmental Biology, BIO
cdahm@nsf.gov
- Ecological Rates of Change (EROC) research is supported for
projects studying the effects of both natural and human-induced changes
on ecological processes, specifically how human-induced global change
affects ecological rates of change.
Contact:
Scott Collins/Division of Environmental Biology, BIO
703.306.1479 (voice)
scollins@nsf.gov
- Environmental Remediation research is aimed at the discovery
and application of solid, liquid, and gaseous discharges to land, water
and air that impair their resource value. Special emphasis is on innovative
biological, chemical, and physical processes used alone -- or as components
of engineered systems -- to restore polluted land, water, and air resources
to useful quality.
Contact:
Edward Bryan/Division of Bioengineering and Environmental Systems, ENG
703.306.1318 (voice)
ebryan@nsf.gov
- Environmental Technology research support is provided to assess
any environmental technology (including hardware and software), system,
or service -- the primary purpose of which is to reduce residual risk
or cost, and/or to improve process efficiency. This research area includes
avoidance of environmental harm, pollution prevention, control, monitoring
and assessment, and restoration.
Contacts:
Margaret Cavanaugh/Division of Chemistry, MPS
703.306.1842 (voice)
mcavanau@nsf.gov
Robert Wellek/Division of Chemical and Transport Systems, ENG
703.306.1370 (voice)
rwellek@nsf.gov
Norman Caplan/Division of Bioengineering and Environmental Systems,
ENG
703.306.1318 (voice)
ncaplan@nsf.gov
- Geosystem Databases (GEODATA) are assembled, documented, archived,
and disseminated, in cooperation with other agencies, to understand
global change processes and to develop and validate Earth system models.
Contact:
Jay Fein/Division of Atmospheric Sciences, GEO
703.306.1527 (voice)
jfein@nsf.gov
- Global and Environmental Education curriculum development and
teacher and faculty enhancement are supported for elementary and secondary
grades (K-12), for undergraduate education, and for informal education
outside the classroom. Graduate fellowships are available in all areas
supported by NSF, including global environmental education.
Contacts:
M. Patricia Morse/Division of Elementary, Secondary, and Informal
Education, EHR
703.306.1666 (voice)
mpmorse@nsf.gov
Herbert Levitan/Division of Undergraduate Education, EHR
hlevitan@nsf.gov
Susan W. Duby, Division of Graduate Education, EHR
703.306.1694 (voice)
sduby@nsf.gov
- Global Ocean Ecosystems Dynamics (GLOBEC) supports research
and analysis of the impact of changes in the global environment on marine
ecosystems, with special emphasis placed on the mechanisms that determine
the variability of marine animal populations.
Contact:
Phillip Taylor/Division of Ocean Sciences, GEO
703.306.1587 (voice)
prtaylor@nsf.gov
- Global Tropospheric Chemistry Program (GTCP) supports research
that measures, analyzes, and predicts changes in the chemistry of the
global atmosphere, with emphasis placed on changes affecting the radiative
processes and oxidizing capacity of the atmosphere and the atmospheric
components of biogeochemical cycles.
Contacts:
Jarvis Moyers/Division of Atmospheric Sciences, GEO
703.306.1522 (voice)
jmoyers@nsf.gov
Margaret Cavanaugh/Division of Chemistry, MPS
703.306.1842 (voice)
mcavanau@nsf.gov
- Greenhouse Gas Dynamics (GGD) research is conducted to analyze
interactions of greenhouse gases with light, other atmospheric gases,
surfaces, and other relevant substances and the complex natural and
industrial processes that lead to greenhouse gas production and release.
Contact:
Margaret Cavanaugh/Division of Chemistry, MPS
703.306.1842 (voice)
mcavanau@nsf.gov
- Human Dimensions of Global Change (HDGC) analyses are conducted
of both direct human activity and indirect social, structural, and institutional
issues related to the complex interactions among human and natural systems
in a dynamic framework.
Contacts:
Robin Cantor/Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic
Research
703.306.1757 (voice)
rcantor@nsf.gov
Cheryl Eavey/Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Research
703.306.1729 (voice)
ceavey@nsf.gov
J.W. Harrington/Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Research
703.306.1754 (voice)
jwharrin@nsf.gov
- Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS) , through international
collaboration, analyzes key elements of the ocean carbon cycle and their
atmospheric connections.
Contact:
Phillip Taylor/Division of Ocean Sciences, GEO
703.306.1587(voice)
prtaylor@nsf.gov
- Land Margin Ecosystems Research (LMER) studies the organization
and function of land-margin ecosystems, linkages among these systems
and nearby terrestrial and marine systems, and the impacts of major
natural perturbations.
Contacts:
Scott Collins/Division of Environmental Biology, BIO
703.306.1479 (voice)
scollins@nsf.gov
Phillip Taylor, Division of Ocean Sciences, GEO
703.306.1587 (voice)
prtaylor@nsf.gov
- Methods and Models for Integrated Assessments (MMIA) research
serves to design models and study other methods for undertaking comprehensive
assessments that improve predictive understandings of the human and
natural dimensions of global change, with special attention given to
improving the reliability of methods that can be used to assess the
feasibility and impacts of policies for adapting to or mitigating global
change.
Contacts:
Robin Cantor/Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences
703.306.1757 (voice)
rcantor@nsf.gov
Keith Crank/Directorate for Mathematics and Physical Sciences
703.306.1885 (voice)
kcrank@nsf.gov
Jay Fein/Division of Atmospheric Sciences, GEO
703.306.1527 (voice)
jfein@nsf.gov
Bernie Lettau/Office of Polar Programs
703.306.1033 (voice)
blettau@nsf.gov
J. Thomas Callahan/Directorate for Biological Sciences
703.306.1479 (voice)
jcallaha@nsf.gov
- Natural Hazard Reduction researches the causes and effects
of natural hazards, societal and behavioral responses, and the means
for reducing their impacts, including weather-related hazards (storms,
hurricanes, typhoons, tornadoes, floods, droughts), geological hazards
(volcanoes, earthquakes), and wildfires. NSF is a participant in the
interagency U.S. Weather Research Program, the National Space Weather
Program, and the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP).
Contacts:
Eleonora Sabadell/Division of Civil and Mechanical Systems, ENG
703.306.1362 (voice)
esabadel@nsf.gov
Jim Whitcomb/Division of Earth Sciences, GEO
703.306.1556 (voice)
jwhitcom@nsf.gov
Robin Cantor/Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Research
703.306.1757 (voice)
rcantor@nsf.gov
S. Nelson/U.S. Weather Research Program
703.306.1526 (voice)
snelson@nsf.gov
R. Behnke/National Space Weather Program
703.306.1518 (voice)
rbehnke@nsf.gov
- Polar Ozone Depletion/UV Radiation Effects laboratory studies
of detailed chemical processes, field observations of concentrations
and distribution of chemical species, and improvements in modeling of
stratospheric chemistry and dynamics are supported, along with research
that focuses on the effects of enhanced UV radiation.
Contacts:
Polly Penhale/Office of Polar Programs
703.306.1033 (voice)
ppenhale@nsf.gov
Dennis Peacock/Office of Polar Programs
dpeacock@nsf.gov
- Resource Use and Management supports research on the management,
conservation, and extraction of renewable resources (terrestrial and
marine ecosystems, including grasslands, wetlands, fisheries, and forests)
and non- renewable resources (oil gas, minerals, and coal).
Contact:
Scott Collins/Division of Environmental Biology, BIO
703.306.1479 (voice)
scollins@nsf.gov
- Ridge Interdisciplinary Global Experiments (RIDGE) research
focuses on the physical, chemical, and biological causes and consequences
of energy transfer through time and space between the mid-ocean ridge
volcanic system and the ocean environment.
Contacts:
David Epp/Division of Ocean Sciences, GEO
703.306.1586 (voice)
depp@nsf.gov
Philip Taylor/Division of Ocean Sciences, GEO
703.306.1587 (voice)
prtaylor@nsf.gov
- Sea Level Changes includes scientific observations and analyses
undertaken to improve understanding of the trend in absolute sea level
over decadal time frames, and how local and regional tectonics may counter
or amplify worldwide sea-level change.
Contact:
Michael Mayhew/Division of Earth Sciences, GEO
703.306.1556 (voice)
mmayhew@nsf.gov
- Solar Influences research is supported on aspects of the Earth's
space environment that are most important to global change, including
the coupling, energetics, and dynamics of atmospheric regions; geospace
environment modeling; and radiative inputs of the Sun to Earth.
Contact:
Richard Behnke/Division of Atmospheric Sciences, GEO
703.306.1518 (voice)
rbehnke@nsf.gov
- Toxic Substances/Solid and Hazardous Waste involves research
on environmental toxicants (e.g., pesticides, oil spills, hazardous
waste, and solid waste), including physical analyses, fate and transport,
dose response studies, exposure modeling, epidemiology studies, waste
prevention, minimization, recycling, and cleanup.
Contacts:
Margaret Cavanaugh/Division of Chemistry, MPS
703.306.1842 (voice)
mcavanau@nsf.gov
Robert Wellek/Division of Chemical and Transport Systems, ENG
703.306.1370 (voice)
rwellek@nsf.gov
- Water and Energy: Atmosphere, Vegetative, and Earth Interactions
(WEAVE) research is supported to gain better understanding of energy
and water in climate processes and to clarify how the atmosphere, surface
hydrologic, and biotic processes maintain the global energy balance
and feedback to the overall climate system.
Contacts:
Scott Collins/Division of Environmental Biology, BIO
703.306.1479 (voice)
scollins@nsf.gov
Pamela Stephens/Division of Atmospheric Sciences, GEO
703.306.1528 (voice)
pstephen@nsf.gov
L. Douglas James/Division of Earth Sciences, GEO
703.306.1549 (voice)
ldjames@nsf.gov
- Water Resources/Coastal and Marine Environments research focuses
on water quality and quantity, integrated watershed management, and
coastal and marine systems, including the protection, utilization, and
enhancement of water and coastal and marine resources.
Contacts:
Penny Firth/Division of Environmental Biology, BIO
703.306.1480 (voice)
pfirth@nsf.gov
Norm Caplan/Division of Bioengineering and Environmental Systems, ENG
703.306.1320 (voice)
ncaplan@nsf.gov
- World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE) observations are
made and analyses are conducted to understand global ocean circulation
well enough to model its present state, predict its evolution, and relate
changes to long term climatic change.
Contact:
Richard Lambert/Division of Ocean Sciences, GEO
703.306.1583 (voice)
rlambert@nsf.gov
FY96 Funding Opportunities
The following publications describe special funding opportunities related
to NSF environment and global change in FY96. These publications are available
through STIS and the Home Page, or can be requested from the NSF Publications
Unit at 703.306.1130 (voice) or pubs@nsf.gov (e-mail):
- Methods and Models for Integrated Assessment (MMIA)
[NSF 96-22]
Deadline for Proposals: March 11, 1996
- NSF/EPA Partnership for Environmental Research Opportunities for
(I) Water and Watersheds, (II) Technology for a Sustainable Environment,
and (III) Decisionmaking and Valuation for Environmental Policy
[NSF 96-45]
Deadline for Proposals: May 7, 1996
- Terrestrial Ecology and Global Change Research (TECO)
[NSF 96-49]
Deadline for Proposals: April 26, 1996
Several of these opportunities are supported in conjunction with other
agencies of the CENR. For further information on NSF environment and natural
resources activities, including information on focused research programs
and special Announcements of Opportunity (AOs), contact Leila Harris/Assistant
Coordinator for NSF Environment and Global Change Activities at 703.306.0891
(voice) or lharris@nsf.gov (e-mail).
NSF also maintains an electronic mailing list of individuals interested
in environment and global change research opportunities. Additions, deletions,
or changes to the list should be sent to egc-ext-request @nsf.gov (e-mail).
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