AGS Division Updates: May 2020


May 21, 2020

May 2020

Dear Colleagues,

A reminder of the AGS Virtual Office Hour today (Friday, May 1st) at 2pm eastern.  If you are interested, please register here:  https://nsf.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_FeQ1DHOTRTms-ZyE9VTqAg

I’m sending across two funding opportunities that may be of interest to you.

Additionally, I’m resending the call for nominations that the Academy issued with regard to an NSF-sponsored study Advancing a Systems Approach to Studying the Earth: A Strategy for the National Science Foundation.  The deadline to receive nominations is May 13th 2020.

Best wishes

Anjuli

Anjuli Bamzai
Director, Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences

Spectrum Innovation Initiative (SII)

Webinar for the SII center on Friday, May 8th at 1pm.

The Spectrum Innovation Initiative (SII) seeks to chart out a trajectory to ensure United States leadership in future wireless technologies, systems, and applications in science and engineering through the efficient use and sharing of the radio spectrum. The National Center for Wireless Spectrum Research (SII-Center) will serve as a focal point for sustained spectrum research in the most challenging areas that are expected to create advanced wireless technologies and systems that benefit society, of which 5G and future cellular networks are an example. The SII-Center solicitation supports Multiple SII-Center Planning Grant awards funded at a level of up to $300,000 for up to 12 months as well as one SII-Center award funded at a level of up to $5,000,000/year for 5 years. The SII team will held a webinar on Fri, May 08, 2020, 1:00PM – 2:00PM EDT that will cover the solicitation, submission requirements and program updates. To participate in the webinar please register at https://nsf.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_Ard3HdOPT1issv7KKQRqtw

SF Convergence Accelerator Funding Opportunity:

As some of you work on use-inspired research that can have societally-important deliverables, and often in collaboration with non-academic partners, this NSF Convergence Accelerator opportunity (https://www.nsf.gov/od/oia/convergence-accelerator/) might interest you.  The second track “AI-Driven Innovation via Data and Model Sharing” is especially relevant to the AGS community.

There is a RFI on ideas for future topics and workshop/conference proposals described in this DCL https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2020/nsf20061/nsf20061.jsp.  To submit a concept for future NSF Convergence Accelerator tracks, please visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2021RFI and complete the online questionnaire ASAP.  Proposals for NSF Convergence Accelerator conferences may be submitted at any time, but only those that are received by May 18, 2020, and having a budget under $100,000 will be considered for support with FY 2020 funds.

All questions about Convergence Accelerators should be addressed to C-Accel@nsf.gov

Call for Nominations:

The National Science Foundation has asked the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to convene an ad hoc committee to undertake a study that develops a compelling vision for a systems approach to studying the Earth and identifies facilities, infrastructure, coordinating mechanisms, computing, and workforce development needed to support that vision.

The committee’s report will:

  1. Describe the potential value and key characteristics of a robust, integrated approach for studying the Earth system.
  2. Discuss emerging opportunities and barriers to progress for achieving this vision, including consideration of the interdependencies and synergies among all components.
  3. Identify potential synergistic opportunities within current facilities, infrastructure, and coordinating mechanisms to address the overarching capabilities, and recommend ways to leverage these efforts for Earth systems research. Ideas for new approaches, facilities, infrastructure, and coordinating mechanisms may also be considered.
  4. Discuss computational, data, and analytic support for Earth systems research, including guidance on harnessing existing, planned, and future NSF-supported cyberinfrastructure.
  5. Discuss workforce development to support the personnel needed to advance Earth systems research. This could include undergraduate and graduate education, technical training to support facilities and infrastructure, and increasing diversity and inclusion in the future workforce. This will draw upon scholarship related to workforce development and broadening participation to consider new and existing approaches.

We are currently in the process of putting together our committee, and need your help. We are looking for committee members with cross-disciplinary expertise in the fields of behavioral, social, and economic sciences; atmospheric science; climate science; biology and ecology; oceanography; hydrology; geology and geophysics; cryosphere; computer and data science; education and workforce development; engineering; and complex systems, biogeochemistry, and critical zones. Ideal committee members will have experience working on integrated research questions and teams, as well as in taking a systems approach to research.

See the call for nominations form for additional information and to make a nomination: https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/5558837/Advancing-a-Systems-Approach-to-Studying-the-Earth-A-Strategy-for-the-National-Science-Foundation.

We are asking for nominations by Wednesday, May 13. We look forward to your vital input! Please contact Erin Kellogg at ekellogg@nas.edu if you have any questions.

The U.S. National Science Foundation propels the nation forward by advancing fundamental research in all fields of science and engineering. NSF supports research and people by providing facilities, instruments and funding to support their ingenuity and sustain the U.S. as a global leader in research and innovation. With a fiscal year 2023 budget of $9.5 billion, NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives more than 40,000 competitive proposals and makes about 11,000 new awards. Those awards include support for cooperative research with industry, Arctic and Antarctic research and operations, and U.S. participation in international scientific efforts.

mail icon Get News Updates by Email 

Connect with us online
NSF website: nsf.gov
NSF News: nsf.gov/news
For News Media: nsf.gov/news/newsroom
Statistics: nsf.gov/statistics/
Awards database: nsf.gov/awardsearch/

Follow us on social
Twitter: twitter.com/NSF
Facebook: facebook.com/US.NSF
Instagram: instagram.com/nsfgov