NSF Earth Sciences Express Update - Autumn 2021, Vol. 1
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November 15, 2021
EAR Division Director Letter to the Community
Dr. Steven Goldstein has written a letter to the EAR community summarizing EAR's efforts during the last fiscal year, completing the Earth in Time recommendation to fund a Very Large Multi-Anvil Press, and the two new facilities solicitations.
GEO Staff Changes
EAR welcomes two new Program Specialists, Gloria Perez and Marvin Delaney, and three new rotator Program Directors, Hendratta Ali, Elizabeth Hearn, and Amanda Keen-Zebert. Robin Reichlin joins the EAR’s leadership team as the Acting Section Head for the Disciplinary Section. Learn more about them here.
NSF Invests in Mid-Scale Research Infrastructure (Mid-scale R-1)
The Facility for Open Research in a Compressed Environment (FORCE) at Arizona State University (EAR 2131833) is one of ten infrastructure projects that NSF is investing in awards totaling $127 million. Read more.
EAR Postdoctoral Fellowship Fiscal Year 21 Awardees
In FY21, EAR made a commitment to support groups disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, the EAR Postdoctoral Fellowship (EAR-PF) program supported 34 Postdoctoral Fellows in FY21, thanks to the American Rescue Plan and NSF’s prioritization of individuals at vulnerable career transition points. On average, EAR-PF supports about 16 or 17 Fellows each year. Approximately half of the FY21 EAR Postdoctoral Fellowships were supported by funds provided by the American Rescue Plan (ARP). Because of ARP support, the program also awarded 15 supplements to our current postdoctoral fellows who were affected by the pandemic. Click here to see the 34 FY21 EAR-PF awards.
Grants.gov Application Guide
The Grants.gov Application Guide (NSF 21-084) for the preparation and submission of NSF applications has been updated to align with changes to NSFs’ (22-1) Proposal & Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG). The changes are effective for applications submitted, or due, on or after October 4, 2021.
NSF Merit Review Survey 2021
If you have submitted or reviewed a proposal within the past two fiscal years, check your inbox (including spam folder) for an email sent on October 19 with your personal link to the survey. Your feedback is crucial to the ongoing improvement of the merit review process. For questions, email MeritReviewSurvey@nsf.gov.
Dear Colleague Letters
NSF 21-102 Call for Ideas and Proposals for GEO-themed Industry University Cooperative Research Centers (IUCRCs)
NSF 21-103 NSF/NSFC Joint Research on Sustainable Regional Systems
NSF 21-108 Towards an Equitable National Cyberinfrastructure
NSF 21-110 Persons with Disabilities – STEM Engagement & Access (PWD-SEA)
NSF 21-111 Special Guidelines for Submitting Collaborative Proposals under the NSF and Czech Science Foundation Collaborative Research Opportunities
NSF 21-114 Research to Improve STEM Teaching, Learning, and Workforce Development for Persons with Disabilities
NSF 21-117 CHE Mid-scale Research Infrastructure Planning Workshops
NSF 21-119 NSF GEO Notification of Funding Opportunity between U.S. and Israeli Geoscientists under the NSF and U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF) Collaborative Research Opportunities
NSF 21-124 Critical Aspects of Sustainability (CAS): Innovative Solutions to Climate Change
Solicitation Update
NSF 22-515 - Tectonics (TE)
Upcoming Deadlines
11/15 NSF 20-579 Dynamics of Integrated Socio-Environmental Systems (DISES)
11/24 NSF 21-609 Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases (EEID)
11/30 NSF 21-615 (Letter of Intent) Centers for Innovation and Community Engagement in Solid Earth Geohazards (Program Page) Full proposal (target): 3/15/22
12/06 NSF 21-613 Coastlines and People Hubs for Research and Broadening Participation (CoPe)
12/08 NSF 21-617 Cyberinfrastructure for Sustained Scientific Innovation (CSSI)
01/14 NSF 22-502 (Preliminary Proposal) National Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes Full Proposal: 05/13/22 (Program Page)
01/17 NSF 21-611 Facility and Instrumentation Request Process (FIRP)
01/21 NSF 21-610 Partnerships for Research and Education in Physics (PREP)
02/07 NSF 21-516 Mid-Career Advancement (MCA)
03/04 NSF 21-592 Community Facility Support: Synchrotron-based analytical capabilities advancing Earth and Environmental Sciences research and training (Program Page)
03/25 NSF 22-508 Biodiversity on a Changing Planet (BoCP)
EAR-funded Research in the News
Community News
NASEM Earth Study Systems Science Report
At the request of NSF, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) established a committee to develop a vision for a robust, integrated approach for studying the Earth’s systems and to identify NSF facilities, infrastructure, coordinating mechanisms, computing, and workforce development to support that vision. The results of the study are published in the NASEM report, Next Generation Earth Systems Science at the National Science Foundation. Given the breadth and scope of the subject, the report and six recommendations take a high-level approach that provides NSF with several options and the leeway to develop a feasible implementation plan.
NSF is anticipating the report of the recent NASEM workshop that will identify new community-driven themes for NSF's support of the Paleo Perspectives on Climate Change (P2C2) program. We'd like to thank the community for their input in the workshop and report.
EoS Features Dr. Aisha Morris
The September issue of Eos featured EAR PO Aisha Morris, and others, that forged a unique path in Geoscience. Aisha was also a panelist in a Wiley Science Talks with AGU titled Beyond Academia: Careers Enabling Discoveries in Earth and Space Sciences. A recording of the event is available on YouTube.
Dr. Taylor Perron (MIT) receives 2021 MacArthur Fellowship
Taylor Perron, professor at MIT and EAR awardee and panel reviewer, has been named a recipient of the 2021 MacArthur Fellowship for his work investigating the mechanisms that create landforms on Earth and other planets. Read More
Dr. Dena Smith-Nufio inducted to the Fellows of the Paleontological Society
EAR celebrates our very own Dena Smith-Nufio who was nominated to be a Fellow of the Paleontological Society. Fellows are recognized for their contributions to paleontology through research, teaching, or service to the profession.
Every Rock Has A Story
Ethan Baxter, EAR PI from Boston College, has continued his educational Youtube series called "Every Rock Has A Story". The series is designed to help K-5 students, parents, and teachers explore, draw, learn, and get excited about rocks and the Earth. New episodes are posted on Wednesdays at 11 am ET every week until Christmas. Watch the trailer here.
Other News
Update on Arecibo Observatory
NSF, Arecibo Observatory, University of Central Florida, and a team of contractors are performing an emergency cleanup after the collapse of the Observatory's 305-meter radio telescope on December 1, 2020. Read the latest update.
NSF Science Matters Blog:
Promoting diversity and inclusivity in geoscience by confronting its past
NSF 101: Expanding pathways to STEM careers for veterans
Taking Action: COVID-19 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Challenge
NSF ideas challenge for U.S. non-profit Institutions of Higher Education. Deadline: Dec. 31, 2021. Read more.
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.
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