Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) for Sustainability Science, Engineering, and Education (SEES)
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- How do I submit to the new SEES program?
- Should I send a letter with my proposal indicating how it fits within the SEES area?
- Is the RCN program now totally focused on SEES-related topics?
- Is the CNH program now totally focused on SEES-related topics?
- Is the PIRE program now totally focused on SEES-related topics?
- Is the Catalyzing New International Collaborations focused only on SEES-related topics?
- Will the Climate Research Investment competitions that began in FY 2010 continue every year?
- Where do I get more information about SEES activities?
SEES is not a single program, but an NSF-wide investment area that is a collection of new and existing activities. The new activities associated with SEES for FY 2011 are the expansion of the Research Coordination Networks (RCN) and the Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems (CNH) programs to specifically support SEES-related proposals, as described in the Dear Colleague Letter (NSF 11-022). In addition, the next Partnerships in International Research and Education (PIRE) competition will be solely focused on SEES and the Dear Colleague Letter is now available at https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2011/nsf11025/nsf11025.jsp?org=NSF.
If you are interested in submitting a SEES-related research or education proposal to a program other than those listed above, you may mention in the project summary how it relates to the SEES portfolio. Please be aware that this does not imply that the proposal will receive any special consideration relative to other submissions to that program.
No. Letters or other unsolicited supplemental documents should not be included when submitting your proposal. Submission of such items may be grounds for NSF returning the proposal without review.
No. There is a new SEES track in the revised RCN solicitation, but the RCN program is NSF-wide and encourages proposals that span any topics relevant to the programs listed in the RCN solicitation (NSF 11-531).
No. The Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems (CNH) program is one of a portfolio of existing and new activities that are part of the NSF-wide SEES investment. The latest CNH solicitation (NSF 10-612) encourages submission of SEES-relevant proposals, but this is not a requirement for submission to the CNH program.
For FY 2012, the Partnerships in International Research and Education (PIRE) competition will be solely focused on SEES and the Dear Colleague Letter is now available at https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2011/nsf11025/nsf11025.jsp?org=NSF.
No. The Catalyzing New International Collaborations program supports the participation of U.S. researchers and students in activities intended to help establish new collaborations (or further develop existing ones) with international partners. SEES-related projects are among the many types of research projects that could benefit from international collaboration. See the latest solicitation for more details (NSF 11-508).
Not every one of these programs will hold a competition each fiscal year (Note: FY 2011 runs from October 1st 2010 through September 30th 2011).
- The Dimensions of Biodiversity program is holding a competition in FY 2011; the deadline is March 28, 2011. See solicitation NSF 11-518 for more details.
- Current awardees through the Climate Change Education Partnership (CCEP) Program, Phase I (CCEP-I) may submit supplement requests for the March 15, 2011 deadline, but no new proposals are being accepted at this time. See solicitation NSF 10-542 for more details. A Phase II competition for CCEP is expected to be held during FY 2012, budget permitting.
- Both the Ocean Acidification (OA) and Water Sustainability and Climate (WSC) programs expect to hold competitions during FY 2012, budget permitting.
- The Earth Systems Modeling (EaSM) program expects to hold another competition in FY 2013, budget permitting.
Please check the https://www.nsf.gov/sees website for updates and the list of SEES contacts, including the program leads for each competition.