February 27, 2023

Dear Colleagues:

The Directorate for Geosciences (GEO) is committed to addressing NSF’s goal to "increase both the involvement of communities underrepresented in STEM and enhance capacity throughout the nation" (NSF 22-068). GEO recognizes that diverse scientific talent performs innovative work across a broad spectrum of institutions of higher education. However, many individuals and institutions traditionally underserved by NSF face barriers to obtaining federal funding. These barriers may include high teaching loads, increased expectations for teaching, low or no start-up packages, and limited institutional infrastructure and research support personnel. To increase opportunities by addressing barriers, broadening participation, and promoting access to funding support, this Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) and web portal calls attention and encourages submissions to existing NSF and GEO opportunities of potential interest to investigators as noted above.

Programs within GEO support projects that increase research capabilities, capacity, and infrastructure at a wide variety of institution types. Existing pertinent NSF and GEO opportunities are highlighted at this GEO-EMBRACE Web Portal. GEO especially encourages proposal submissions from principal investigators (PIs) who are from (i) historically excluded groups in GEO disciplines (for example, persons with disabilities, Black, Latino, Indigenous, LGBTQAI+ and other individuals from marginalized/minoritized groups), and/or (ii) non-R1 minority serving institutions (MSI), two-year colleges (2YC), primarily undergraduate institutions (PUI), and emerging research and masters level institutions (see Carnegie Classification and IPEDS). Interested PIs may seek guidance via GEO-EMBRACE@nsf.gov and are encouraged to engage directly with GEO Program Directors during regularly held Drop-in Virtual Office Hours (VOHs). VOH registration links are found on the GEO-EMBRACE Web Portal.

Sincerely,

Alexandra R. Isern
Assistant Director
Directorate for Geosciences