2022 Signals in the Soil (SitS)
Funding Agency:
- National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorates for Engineering (ENG) and Geosciences (GEO), the Divisions of Integrative Organismal Systems (IOS) and Environmental Biology (DEB), in the Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO), the Division of Computer and Network Systems (CNS) in the Directorate Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), the Division of Chemistry (CHE) in the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS), the Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences (BCS) in the Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE), in collaboration with the US Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA) encourage convergent research that transforms existing capabilities in understanding dynamic soil processes, including soil formation, through advances in sensor systems and modeling. The Signals in the Soil (SitS) program fosters collaboration among the two partner agencies and the researchers they support by combining resources and funding for the most innovative and high-impact projects that address their respective missions. To make transformative advances in our understanding of soils, multiple disciplines must converge to produce environmentally-benign novel sensing systems with multiple modalities that can adapt to different environments and collect and transmit data for a wide range of biological, chemical, and physical parameters. Effective integration of sensor data will be key for achieving a better understanding of signaling interactions among plants, animals, microbes, the soil matrix, and aqueous and gaseous components. New sensor networks have the potential to inform models in novel ways, to radically change how data is obtained from various natural and managed (both urban and rural) ecosystems, and to better inform the communities that directly rely on soils for sustenance and livelihood.
Standard Grant or Cooperative Agreement
$8,000,000 to $13,000,000
April 14, 2022
- Brandi L. Schottel, Program Director, Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems, telephone: (703) 292-4798, email: SitSquestions@nsf.gov
- Colin M. Orians, Division of Environmental Biology, telephone: (703) 292-2603, email: SitSquestions@nsf.gov
- Thomas Evans, Program Director, Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences, telephone: (703) 292-8740, email: SitSquestions@nsf.gov