Capacity Building to Catalyze Collaborations to Address Climate Change Impacts on Human Health (C2H2)

NSF 24-013

Invites submissions to foster research teams involving geoscientists; social, behavioral and economic science researchers; medical/public health professionals and the education community focused on the planetary and human-health impacts of climate change.

This Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) encourages submission of proposals and supplemental funding requests focused on addressing the serious issue of the human health impacts resulting from climate change and downstream impacts from climate mitigation strategies. Tackling climate change-related human health issues has been identified as a priority by the scientific community1. Participating entities in this DCL are the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Directorate for Geosciences (GEO); the Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE); and, in the Directorate for STEM Education (EDU), the Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST) and the Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUP) Programs.

Due to the increased incidence of human health issues driven by climate change GEO, SBE, and the EDU CREST and TCUP Programs, using the funding vehicles below, seek to foster interdisciplinary teams and approaches that strengthen communication and collaboration across and between their scientific communities and with those in the health sector as well as with local communities and other key stakeholders. Interested researchers are encouraged to include participants reflecting the full spectrum of diverse talent in STEM and engage those underserved by current geoscience research and/or medical science, as well as communities most vulnerable to climate change impacts.

To submit a responsive request for the following opportunities indicated below, please see the C2H2 Opportunity Submission Instructions section at the end of this DCL.

• Research Coordination Networks (RCNs) proposals to develop networks that involve geoscientists, health/medical professionals, social/behavioral/economic scientists, educators, and can include impacted communities, and other stakeholders. These networks advance research or education through discussion and coordination of research, training, and educational activities across disciplinary and organizational boundaries. They facilitate understanding across disciplines and the development of novel ideas for collaboration, networking, and information exchange on challenges, solutions, and data. Find more information on the RCN program and solicitation on the RCN program page.
• Early-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) proposals responding to this DCL support novel and transformative ideas from a team involving geoscientists and/or social/behavioral/economic scientists and human health/medical professionals for transformative exploratory projects addressing climate-triggered human health issues. Guidance on preparation of EAGER proposals is contained in PAPPG Chapter II.F.3.
• GOALI Supplemental Funding Requests responsive to this DCL are for GEO or SBE recipients to work with a biomedical or any other medical/health-related private sector entity on research of mutual interest. Guidance on preparation of GOALI supplemental funding requests is contained in PAPPG Chapter II.F.5.
• GeoHealth INTERN supplements provide opportunities for graduate students on GEO or SBE funded awards to work with a non-academic health or medical entity as described in the 2023 GeoHealth INTERN DCL.
• Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST) responsive to this DCL must enhance research capabilities in climate change and health at minority-serving institutions (MSIs) through the establishment of centers that effectively integrate education and research. Learn more about CREST Centers.
• Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP) increases instructional and discovery capacity in STEM fields that align with and support the emphases of this DCL coming from institutions of higher education that are eligible for TCUP support. Get more information on the TCUP Program.
• Conference Proposals led by geoscientists for meetings between geoscientists, health/medical professionals, social scientists, and/or affected communities. Preparation of conference proposals for identifying opportunities for advancing climate change impacts on human health should be guided by results from recent federal agency workshop reports, National Academies studies, reports from professional societies of geoscientists, and similar sources. Proposals should present new ideas and a vision for advancing convergent research on specific climate-related health topic(s) and on activities to catalyze collaborations between parties that advance use-inspired research with high potential for significant human health impacts. Guidance on preparation of Conference proposals is contained in PAPPG Chapter II.F.9.
• Planning Proposals from geoscientists or social/behavioral/economic scientists to support initial conceptualization, planning, and collaboration activities related to climate change impacts on human health with the goal of formulating new, robust plans for large-scale projects in current and emerging research areas responsive to this DCL for future submission to NSF. Guidance on preparation of planning proposals is contained in PAPPG Chapter II.F.1.

Supplemental Funding Requests to existing NSF GEO or SBE awards for PIs wanting to further develop a component of human health related to their parent award that requires collaboration with medical or public health professionals.

Various

Please contact the program director.

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Questions about this DCL and/or its relation to the opportunities described above should be directed to geohealth@nsf.gov.