Opportunities for Research and Education in the Critical-Zone (ORE-CZ
Funding Agency:
- National Science Foundation
With this Dear Colleague Letter, the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Earth Sciences (EAR) within the Directorate for Geosciences (GEO) together with the Division of Human Resources Development (HRD) in the Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR) announce an intent to expand the breadth of researchers investigating the dynamics and processes within Earth’s Critical Zone (CZ), the region that ranges from the weathered bedrock beneath the soil profile up to the top of the vegetation canopy. The recent consensus study report from the National Academy of Science, Engineering and Mathematics (NASEM), A Vision for NSF EAR 2020-2030: Earth in Time, recommended that EAR encourage exploration of the Critical Zone "to advance knowledge of water, carbon, and nutrient cycles; landscape evolution and hazards prediction; and land-climate interactions." NSF currently supports these goals through several Thematic Clusters as part of the Critical-Zone Collaborative Network (CZNet; NSF 19-586); this announcement is intended to enable other investigators to develop complementary approaches to answer fundamental questions concerning Critical-Zone function. This same NASEM report recommends that the Division of Earth Sciences "enhance its existing efforts to provide leadership, investment, and centralized guidance to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion within the Earth science community." An increase in the community of Critical-Zone researchers provides an opportunity to advance this effort.
Proposal titles should begin with "ORE-CZ:" followed by an appropriate descriptor; proposal budgets are limited to $200,000.
EAR disciplinary programs have no deadlines and proposals may be submitted at any time, but proposals for this special opportunity must be submitted no later than April 30, 2022.
Richard Yuretich, ryuretic@nsf.gov, 703-292-4744
Julie Pett-Ridge, jpettrid@nsf.gov, 703-292-2613
Jonathan Wynn, jwynn@nsf., 703-292-4725