May 8, 2020

Colleagues:  

GEO is actively looking for proposals to form collaborative university/private sector centers (i.e., IUCRCs) focused on fundamental, use-inspired, purpose-driven, geoscience research critically needed to move forward an economic sector dependent on knowledge of the Earth and Earth processes.  Centers will be part of the new GEO Industry-University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC) portfolio and must respond to the newly released IUCRC solicitation NSF 20-570. Although Center proposals from across the spectrum of geoscience will be entertained, for the coming year priority will be given to those focused on atmospheric, geospace, polar, or coastal science. For subsequent years, priorities will be defined in Dear Colleague Letters with priority areas for investment being identified every year or every other year until a portfolio of 10 Centers is reached that is distributed across the GEO Divisions/Offices. In an IUCRC, administrative costs for the Centers are covered by NSF with all research and student/faculty support involved in Center research projects being supported by Center membership fees that are paid by interested companies, government agencies, utilities, non-profits who are members of the Center. Faculty and students pitch research projects to their membership and the members vote and fund those that address their most pressing collective needs. IUCRCs are a great opportunity to bring funds for research and student/faculty support to your discipline and provide employment conduits into member companies for students and postdocs involved in the research projects.  The deadline for preliminary proposals for planning grants and new Centers is July 7 with full proposals being due September 8.  Interested parties and those wanting to know more should contact Barbara Ransom via email or phone (bransom@nsf.gov or leave a message at 703-292-7792) and she will return the contact immediately and ZOOM you as appropriate.  

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The U.S. National Science Foundation propels the nation forward by advancing fundamental research in all fields of science and engineering. NSF supports research and people by providing facilities, instruments and funding to support their ingenuity and sustain the U.S. as a global leader in research and innovation. With a fiscal year 2023 budget of $9.5 billion, NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives more than 40,000 competitive proposals and makes about 11,000 new awards. Those awards include support for cooperative research with industry, Arctic and Antarctic research and operations, and U.S. participation in international scientific efforts.

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