New NSF Water Sustainability and Climate Solicitation

NSF announced today a new research proposal solicitation on Water Sustainability and Climate (WSC).  This is a multi-directorate solicitation involving the Directorates of Engineering, Geosciences, Biology, and Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences. The goal of the Water Sustainability and Climate (WSC) solicitation is to understand and predict the interactions between the water system and climate change, land use, the built environment, and ecosystem function and services through place-based research and integrative models. Studies of the water system using observations at specific sites in combination with models that allow for spatial and temporal extrapolation to other regions, as well as integration across the different processes in that system are encouraged, especially to the extent that they advance the development of theoretical frameworks and predictive understanding.  The full solicitation can be found at:

            http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503452&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

This is an excellent opportunity for the Environmental Engineering community.  It should be noted that, while climate change is in the proposal title, the proposal does not need to focus on climate.  We are looking for strong proposals dealing with water sustainability.  Please see the FAQs included in the Appendix of the solicitation (particularly FAQ #5) for more on this.  It is important, though, that proposals integrate across the engineering, biological, geosciences and social sciences.

Three categories of awards are anticipated for this solicitation.  Category 1 Awards: Small exploratory or incubation grants to develop teams, identify sites, hold workshops and develop plans for establishment or operation of a study site.  These will be 1-2 years in duration for up to $150,000.  Category 2 Awards: Place-based observational and modeling studies, up to 5 years in duration and for a maximum of $5 million for each award.  Category 3 Awards: Synthesis and integration grants that will only use existing data to integrate and synthesize across sites, 3-5 years in duration and for a maximum of $1.5 million for each award.  An estimated 3-5 awards are expected to be made for Category 1 proposals, 2-3 awards for Category 2 proposals and 3-5 awards for Category 3 proposals.  Total anticipated funding for 2010 is $16,000,000, pending availability of funds.  It is anticipated that this solicitation will be posted annually.

An exciting new component is that proposals can use USEPA or USGS resources (facilities, personnel, etc.) provided that they get prior approval.  This is explained in FAQs #4 and 10 in the Appendix.

If you are interested in submitting a proposal, a one page Letter of Intent is required, due by March 15, 2010.  The Full Proposal deadline is April 15, 2010.

For more information, please contact:

            Paul L. Bishop                        pbishop@nsf.gov        703-292-2161

            Bruce Hamilton           bhamilto@nsf.gov      703-292-7066