Opportunity Information: Apply for 12 553
Apply for 12 553
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Arctic SEES" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.423 Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Environmental Studies Program (ESP) 15.625 Wildlife Conservation and Restoration 15.808 U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection 47.041 Engineering Grants 47.049 Mathematical and Physical Sciences 47.050 Geosciences 47.070 Computer and Information Science and Engineering 47.074 Biological Sciences 47.075 Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences 47.078 Polar Programs 66.509 Science To Achieve Results (STAR) Research Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 22, 2013 and posted on Apr 18, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 14, 2012 Full Proposal Deadline(s) September 14, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $12,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Organization Limit Proposals may only be submitted by the following For profit organizations U.S. commercial organizations, especially small businesses with strong capabilities in scientific or engineering research or education. Non profit, non academic organizations Independent museums, observatories, research labs, professional societies and similar organizations in the U.S. associated with educational or research activities. Universities and Colleges Universities and two and four year colleges (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Such organizations also are referred to as academic institutions. Foreign organizations Please see Additional Eligibility Information section of this solicitation. NSF sponsored Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) NSF sponsored FFRDCs are eligible to submit proposals to this competition. Other Federal Agencies and FFRDCs Contact the appropriate program officer before preparing a proposal for submission.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Arctic SEES (Science, Engineering, and Education for Sustainability) opportunity was a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant program designed to accelerate interdisciplinary research on Arctic sustainability in the context of rapid environmental and societal change. Built on earlier calls from the Arctic Council for "science for sustainability," the program recognized that the Arctic human-environment system has shifted dramatically over the prior two decades and that better tools are needed to understand, forecast, and manage those changes. The core aim was twofold: support fundamental research that improves how sustainability is defined, measured, and evaluated in Arctic systems, and support more integrated, solutions-oriented efforts that translate science and engineering into practical pathways that matter for real communities and ecosystems.
A central feature of ArcSEES was its emphasis on interdisciplinary work organized around four broad thematic areas: (1) the natural and living environment, (2) the built environment, (3) natural resource development, and (4) governance. The solicitation highlighted major gaps in knowledge about how Arctic environmental, social, economic, and infrastructure systems interact, especially under fast-moving pressures like climate change, development, and demographic shifts. On the fundamental research side, NSF sought projects that could improve understanding of the coupled Arctic system, clarify what "sustainability" means in this specific context, determine whether adequate data and statistical approaches exist to assess sustainability, and examine the stability and predictability of Arctic system states. The program encouraged activities such as observation and monitoring approaches, synthesis of existing datasets, theory development, new methodologies, network and observing system design, modeling and decision-support tools, physical infrastructure concepts, and educational strategies that improve how sustainability trajectories and uncertainties are evaluated and communicated.
At the same time, ArcSEES explicitly encouraged larger integrated efforts aimed at outcomes relevant to Arctic communities and management decisions. The opportunity noted immediate needs for actionable solutions, citing examples like imperiled Arctic communities and threatened marine ecosystems. Competitive proposals could include the development of optimized models, alternative scenario frameworks (including multiple stable-state possibilities), sustainability pathways, decision matrices, visualization and data infrastructure for communication, and engineering solutions tied to structural design, energy systems, and communications technologies. A consistent expectation across project types was that teams would connect research products to real-world scenarios and specify which communities or stakeholder contexts would benefit, rather than leaving impacts abstract or purely academic.
Community relevance and stakeholder engagement were recurring themes. Proposals were expected to describe how the work advances "science for sustainability" and to identify the human and policy settings where results would be used. Community-based participatory research involving Arctic residents and Indigenous populations was encouraged, particularly when communities are involved in shaping research questions and implementing the work. The program also welcomed engagement with other stakeholder groups and emphasized educational participation, including through tribal colleges and minority-serving institutions, as part of building capacity and ensuring that research connects to lived Arctic realities.
Although the program focused on the Arctic, it treated Arctic sustainability as a global concern with broader transferability. Applicants were allowed to adapt methodologies developed in lower latitudes for Arctic use, and they could also propose scaling ArcSEES insights to other regions. NSF encouraged international collaboration to support a pan-Arctic perspective, including partnerships with foreign colleagues and alignment with international programs, whether by leveraging already-funded efforts abroad or building new connections among circumpolar communities. The solicitation also urged proposers to take advantage of existing U.S. agency capabilities in the Arctic, including facilities, observing networks, and established partnerships with local communities and state organizations, so that research could move more efficiently from observed change and community priorities toward implementable sustainability strategies.
Funding-wise, the opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number 12-553) was a discretionary grant program with an estimated total of $12,000,000 and an expected 15 awards. Individual awards were anticipated to range from $250,000 (floor) to $2,000,000 (ceiling), and there was no cost-sharing requirement. The full proposal deadline listed was September 14, 2012, with the opportunity later archived. Eligibility covered a broad range of applicant types, including U.S. universities and colleges, nonprofit non-academic organizations (such as museums, observatories, research labs, and professional societies), for-profit U.S. organizations (including small businesses with strong research or education capabilities), NSF-sponsored FFRDCs, and certain foreign organizations (with conditions described in the solicitation). The activity spanned multiple NSF and partner agency domains, reflected in the CFDA listings across engineering, geosciences, biological sciences, social and economic sciences, computing, polar programs, and related areas.
Finally, ArcSEES was explicitly multi-agency and international in spirit. In FY2013, NSF noted partnerships with U.S. agencies including the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), as well as collaboration with a consortium of French agencies (including CEA, CNES, CNRS, IFREMER, and Meteo-France). This structure signaled that NSF wanted proposals that could leverage diverse expertise and resources and that could contribute to a more cohesive approach to resilience and sustainability across the circumpolar Arctic.
Arctic SEES (ArcSEES) Grant Program FAQs
What is the Arctic SEES (ArcSEES) opportunity?
Arctic SEES (Science, Engineering, and Education for Sustainability) was a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant program created to accelerate interdisciplinary research focused on Arctic sustainability during a period of rapid environmental and societal change. The program was designed around the idea of "science for sustainability" and aimed to improve understanding of Arctic human-environment systems and support practical, solutions-oriented work that can matter for real communities and ecosystems.
What were the main goals of ArcSEES?
The program had two connected aims: (1) support fundamental research that improves how sustainability is defined, measured, and evaluated in Arctic systems, and (2) support more integrated efforts that translate science and engineering into practical pathways and decision-relevant outcomes for communities, ecosystems, and managers.
Why did NSF create an Arctic sustainability program like ArcSEES?
The solicitation recognized that the Arctic human-environment system had shifted dramatically over the prior two decades and that better tools were needed to understand, forecast, and manage those changes. The program responded to earlier calls from the Arctic Council for "science for sustainability" and emphasized the urgency created by fast-moving pressures such as climate change, development, and demographic shifts.
What kinds of research approaches did ArcSEES emphasize?
ArcSEES emphasized interdisciplinary work that connects environmental, social, economic, and infrastructure systems. The program highlighted the need to better understand interactions across these systems, especially under rapid change, and encouraged work that improves observation, analysis, forecasting, and decision support for Arctic sustainability.
What were the four broad thematic areas for ArcSEES projects?
Projects were organized around four broad themes: (1) the natural and living environment, (2) the built environment, (3) natural resource development, and (4) governance.
What did ArcSEES mean by "fundamental research" on sustainability?
On the fundamental research side, NSF sought projects that improve understanding of the coupled Arctic system, clarify what "sustainability" means in the Arctic context, evaluate whether adequate data and statistical approaches exist to assess sustainability, and examine the stability and predictability of Arctic system states.
What types of activities were encouraged for fundamental research proposals?
The solicitation encouraged activities such as observation and monitoring approaches, synthesis of existing datasets, theory development, new methodologies, network and observing system design, modeling and decision-support tools, physical infrastructure concepts, and educational strategies that improve how sustainability trajectories and uncertainties are evaluated and communicated.
Did ArcSEES support applied or solutions-oriented projects?
Yes. ArcSEES explicitly encouraged larger, integrated efforts aimed at outcomes relevant to Arctic communities and management decisions. The opportunity cited immediate needs for actionable solutions, including concerns such as imperiled Arctic communities and threatened marine ecosystems.
What kinds of solutions-oriented products could be included in competitive proposals?
Examples mentioned in the solicitation included optimized models, alternative scenario frameworks (including multiple stable-state possibilities), sustainability pathways, decision matrices, visualization and data infrastructure for communication, and engineering solutions tied to structural design, energy systems, and communications technologies.
How important was community relevance in ArcSEES proposals?
Community relevance was a consistent expectation. Proposals were expected to connect research products to real-world scenarios and to specify which communities or stakeholder contexts would benefit, rather than keeping impacts abstract or purely academic.
What did the program expect regarding stakeholder engagement?
Proposals were expected to describe how the work advances "science for sustainability" and to identify the human and policy settings where results would be used. The program encouraged engagement with stakeholder groups and emphasized that results should be usable in real decision and management contexts.
Was community-based participatory research encouraged?
Yes. Community-based participatory research involving Arctic residents and Indigenous populations was encouraged, particularly when communities help shape research questions and participate in implementing the work.
Did ArcSEES encourage educational participation and capacity-building?
Yes. Educational participation was emphasized, including involvement through tribal colleges and minority-serving institutions, as part of building capacity and ensuring research is connected to lived Arctic realities.
Was ArcSEES limited to Arctic-only relevance, or could the work be transferable?
While focused on the Arctic, the program treated Arctic sustainability as a global concern with broader transferability. Applicants were allowed to adapt methodologies developed in lower latitudes for Arctic use, and they could also propose scaling ArcSEES insights to other regions.
Did the solicitation encourage international collaboration?
Yes. NSF encouraged international collaboration to support a pan-Arctic perspective, including partnerships with foreign colleagues and alignment with international programs. This could include leveraging already-funded efforts abroad or building new connections among circumpolar communities.
Were applicants encouraged to use existing U.S. agency Arctic capabilities and infrastructure?
Yes. The solicitation urged proposers to take advantage of existing U.S. agency capabilities in the Arctic, including facilities, observing networks, and established partnerships with local communities and state organizations, to help research move more efficiently from observed change and community priorities toward implementable strategies.
What was the funding opportunity number for ArcSEES?
The Funding Opportunity Number was 12-553.
How much total funding was estimated for ArcSEES, and how many awards were expected?
The estimated total funding was $12,000,000, with an expected 15 awards.
What was the anticipated size range of individual awards?
Individual awards were anticipated to range from $250,000 (floor) to $2,000,000 (ceiling).
Was cost sharing required?
No cost-sharing requirement was listed for this opportunity.
What was the full proposal deadline?
The full proposal deadline listed was September 14, 2012.
Is this funding opportunity still open?
No. The opportunity was later archived.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility covered a broad range of applicant types, including U.S. universities and colleges; nonprofit non-academic organizations (such as museums, observatories, research laboratories, and professional societies); for-profit U.S. organizations (including small businesses with strong research or education capabilities); NSF-sponsored Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs); and certain foreign organizations (with conditions described in the solicitation).
What NSF domains or disciplines did ArcSEES span?
The activity spanned multiple NSF and partner agency domains, reflected in CFDA listings across engineering, geosciences, biological sciences, social and economic sciences, computing, polar programs, and related areas.
Was ArcSEES a multi-agency effort?
Yes. ArcSEES was explicitly multi-agency and international in spirit. In FY2013, NSF noted partnerships with U.S. agencies including the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
Were there international agency collaborations mentioned?
Yes. NSF also noted collaboration with a consortium of French agencies, including CEA, CNES, CNRS, IFREMER, and Meteo-France.
What kind of overall proposal "fit" did ArcSEES appear to be looking for?
Based on the solicitation description, ArcSEES sought interdisciplinary projects that link science and engineering with sustainability outcomes, connect research products to real stakeholder and community scenarios, and leverage existing observing, infrastructure, and partnership capabilities to produce decision-relevant knowledge and tools for the rapidly changing Arctic.
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