Opportunity Information: Apply for 11 528
Apply for 11 528
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Chemistry and Materials Research in Cultural Heritage Science" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.049 Mathematical and Physical Sciences.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 11, 2011 and posted on Feb 11, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 11, 2011 Full Proposal Deadline(s) May 11, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $4,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $600,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 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 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. PI Limit Since the solicitation calls for collaborative projects between cultural heritage scientists mainly located in US museumsand chemistry and materials scientists in academic institutions, a principal investigator (PI) must demonstrate expertise in at least one of these areas and be a member of a multi disciplinary collaborative team to be eligible to submit a proposal in response to this solicitation. Whenever possible, in addition to the PI, the co PI or co PIs should be listed on the cover sheet.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunity titled "Chemistry and Materials Research in Cultural Heritage Science" is designed to push forward the scientific foundation behind how cultural heritage objects are analyzed, preserved, and treated. The program is rooted in the idea that the biggest open problems in cultural heritage science cannot be solved in isolation, and that stronger, more intentional partnerships are needed between conservation scientists (often based in U.S. museums) and chemists and materials scientists (often based in academic research institutions). The solicitation follows conclusions from a 2009 NSF and Andrew W. Mellon Foundation co-sponsored workshop, which argued that the field would advance faster if museum-based expertise about real objects and conservation constraints were combined with the analytical, chemical, and materials-focused capabilities more common in universities.
The core purpose of the program is to fund highly innovative, three-year collaborative research projects that show genuine synergy across disciplines, not just parallel work. NSF is looking for projects that break new ground, especially where the collaborators would not be able to accomplish the same results independently. New collaborations are strongly encouraged, and teams that have worked together before must show that the proposed work represents a clearly new research direction rather than a continuation of what they already do. NSF also draws a hard line against duplication: proposals will be rejected if the work is already funded elsewhere, overlaps heavily with existing funded projects, or is mainly an incremental extension of ongoing lab efforts.
The solicitation focuses on chemistry and materials research questions that connect directly to the needs and constraints of cultural heritage objects, especially the need for non-destructive or minimally invasive methods. Projects are expected to fit within one or more of four major research aims. First, NSF is interested in new or improved analytical techniques and instruments that provide high sensitivity and strong spatial resolution, ranging from large-scale mapping down to fine-scale measurement. These methods should be suitable for restricted sample volumes or even standoff detection, and should be capable of identifying component materials, degradation products, and markers of deterioration without harming the object. Second, the program supports research on the dynamic changes that lead to degradation, meaning mechanistic studies of how objects and their materials evolve over time and under various conditions. Third, NSF is looking for the design of new multifunctional treatment materials, which can be understood as improved conservation materials that do more than one job at once, for example stabilizing a material while also offering protective or monitoring functions. Fourth, the program invites new theoretical models that can predict the dynamic processes driving degradation, explicitly requiring that models account for molecular and materials properties as well as surface and bulk interactions with environmental parameters.
Although this particular solicitation is limited to chemistry and materials-related topics, NSF signals an intention to broaden the program in later years to include additional areas relevant to cultural heritage science. For this round, however, proposals must stay within the chemistry and materials science scope while still demonstrating clear relevance to cultural heritage questions and real conservation challenges.
A key program expectation is meaningful workforce development and training. Projects must substantially involve undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers, and the solicitation specifically emphasizes inclusion of participants from underrepresented groups. In addition, NSF encourages teams to develop and use cyberinfrastructure to strengthen collaboration and increase the project’s overall synergy. In practice, this could include shared data platforms, collaborative analysis pipelines, remote access or coordination tools for instrumentation and measurement campaigns, or other networked resources that help museum and university partners work as a unified team.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary NSF grant program within the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category, under CFDA 47.049 (Mathematical and Physical Sciences). NSF expected to make around 10 awards, with an estimated total program funding level of $4,000,000. Individual awards were anticipated to fall between $300,000 (floor) and $600,000 (ceiling), and the solicitation indicates a cost sharing or matching requirement. The funding opportunity number is 11-528, originally posted February 11, 2011, with a full proposal deadline of May 11, 2011.
Eligibility is structured to support the museum-university collaboration model. Proposals may be submitted by U.S.-based non-profit, non-academic organizations such as independent museums, observatories, research labs, and professional societies associated with educational or research activities, as well as by accredited U.S. universities and two- and four-year colleges (including community colleges). The principal investigator must demonstrate expertise in at least one of the relevant areas (cultural heritage science and/or chemistry and materials science) and must be part of a multidisciplinary collaborative team. The solicitation also notes that, whenever possible, co-PIs should be listed on the cover sheet to reflect the collaborative structure.
Overall, the opportunity is best understood as NSF’s targeted effort to bridge museum conservation realities and academic chemistry and materials research capabilities, with funding aimed at new instrumentation and methods, mechanistic degradation science, advanced conservation treatments, and predictive models. The emphasis throughout is on originality, real cross-sector teamwork, non-destructive approaches appropriate for valuable objects, and strong training and inclusion of students and postdoctoral researchers as part of the research enterprise.
FAQs: NSF Chemistry and Materials Research in Cultural Heritage Science (Opportunity 11-528)
What is the goal of the NSF "Chemistry and Materials Research in Cultural Heritage Science" program?
The program aims to advance the scientific foundation for how cultural heritage objects are analyzed, preserved, and treated. It specifically targets chemistry and materials research that is tightly connected to real conservation needs and constraints, especially approaches that are non-destructive or minimally invasive.
Why does the solicitation emphasize collaboration between museums and universities?
The program is built on the idea that major challenges in cultural heritage science cannot be solved by one sector alone. Museum-based conservation scientists contribute hands-on expertise with real objects and conservation constraints, while academic chemists and materials scientists often bring advanced analytical, chemical, and materials capabilities. NSF wants these strengths combined in a way that produces results neither partner could achieve independently.
What kind of projects is NSF looking to fund?
NSF is looking for highly innovative, three-year collaborative research projects that demonstrate genuine cross-disciplinary synergy. The work should break new ground rather than represent parallel efforts by separate groups working side-by-side.
How long are the funded projects expected to last?
Projects are expected to be three years in duration.
What does NSF mean by "genuine synergy" in a collaborative proposal?
"Genuine synergy" means the collaboration is essential to achieving the proposed outcomes. NSF is looking for projects where the combined museum and academic expertise creates a capability that the partners would not have if they worked independently, and where the research plan is integrated rather than divided into disconnected pieces.
Are new collaborations required?
New collaborations are strongly encouraged. Teams that have worked together before can still apply, but they must show the proposed work is clearly a new research direction rather than a continuation of their existing joint efforts.
What types of overlap or duplication will cause a proposal to be rejected?
NSF draws a hard line against duplication. Proposals may be rejected if the work is already funded elsewhere, overlaps heavily with existing funded projects, or is mainly an incremental extension of ongoing lab efforts.
What research areas does this solicitation support?
Projects are expected to fit within one or more of four major research aims: (1) new or improved analytical techniques and instruments; (2) mechanistic studies of dynamic changes that lead to degradation; (3) design of new multifunctional treatment materials; and (4) new theoretical models that predict dynamic degradation processes while accounting for molecular/materials properties and environmental interactions.
What is included under the analytical techniques and instruments aim?
This aim includes developing or improving analytical methods and instrumentation with high sensitivity and strong spatial resolution, from large-scale mapping to fine-scale measurements. Methods should be suitable for restricted sample volumes, potentially including standoff detection, and should identify component materials, degradation products, and deterioration markers without harming the object.
What is meant by research on "dynamic changes" that lead to degradation?
This refers to mechanistic studies that explain how cultural heritage objects and their constituent materials change over time and under various conditions. The focus is on understanding the processes that drive degradation rather than only describing damage after it occurs.
What are "multifunctional treatment materials" in this context?
These are new or improved conservation treatment materials designed to do more than one job at once. For example, a treatment could stabilize a material while also providing protective benefits or enabling monitoring functions.
What kinds of theoretical models does the program invite?
The solicitation invites new theoretical models that can predict the dynamic processes that drive degradation. These models are expected to account for molecular and materials properties, as well as surface and bulk interactions with environmental parameters.
Does the program support topics outside chemistry and materials science?
For this round, proposals must stay within chemistry and materials-related topics while showing clear relevance to cultural heritage science and real conservation challenges. NSF indicates an intention to broaden the program to additional areas in later years, but this solicitation is limited to chemistry and materials scope.
How important are non-destructive or minimally invasive approaches?
They are a central constraint and expectation. The solicitation highlights the need for methods suitable for restricted sample volumes and for identifying materials and degradation markers without harming cultural heritage objects.
What workforce development and training expectations are included?
Projects must substantially involve undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers. The solicitation also specifically emphasizes inclusion of participants from underrepresented groups as part of training and workforce development.
Is cyberinfrastructure part of the program expectations?
Yes. NSF encourages teams to develop and use cyberinfrastructure to strengthen collaboration and increase synergy. Examples mentioned include shared data platforms, collaborative analysis pipelines, remote access or coordination tools for instrumentation and measurement campaigns, and other networked resources that help museum and university partners operate as a unified team.
How many awards did NSF expect to make under this solicitation?
NSF expected to make around 10 awards.
What was the estimated total funding level for the program?
The estimated total program funding level was $4,000,000.
What was the anticipated award size range?
Individual awards were anticipated to range from $300,000 (floor) to $600,000 (ceiling).
Is there a cost sharing or matching requirement?
Yes. The solicitation indicates that there is a cost sharing or matching requirement.
What is the funding opportunity number and key dates listed?
The funding opportunity number is 11-528. It was originally posted on February 11, 2011, and the full proposal deadline was May 11, 2011.
What program area and CFDA number are associated with this opportunity?
It is a discretionary NSF grant program within the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category, under CFDA 47.049 (Mathematical and Physical Sciences).
What types of organizations are eligible to submit proposals?
Eligible applicants include U.S.-based non-profit, non-academic organizations such as independent museums, observatories, research labs, and professional societies associated with educational or research activities, as well as accredited U.S. universities and two- and four-year colleges (including community colleges).
What are the expectations for the principal investigator (PI) and the team structure?
The PI must demonstrate expertise in at least one relevant area (cultural heritage science and/or chemistry and materials science) and must be part of a multidisciplinary collaborative team. The solicitation also notes that, whenever possible, co-PIs should be listed on the cover sheet to reflect the collaborative structure.
What is the underlying motivation behind this solicitation?
The solicitation follows conclusions from a 2009 NSF and Andrew W. Mellon Foundation co-sponsored workshop, which argued that the field would advance faster if museum-based expertise about real objects and conservation constraints were combined with the analytical, chemical, and materials-focused capabilities more common in universities.
What is the program primarily trying to bridge?
The program is a targeted effort to bridge museum conservation realities with academic chemistry and materials research capabilities, focusing on original, collaborative work relevant to cultural heritage objects.
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