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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - NSF Dimensions of Biodiversity (FON 10-548)

What is the NSF Dimensions of Biodiversity grant opportunity?

Dimensions of Biodiversity (Funding Opportunity Number 10-548) is a National Science Foundation (NSF) research initiative intended to rapidly close major knowledge gaps about the diversity of life on Earth. It is framed as a coordinated campaign to transform how biodiversity is described and understood, motivated by the fact that a large portion of biodiversity remains undocumented and is being lost quickly in many places.

What is the main purpose or goal of this program?

The program aims to accelerate discovery and understanding of biodiversity and to change the field through sustained, integrative research. The emphasis is not only on documenting what exists, but also on explaining biodiversity patterns, what they mean for ecosystems, and how biodiversity has changed over time, including under modern environmental pressures and across the geologic past.

What makes this opportunity different from standard NSF core programs?

A central requirement is genuinely integrative research that simultaneously includes and connects multiple dimensions of biodiversity. Many standard NSF programs can support excellent work within a single area (for example, genetics or taxonomy). This opportunity is specifically designed to fund projects that cross boundaries at the same time and do so in innovative or novel ways.

What are the three required "dimensions" of biodiversity in this program?

In its initial phase, the program emphasizes integrating three major dimensions:

• Genetic diversity: variation at the DNA and genomic level
• Taxonomic diversity: discovery, description, classification, and evolutionary relationships of organisms
• Functional diversity: organism traits and roles in ecosystems, and how those traits influence ecological and evolutionary dynamics

Do proposals need to include all three dimensions (genetic, taxonomic, and functional)?

Yes. Proposals are expected to include all three dimensions and, importantly, to connect them in a way that reveals interactions and feedbacks among them. The integration itself is a key expectation of the program.

What does "integrative" mean in the context of this solicitation?

Integrative means more than placing separate components side-by-side. The expectation is that the project connects genetic, taxonomic, and functional diversity in a way that helps explain relationships among them (including interactions and feedbacks) and advances understanding of biodiversity patterns and processes.

Why does NSF emphasize urgency in this biodiversity program?

The opportunity is motivated by the idea that biodiversity is being lost rapidly and, in many cases, permanently. That loss can remove ecosystem services people rely on, reduce our ability to understand evolution and responses to environmental change, and eliminate opportunities for future discoveries with practical value.

What types of real-world benefits or applications does NSF associate with biodiversity research in this program?

NSF highlights that biodiversity knowledge can lead to discoveries with real-world value, including potential new resources or technologies related to food systems, fibers and materials, fuels, pharmaceutical leads, and bio-inspired innovation. The program encourages research that can help explain biodiversity and its links to ecosystem function and change.

Is this a basic research program, an applied program, or both?

The solicitation ties the scientific motivation to both basic and applied importance. It supports fundamental discovery and explanation of biodiversity while also noting practical implications tied to ecosystem services and future innovations.

How many awards does NSF expect to make under this opportunity?

The opportunity anticipates about 30 awards.

What is the estimated total funding level for this program?

The estimated total funding level is $20,000,000.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The notice states that cost sharing or matching is not required.

What type of grant program is this within NSF?

It is described as a discretionary grant program within the NSF research and development portfolio, categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

Which CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?

The program is associated with CFDA 47.050 (Geosciences) and 47.074 (Biological Sciences), reflecting its cross-disciplinary scope and interest in linking biological patterns to environmental and Earth system contexts where appropriate.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to applicant types, subject to any clarifications in the full solicitation text.

What were the key dates listed for the original timeline?

The original timeline listed:

• Letter of Intent due: May 7, 2010 (required)
• Full proposal due: June 8, 2010
• Posted: March 11, 2010

Is a Letter of Intent (LOI) required?

Yes. The timeline states a required Letter of Intent was due May 7, 2010.

How can prospective investigators check whether their idea fits the program?

NSF explicitly invites prospective investigators to email a brief project summary and contact information to Dimensions@nsf.gov to check fit, which can be especially helpful given the program's specific integration requirement.

Where can applicants get help if they have trouble accessing the full announcement through Grants.gov?

For access issues related to the full announcement through Grants.gov, the notice directs applicants to Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.

What is the broader scientific vision behind the program?

The program is presented as an effort to transform biodiversity science through sustained and coordinated work, with the expectation that such a push would significantly change the field by around 2020.