Opportunity Information: Apply for 07 598
Apply for 07 598
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.652 Forestry Research 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 47.076 Education and Human Resources 47.078 Polar Programs 47.079 Office of International Science and Engineering 47.080 Office of Cyberinfrastructure.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 13, 2010 and posted on Mar 4, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 12, 2010 Full Proposal Deadline(s) Third Tuesday in November, Annually. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $9,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 12 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunity titled Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems (Funding Opportunity Number 07-598) supports research that explains how human systems and natural systems influence each other over time. The central aim is to fund quantitative, interdisciplinary work that does more than study people and the environment in parallel; proposals are expected to analyze the processes on both sides and, most importantly, the feedbacks and interactions that connect them. The competition is geared toward understanding complex coupled dynamics across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales, which can include anything from local landscapes and communities to regional or global systems, and from short-term responses to long-term change.
A defining feature of this program is its emphasis on integrated modeling, measurement, and analysis that treats humans as part of the system rather than as an external driver. Projects typically bring together methods and perspectives from multiple fields, such as ecology, hydrology, geology, climate science, mathematics, engineering, computer and information science, and the social and behavioral sciences. Strong proposals are likely to make clear how human decisions, institutions, technologies, economic incentives, and demographic patterns interact with natural processes like land cover change, ecosystem function, biogeochemical cycling, hazards, or climate variability. Because the program highlights "dynamics," it generally favors approaches that can capture change, adaptation, nonlinearity, thresholds, and unintended consequences that can arise when natural and human components respond to each other.
From a funding standpoint, the opportunity is a discretionary grant program in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category. NSF anticipated making about 12 awards, with an estimated total funding level of $9,000,000. Individual award sizes were expected to fall between $500,000 (award floor) and $1,500,000 (award ceiling). The opportunity explicitly states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which aligns with NSF's typical approach for most research grants.
Eligibility is listed as "Unrestricted," meaning it is broadly open to applicants of any entity type, subject to any additional clarifications that may appear in the full solicitation text. The opportunity is cross-cutting within NSF, reflected in the wide range of CFDA numbers associated with it, including programs spanning Biological Sciences, Geosciences, Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences, Computer and Information Science and Engineering, Engineering, Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Education and Human Resources, Polar Programs, International Science and Engineering, and Cyberinfrastructure, as well as Forestry Research. In practical terms, that mix signals that NSF expects teams to assemble the expertise needed to treat coupled systems rigorously, and that proposals may align with multiple NSF directorates depending on the questions, data, and methods involved.
The solicitation schedule indicates a recurring annual deadline: full proposals were due the third Tuesday in November each year. The originally listed closing date for the 2009 cycle was November 17, 2009, and the record shows a later "current closing date" of September 12, 2010 with an archive date of September 13, 2010, which suggests this specific posting is now historical rather than active, even though it described an annual due date at the time. The posting date was March 4, 2009, and the creation date is listed as September 13, 2010.
For applicants looking for the official requirements, proposal preparation rules, and any program-specific expectations, the announcement points to "NSF Publication 07-598" as the primary reference document. For technical issues accessing the announcement through Grants.gov, the contact provided is NSF Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the NSF "Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems" grant opportunity?
It is a National Science Foundation (NSF) research grant opportunity titled Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems (Funding Opportunity Number 07-598). It supports research that explains how human systems and natural systems influence each other over time, with an emphasis on understanding the feedbacks and interactions that connect them.
What is the central aim of this program?
The central aim is to fund quantitative, interdisciplinary research that does more than study people and the environment in parallel. Proposals are expected to analyze processes on both the human and natural sides and, most importantly, the two-way feedbacks between them.
What does "coupled natural and human systems" mean in this solicitation?
In this solicitation, "coupled" means humans and nature are treated as parts of one system where changes in one component can drive changes in the other. The program expects work that explicitly addresses the interactions and feedback loops between human behavior, decisions, institutions, or technologies and natural processes such as ecosystems, land cover, hazards, or climate variability.
What kinds of research approaches are emphasized?
The opportunity emphasizes integrated modeling, measurement, and analysis that treats humans as part of the system rather than as an external driver. It highlights research designed to capture dynamics, including change over time, adaptation, nonlinearity, thresholds, and unintended consequences that can emerge from coupled responses.
What makes a proposal a strong fit for this program based on the description provided?
Based on the description, strong proposals are likely to clearly explain how human factors (for example, decisions, institutions, technologies, economic incentives, or demographic patterns) interact with natural processes (for example, land cover change, ecosystem function, biogeochemical cycling, hazards, or climate variability) and how those interactions evolve over time through feedbacks.
Does the program require proposals to be interdisciplinary?
Yes. The opportunity is described as supporting quantitative, interdisciplinary research. Projects typically bring together methods and perspectives from multiple fields across natural sciences, engineering, computational disciplines, and the social and behavioral sciences.
What disciplines or fields are mentioned as potentially relevant?
The description mentions fields such as ecology, hydrology, geology, climate science, mathematics, engineering, computer and information science, and the social and behavioral sciences. It also indicates cross-cutting participation across NSF areas, suggesting many combinations of expertise may be appropriate if they rigorously address coupled dynamics.
What spatial and temporal scales can projects cover?
The program is geared toward understanding complex coupled dynamics across a wide range of scales. Spatial scales can range from local landscapes and communities to regional or global systems. Temporal scales can range from short-term responses to long-term change.
Is this a grant or another type of funding mechanism?
It is described as a discretionary grant program in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category.
How many awards did NSF anticipate making under this opportunity?
NSF anticipated making about 12 awards.
What was the estimated total funding level?
The estimated total funding level listed for the opportunity was $9,000,000.
What is the expected award size range?
Individual award sizes were expected to range from an award floor of $500,000 to an award ceiling of $1,500,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity explicitly states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as "Unrestricted", meaning it is broadly open to applicants of any entity type, subject to any additional clarifications that may appear in the full solicitation text.
Is this opportunity limited to a single NSF directorate or program area?
No. It is described as cross-cutting within NSF, with a wide range of associated CFDA numbers spanning many NSF areas (including Biological Sciences, Geosciences, Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences, Computer and Information Science and Engineering, Engineering, Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Education and Human Resources, Polar Programs, International Science and Engineering, Cyberinfrastructure, and Forestry Research). This signals that proposals may align with multiple NSF directorates depending on the research questions, data, and methods.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this solicitation?
The Funding Opportunity Number is 07-598.
What document should applicants consult for official requirements and proposal preparation rules?
The announcement points to NSF Publication 07-598 as the primary reference document for official requirements, proposal preparation rules, and any program-specific expectations.
When were proposals due?
The solicitation indicates a recurring annual deadline: full proposals were due the third Tuesday in November each year. It also lists a closing date for the 2009 cycle of November 17, 2009.
Is the opportunity currently active or historical based on the dates shown?
Based on the record provided, it appears to be historical rather than active. The record shows a later "current closing date" of September 12, 2010 with an archive date of September 13, 2010, suggesting the posting has been archived even though it described an annual due date at the time.
What were the posting and creation dates listed?
The posting date was March 4, 2009, and the creation date is listed as September 13, 2010.
Where can applicants get help with technical issues accessing the announcement through Grants.gov?
For technical issues accessing the announcement through Grants.gov, the contact provided is NSF Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.
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