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Environmental Sustainability (NSF PD 12-7643) - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the NSF Environmental Sustainability program trying to fund?

The NSF Environmental Sustainability program (PD 12-7643) funds engineering research aimed at designing and improving sustainable engineered systems that support human well-being while also preserving the natural systems that provide essential ecological services. A central theme is protecting long-term "natural capital" (environmental resources and ecosystem functions society depends on) while recognizing the need for stable economic conditions.

2) What does "natural capital" mean in this program?

In this program, "natural capital" refers to the environmental resources and ecosystem functions that societies depend on. The program emphasizes protecting this natural capital over long time horizons, while still accounting for economic stability.

3) Does the program expect projects to consider long-term outcomes?

Yes. Projects are expected to take a long view, often spanning extended time horizons, and to address sustainability outcomes over time rather than focusing only on short-term performance gains.

4) Is this program strictly engineering, or can proposals include other disciplines?

Proposals are expected to be clearly grounded in engineering principles and explicitly framed within an environmental sustainability context. Interdisciplinary elements are welcomed, and proposals may incorporate insights from social sciences and ethics when those perspectives strengthen the engineering research, improve real-world relevance, clarify trade-offs, or increase adoption potential.

5) What are the main research areas supported by the program?

The program is organized around four main research areas: Industrial Ecology, Green Engineering, Ecological Engineering, and Earth Systems Engineering. Well-justified ideas outside these categories may still be considered, but investigators are expected to contact the Program Director before submitting if the work is outside the main topic areas.

6) What kinds of projects fit under Industrial Ecology?

Industrial Ecology supports research that improves how we measure, model, and manage the environmental impacts of industrial and economic activity. Examples mentioned include advances in life cycle assessment, materials flow analysis, input-output economic modeling, and new sustainability metrics that better capture system-level performance. The emphasis is on innovative, engineering-relevant methods that can reshape how sustainability is quantified and how decisions are informed.

7) What does NSF mean by "system-level" sustainability methods in Industrial Ecology?

Based on the program description, system-level methods are those that capture sustainability performance beyond a single component or process and instead evaluate impacts, flows, and trade-offs across a broader system boundary (for example, through life cycle assessment, materials flow analysis, input-output modeling, or new cross-cutting metrics).

8) What types of projects fit under Green Engineering?

Green Engineering focuses on making manufacturing, buildings, and infrastructure more sustainable, particularly through cross-cutting or system-level approaches rather than narrow improvements to one process. The program values proposals that influence multiple processes, integrate across broader system boundaries, or take a holistic view of sustainability in the built environment.

9) Are specific built-environment topics explicitly encouraged under Green Engineering?

Yes. Examples of encouraged directions include improving distribution and collection systems to support smart growth, reducing negative impacts of development, and advancing practical solutions in stormwater prevention and management, drinking water recycling and reuse, and other green techniques that make sustainable construction and urban development more feasible at scale.

10) How is Green Engineering positioned relative to other NSF engineering programs?

The description notes that other NSF engineering programs may support specific environmentally benign processes. This program particularly values proposals that cut across multiple processes, integrate across a broader system boundary, or take a holistic view at the systems level.

11) What kinds of projects fit under Ecological Engineering?

Ecological Engineering emphasizes engineering knowledge needed to restore ecological function in natural and semi-natural systems. The focus is on engineering aspects of enhancing natural capital to support sustainable development, including work relevant to stream restoration, urban river revitalization, and wetland rehabilitation where communities need engineering tools, designs, models, and performance criteria.

12) What is NSF looking for in Ecological Engineering proposals beyond applied restoration?

The program explicitly invites research that clarifies fundamental engineering principles, methods, and design frameworks necessary for ecological engineering solutions to perform reliably and sustainably over time.

13) What kinds of projects fit under Earth Systems Engineering?

Earth Systems Engineering supports large-scale engineering research tied to global environmental challenges, including mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, climate change adaptation, and other issues that play out at regional to planetary scales. Projects typically address complex, interconnected systems and propose strategies that can be evaluated for effectiveness, scalability, risk, and long-term sustainability outcomes.

14) Can I submit a proposal that does not fit neatly into one of the four research areas?

The program leaves room for well-justified ideas outside the four main research areas, but it states an expectation that investigators reach out to the Program Director before submitting such proposals to confirm fit and reduce the risk of a return without review.

15) How important is it to frame the work explicitly as "environmental sustainability"?

It is a core expectation. Across all topic areas, proposals should be clearly grounded in engineering principles and framed explicitly within an environmental sustainability context.

16) What education or workforce development components are expected?

The program places strong emphasis on education and workforce development. Proposals should include meaningful involvement of at least one graduate student and involvement of undergraduates in the engineering research.

17) Does the program require interdisciplinary collaboration?

Interdisciplinary elements are welcomed, especially when social, behavioral, and economic sciences strengthen the work by improving adoption potential, aligning solutions with human behavior and institutions, or clarifying sustainability trade-offs and ethics. The program description does not state that interdisciplinary collaboration is required, but it highlights it as beneficial when it strengthens the engineering research.

18) What is the typical award duration?

Unsolicited awards are typically 1 to 3 years in duration.

19) What is the typical award size?

The program states an average annual award size of about $100,000.

20) Can I request a substantially larger budget than the typical level?

Requests substantially above the typical award level are discouraged unless the principal investigator consults with the Program Director in advance. The guidance indicates that unusually high budgets without prior discussion may be returned without review.

21) Is there an award floor or minimum total budget listed for this opportunity?

The award listing includes an award floor of $300,000. At the same time, the narrative guidance highlights the usual annual budget expectation of about $100,000 and typical durations of 1 to 3 years. Applicants should align the full project budget and duration to be consistent with both the program norms and the solicitation details.

22) How many awards does the program expect to make, and what is the total funding level?

The opportunity anticipates roughly 45 awards with an estimated total program funding level of about $5.4 million.

23) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity indicates there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

24) What does NSF want to see about novelty or transformative potential?

Applicants are expected to directly address what is novel or potentially transformative about the proposed concept compared to existing work in the field. They should explain why it matters for engineering science and describe the likely impact on society and/or industry if successful. At minimum, the Project Summary should state the novelty or transformative potential.

25) Are funding decisions based only on reviewer scores?

No. The description indicates that funding decisions may reflect more than reviewer scores alone. Programmatic considerations such as balance across subfields, available funds, overlap with other funding sources, NSF-wide priorities, and additional context known to the Program Director can influence final selections.

26) Are CAREER proposals encouraged under this program?

Yes. The solicitation encourages early-career participation through NSF CAREER proposals, described as five-year awards, with the Engineering CAREER deadline typically in July.

27) Are conference or workshop proposals allowed?

The solicitation notes that conference/workshop proposals are possible but should be discussed with the Program Director before submission.

28) Are RAPID and EAGER proposal mechanisms available?

The solicitation notes that certain special mechanisms (RAPID and EAGER) are possible but should be discussed with the Program Director before submission.

29) What happens if a proposal is submitted outside the submission window?

Proposals must be submitted within the specified window dates. Submissions outside the announced window are returned without review.

30) When should an investigator contact the Program Director?

Contacting the Program Director is advised when the proposed work is novel, unusually scoped, outside the main topic areas, or when the budget request would be substantially higher than typical. The solicitation frames early contact as a way to confirm fit and reduce the risk of a proposal being returned without review.

31) Who is the Program Director contact listed for fit questions?

The Program Director contact provided is bhamilto@nsf.gov.