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Frontiers in Earth System Dynamics (FESD) - FAQs

What is the Frontiers in Earth System Dynamics (FESD) funding opportunity?

Frontiers in Earth System Dynamics (FESD) is a National Science Foundation (NSF) discretionary research grant opportunity in the Geosciences area (CFDA 47.050). It was designed to advance high-impact research on Earth as a dynamic, interconnected system, with a focus on how major Earth subsystems interact and how those interactions can produce rapid, abrupt, or nonlinear change.

Which NSF funding opportunity number is associated with FESD?

The NSF funding opportunity number for this solicitation is NSF 12-547.

Is this solicitation currently active?

No. The solicitation was archived in NSF systems on January 7, 2014, which means it is no longer an active opportunity. The description remains useful as a reference for the types of research NSF prioritized under this program.

What kind of research did FESD aim to support?

FESD aimed to support ambitious Earth system science that goes beyond single-discipline or single-component studies. The program emphasized research that examines interactions among Earth subsystems and how those couplings can amplify or dampen change across different spatial and temporal scales.

What is the central scientific premise of FESD?

The central premise is that Earths major subsystems (including the atmosphere, oceans, land surface, cryosphere, biosphere, and solid Earth) vary across space and time and can respond quickly, sometimes abruptly, to multiple disturbances. Understanding Earth requires studying how these subsystems connect and influence one another as a coupled system.

Which Earth subsystems were specifically highlighted in the program description?

The solicitation explicitly referenced the atmosphere, oceans, land surface, cryosphere, biosphere, and solid Earth as major subsystems of interest.

What were the main goals of the FESD program?

FESD emphasized four main goals: (1) foster genuinely interdisciplinary and multiscale understanding of Earth system behavior; (2) catalyze research in areas judged to be on the verge of major breakthroughs; (3) improve data resolution and modeling capabilities to better represent complex Earth processes and anticipate disruptive events, abrupt transitions, or threshold behaviors; and (4) improve understanding of Earth system resilience, including how subsystems absorb shocks, recover, reorganize, or shift into new states under stress.

How did FESD define or emphasize interdisciplinarity?

Interdisciplinarity was framed as connecting knowledge, methods, and perspectives across traditional boundaries, and explicitly moving beyond single-discipline or single-component projects in favor of research centered on coupled interactions among subsystems.

What does "multiscale" mean in the context of FESD?

Within FESD, multiscale understanding meant considering processes that link local, regional, and global dynamics, and also connecting short-term variability with longer-term change across time.

Did FESD prioritize research related to abrupt change, thresholds, or tipping points?

Yes. The program highlighted the importance of strengthening the ability to forecast or assess risks associated with nonlinear change, tipping points, cascading impacts, abrupt transitions, and threshold behaviors in Earth systems.

What role did modeling and data resolution play in FESD?

Improving data resolution and modeling capabilities was a major emphasis. The solicitation described the need for more realistic representation of complex Earth processes and better anticipation of disruptive events and abrupt or threshold-driven behaviors.

What did FESD mean by Earth system resilience?

Resilience was described in terms of how Earth and its subsystems absorb shocks, recover, reorganize, or shift into new states under stress.

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

The opportunity anticipated making about 10 awards.

What was the estimated total funding level for FESD?

The estimated total funding level was $28,000,000.

Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. The solicitation stated that cost sharing or matching was not required.

What was the proposal process for FESD?

FESD used a two-stage process. A preliminary proposal was required first, and full proposals were by invitation only.

When was the preliminary proposal due?

The preliminary proposal deadline was July 2, 2012, due by 5 p.m. local time for the proposer.

Were full proposals accepted without an invitation?

No. Full proposals were by invitation only.

When was the invited full proposal due?

The invited full proposal deadline was March 4, 2013.

Who was eligible to submit proposals?

Eligibility was oriented toward U.S.-based research and education organizations. Proposals could be submitted by accredited U.S. colleges and universities (including two-year and four-year institutions, such as community colleges) on behalf of their faculty.

Were non-university organizations eligible?

Yes. Certain non-profit, non-academic organizations were also eligible, including independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies, and similar U.S. organizations tied to research or educational activities.

Was the program limited to universities only?

No. While universities were eligible, the program also reflected NSFs broader support for independent institutions that contribute significant scientific and educational capacity.

What was the overall purpose of the FESD program?

Overall, FESD was built to fund interdisciplinary Earth system research that improves fundamental understanding of coupled Earth processes and strengthens the practical ability to simulate, anticipate, and assess rapid, nonlinear, or threshold-driven changes.

What types of scientific approaches were encouraged by the program design?

The program structure encouraged approaches that integrate across Earth system components, work across spatial and temporal scales, and address complexity and nonlinearity rather than treating Earth components as isolated parts.