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NSF Geophysics Program (Funding Opportunity Number 12-598) - FAQs

1. What is this funding opportunity?

This is a discretionary grant opportunity from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Geophysics Program, identified as Funding Opportunity Number 12-598 (NSF Publication 12-598). It falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category and supports basic research in geophysics focused on the physics of the solid Earth.

2. What is the main goal of the NSF Geophysics Program?

The goal is to improve scientific understanding of Earth's composition, internal structure, and the physical processes operating from the surface down to the deepest interior.

3. Is this program focused on basic research or applied product development?

The program is designed to support foundational, basic research that advances geophysical theory, observations, and modeling. It is not described as a program aimed at applied product development.

4. What kinds of research approaches does NSF expect to support under this opportunity?

NSF indicates it will support a wide range of research approaches, including laboratory experiments, field investigations, theoretical studies, and computational work.

5. What scientific topics are included in the program scope?

The opportunity is broad in scope and includes (among other areas): earthquake-related science (including seismicity and seismic wave propagation), geophysical hazards (their nature, mechanisms, and occurrence), Earth's physical fields (magnetic, gravity, and electrical), Earth's thermal structure, and geodynamic processes that drive deformation and mantle-lithosphere dynamics.

6. Does the program fund earthquake research?

Yes. Core topic areas include earthquake-related science such as seismicity and seismic wave propagation.

7. Are geophysical hazards within scope?

Yes. The program includes research on the nature, mechanisms, and occurrence of geophysical hazards.

8. Are studies of Earth's magnetic, gravity, or electrical fields eligible?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly welcomes studies of Earth's fundamental physical fields, including magnetic, gravity, and electrical fields.

9. Does the program include research on Earth's thermal structure?

Yes. Research on Earth's thermal structure is explicitly included.

10. Does the opportunity support geodynamics and deformation research?

Yes. It includes geodynamic processes that drive deformation and mantle-lithosphere dynamics, and it explicitly includes geophysical studies of active deformation.

11. Is geodesy included (for example, measuring crustal motion)?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly includes geophysical studies of active deformation, including geodesy (such as techniques that measure crustal motion).

12. Are rock and Earth material properties part of the supported research areas?

Yes. The program includes theoretical and experimental research on the properties and behavior of Earth materials, including how rocks deform, fracture, flow, or respond to temperature, pressure, and stress.

13. What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?

The instrument type is a grant.

14. Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. NSF indicated there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

15. How many awards did NSF anticipate making?

NSF anticipated approximately 80 awards under this opportunity.

16. What was the estimated total funding level?

The estimated total funding level was about $15.9 million.

17. What is the expected award size range?

Individual awards were expected to range from a $20,000 floor to a $1.3 million ceiling, depending on the scope and needs of the proposed research.

18. Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning proposals could be submitted by any entity type as allowed under NSF rules, subject to any additional eligibility details contained in the full solicitation text (NSF Publication 12-598).

19. Does "unrestricted eligibility" mean there are no rules at all?

No. The information provided states eligibility is unrestricted in the sense that any entity type could submit as allowed under NSF rules, and that additional eligibility details may be contained in the full solicitation text (NSF Publication 12-598).

20. Are there recurring submission dates?

Yes. The announcement describes a recurring, semiannual full proposal target date schedule.

21. When are the full proposal target dates?

Target dates are the first Wednesday in December and the first Wednesday in June each year (examples given include December 5, 2012 and June 5, 2013).

22. What was the posting date for this opportunity?

The posting date was August 14, 2012.

23. Has this opportunity been archived?

Yes. The opportunity was later archived on January 6, 2023.

24. If there are technical issues accessing the opportunity through Grants.gov, who should be contacted?

For technical issues accessing the opportunity through Grants.gov, NSF directed applicants to Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.

25. What if there are linking problems associated with the funding announcement?

NSF noted separate help for linking problems associated with the funding announcement (the announcement distinguishes linking problems from general Grants.gov technical issues).