Opportunity Information: Apply for 16 589
Apply for 16 589
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Integrated Earth Systems" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.050.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 12, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 14, 2016 Deadline Date. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Integrated Earth Systems (IES) grant opportunity is a National Science Foundation (NSF) research program within the Division of Earth Sciences that focuses on how different parts of Earth work together as a connected set of complex, evolving systems. The program is built around the idea that Earth is not a collection of isolated components, but a network of interacting continental, surface, and deep interior processes that vary across space and time and respond to disturbances ranging from sudden events to slow, long-term forcing. In practical terms, IES is meant to support research that explains how processes operating from the core and mantle up through the crust, landscapes, oceans, atmosphere, and biosphere influence one another and produce the behaviors we observe in the Earth system.
A central theme of IES is interdisciplinary and collaborative work. NSF is explicitly looking for projects that combine expertise and methods across fields, because understanding Earth system behavior often requires linking traditionally separate areas such as tectonics, geodynamics, geomorphology, climate science, geochemistry, sedimentology, biogeoscience, and related modeling and observational approaches. The program emphasizes studies of Earth system "operation, dynamics, and complexity," which signals interest in research that goes beyond describing individual processes and instead tackles coupled interactions, feedbacks, thresholds, and emergent behavior across multiple components of the planet.
IES also encourages innovative proposals that push into research directions not typically covered by the standard "core" programs in NSF Earth Sciences. This is essentially an invitation to pursue integrative questions that fall between disciplinary boundaries or require a broader systems framing than a single-program submission would normally support. Investigations can span any temporal and spatial scale, from short-term events and local systems to deep-time evolution and global patterns, and proposals may focus on all or only part of the continental, terrestrial/surficial, and deep Earth systems as long as the integrative Earth-system connection is clear.
The solicitation highlights example topics to illustrate the kinds of integrative research it wants to fund. These include continental system studies; terrestrial and surface Earth systems that incorporate physical, chemical, and biotic (living) dimensions; linkages among tectonics, climate, and landscape evolution (for example, how mountain building influences climate and erosion, and how erosion and sediment redistribution can in turn affect tectonics); coupling among climate, depositional systems, and biotic systems (such as interactions between climate-driven sedimentation and ecosystem change); and global cycles that involve core and mantle processes (pointing to interest in how deep Earth dynamics may connect to long-term surface environments and planetary-scale biogeochemical cycling). The common thread across these topics is coupling: the proposal should make a strong case that progress depends on studying interactions across Earth domains rather than treating them separately.
From the funding details provided, this is a discretionary NSF grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number 16-589) in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category (CFDA 47.050). The listed award ceiling is up to $3,000,000, with an expectation of around 10 awards under the program for that cycle. The original closing date shown is November 14, 2016, which indicates this specific posting refers to that year’s competition window, though the program concept may continue under later solicitations. Eligibility is described broadly as "Others" with additional clarification referenced in the full eligibility text, which typically means applicants should consult the solicitation for the precise eligible organization types and any partnership or PI requirements.
Overall, IES is best understood as a mechanism to fund ambitious, cross-cutting Earth science projects that connect deep Earth, continents, and surface environments into coherent explanations of how the planet functions and changes, especially where those connections open up new directions beyond the usual boundaries of single-discipline programs.
Integrated Earth Systems (IES) Grant Opportunity (NSF) - FAQs
What is the Integrated Earth Systems (IES) grant opportunity?
The Integrated Earth Systems (IES) opportunity is a National Science Foundation (NSF) research program within the Division of Earth Sciences. It supports research aimed at understanding how different parts of Earth function together as connected, complex, evolving systems, rather than as isolated components.
What is the main goal of the IES program?
The main goal is to advance explanations of Earth system behavior by focusing on interactions among continental, surface, and deep interior processes that change across space and time. IES emphasizes how these linked processes respond to disturbances, from sudden events to slow, long-term forcing.
What does NSF mean by "Integrated Earth Systems" in practical terms?
In practical terms, IES is meant to fund research that connects processes spanning the core and mantle through the crust, landscapes, oceans, atmosphere, and biosphere, and shows how they influence one another to produce observed Earth system behavior.
Is IES focused on single-discipline projects or interdisciplinary research?
IES is centered on interdisciplinary and collaborative research. NSF is explicitly looking for projects that combine expertise, tools, and approaches across fields because coupled Earth system questions often cannot be answered within one traditional discipline.
What types of scientific areas can be combined in an IES proposal?
The opportunity highlights integrative work that can link traditionally separate areas such as tectonics, geodynamics, geomorphology, climate science, geochemistry, sedimentology, biogeoscience, and related modeling and observational approaches.
What kinds of Earth system questions does IES prioritize?
IES emphasizes Earth system "operation, dynamics, and complexity." This signals interest in research that goes beyond describing individual processes and instead examines coupled interactions, feedbacks, thresholds, and emergent behavior across multiple Earth components.
Does IES support projects that do not fit within standard NSF Earth Sciences core programs?
Yes. IES encourages innovative proposals that push into directions not typically covered by standard "core" programs. It is intended to support integrative questions that fall between disciplinary boundaries or require a broader systems framing than a single-program submission would normally support.
Do projects need to include the entire Earth system (deep Earth to biosphere), or can they focus on part of it?
Proposals may focus on all or only part of the continental, terrestrial/surficial, and deep Earth systems, as long as the integrative Earth-system connection is clear and the research depends on studying interactions across domains.
What spatial and temporal scales are acceptable for IES investigations?
Investigations can span any temporal and spatial scale. The solicitation describes scope ranging from short-term events and local systems to deep-time evolution and global patterns.
What is the common thread among projects IES wants to fund?
The common thread is coupling. Successful proposals are expected to make a strong case that progress requires studying interactions among Earth domains rather than treating processes separately.
What example research topics are highlighted in the solicitation?
Examples provided include: continental system studies; terrestrial and surface Earth systems incorporating physical, chemical, and biotic dimensions; linkages among tectonics, climate, and landscape evolution; coupling among climate, depositional systems, and biotic systems; and global cycles that involve core and mantle processes.
Does IES fund research on tectonics, climate, and landscape evolution linkages?
Yes. One explicit example is research on how mountain building can influence climate and erosion, and how erosion and sediment redistribution may in turn affect tectonics, illustrating the kinds of feedbacks and two-way couplings IES is interested in.
Does IES support studies that include biotic (living) components of Earth systems?
Yes. The solicitation includes examples of terrestrial and surface Earth systems that incorporate physical, chemical, and biotic dimensions, including coupling among climate, depositional systems, and biotic systems.
Is deep Earth (core and mantle) research within scope?
Yes, particularly where deep Earth dynamics connect to long-term surface environments and planetary-scale biogeochemical cycling. The solicitation highlights global cycles that involve core and mantle processes as an example topic area.
What NSF directorate/division hosts the IES program?
IES is an NSF research program within the Division of Earth Sciences.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this IES posting?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is 16-589.
What is the CFDA number and category associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category, with CFDA 47.050.
What is the maximum award size (award ceiling) indicated?
The listed award ceiling is up to $3,000,000.
How many awards does NSF expect to make under this program cycle?
The information provided indicates an expectation of around 10 awards for that cycle.
What was the closing date shown for this posting?
The original closing date shown is November 14, 2016, indicating the specific posting refers to that year’s competition window.
Does the 2016 closing date mean the IES program no longer exists?
Not necessarily. The information provided indicates this specific posting is tied to the 2016 competition window, while noting that the program concept may continue under later solicitations.
Who is eligible to apply based on the information provided?
Eligibility is described broadly as "Others," with additional clarification referenced in the full eligibility text. This suggests applicants should consult the solicitation for precise eligible organization types and any partnership or PI requirements.
What kind of proposals is IES best suited for overall?
IES is best suited for ambitious, cross-cutting Earth science projects that connect deep Earth, continents, and surface environments into coherent explanations of how the planet functions and changes, especially where those connections open new directions beyond the usual boundaries of single-discipline programs.
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