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Ocean Acidification (NSF Publication 10-530) - FAQs

1) What is this NSF funding opportunity about?

This National Science Foundation (NSF) opportunity titled Ocean Acidification (NSF Publication 10-530) supports basic research focused on how rising atmospheric carbon dioxide is changing ocean chemistry and what those chemical changes mean for marine life and ocean ecosystems over time.

2) What problem or scientific need is the program trying to address?

The solicitation is framed around the need to better quantify the nature, extent, and impacts of a gradually acidifying ocean in the past, present, and future. It was motivated by growing scientific concern, including attention following the 2005 Royal Society report on ocean acidification.

3) What are the main scientific goals of the solicitation?

The opportunity emphasizes three main goals:

• Chemistry and physical chemistry: Improve understanding of the chemistry of ocean acidification, particularly where carbonate chemistry intersects with fundamental biochemical and physiological processes in organisms.
• Organisms to ecosystems: Link organism-level responses to ecosystem consequences, including life histories, food-web dynamics, biogeochemical cycling, and other ecological interactions that shape marine system structure and function.
• Earth system history: Use Earth system history to inform modern and future expectations, including drawing on paleo-records and past environmental analogs.

4) What kinds of research topics fit under the chemistry emphasis area?

Projects that advance understanding of ocean carbonate chemistry and related physical chemistry, especially where acidification interacts with core biochemical and physiological processes in organisms, align with the first emphasis area.

5) What does it mean to connect organism responses to ecosystem consequences?

The solicitation specifically calls for research that links acidification to organism-level responses and then scales those results to ecosystem-level outcomes. Examples of ecosystem consequences named in the opportunity include changes in life histories, food-web dynamics, biogeochemical cycling, and other ecological interactions that determine marine ecosystem structure and function.

6) How can Earth system history and paleo-records be used in proposals?

The program encourages studies that use Earth system history to interpret current changes and anticipate longer-term outcomes. Proposals may use paleo-records and past environmental analogs to inform expectations for modern and future ocean acidification impacts.

7) Is interdisciplinary collaboration encouraged?

Yes. A central theme is interdisciplinary collaboration and capacity building. NSF explicitly encourages proposals that create new partnerships across traditional disciplinary boundaries.

8) Which disciplines are specifically called out as relevant?

The solicitation includes (but is not limited to) collaboration across areas such as molecular and cellular biology, physiology, marine chemistry and physics, ecological sciences, paleoecology, and Earth system history.

9) What research approaches does NSF value for this opportunity?

The program values a mix of approaches, including observational systems, controlled experimental studies, theory, and modeling. The solicitation especially supports combining approaches to address questions that cannot be answered from a single perspective.

10) Are only standard research proposals allowed?

No. In addition to standard full research proposals, NSF also welcomes exploratory proposals and community development activities, such as workshops and symposia, to build networks and accelerate progress in this emerging area.

11) What are "community development activities" in this program?

Based on the solicitation description, community development activities may include efforts like workshops and symposia intended to build networks, partnerships, and shared capacity across disciplines related to ocean acidification research.

12) Do proposals need to explicitly align with the solicitation emphasis areas?

Yes. Regardless of the proposal format (full research, exploratory, or community activities), proposals are expected to clearly tie anticipated outcomes to the emphasis areas described in the solicitation.

13) What agency is offering this grant?

The program is offered by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

14) What type of grant program is this administratively?

This is described as a discretionary NSF grant program in the category of Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

15) When was this opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on January 27, 2010.

16) Is a letter of intent required, and when is it due?

Yes. A required letter of intent was due March 29, 2010 by 5 p.m. local time.

17) When were full proposals due?

Full proposals were due on April 26, 2010.

18) How many awards did NSF expect to make, and what was the total anticipated budget?

NSF anticipated making about 20 awards, with an estimated total program budget of $15,000,000.

19) What was the expected award size range?

Individual awards were expected to range from $50,000 to $2,000,000.

20) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The solicitation states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.

21) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to applicant types, subject to any clarifications or requirements in the full solicitation text.

22) Which CFDA program areas are associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with NSF program areas reflected in the CFDA listings for:

• Geosciences (47.050)
• Biological Sciences (47.074)
• Polar Programs (47.078)

23) Does this opportunity support work in polar or high-latitude systems?

The solicitation notes relevance across multiple NSF directorates and environments, including polar and high-latitude systems, where carbonate chemistry changes can be especially pronounced.

24) Where can applicants find the official requirements and details?

Applicants were directed to the official solicitation, NSF Publication 10-530, for reference and requirements.

25) Who should be contacted for Grants.gov access issues related to this opportunity?

For access issues, the information provided points to NSF Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.