Life flourishes on Earth in an incredibly wide range of environments, from high-salt deserts to volcanoes to polar ice. These environments may be analogous to the harsh conditions that exist now, or have existed, on other planets. The study of microbial life-forms and the extreme environments in which they exist here on Earth can provide important new insights into how organisms form and adapt to diverse environments. This knowledge will provide the basis for detecting and understanding the life forms that may exist beyond our own planet, and for developing useful new products and processes. The following support the LExEn program: the Directorates for Biological Sciences (BIO), Geosciences (GEO), Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS), and the Office of Polar Programs (OPP) of the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Office of Space Science of NASA.

Target Dates and Deadlines

There will be no competition run in 2001.

Program Contact(s)

Phil Taylor (OCE)
Program Director
Phone: 703.292.8582
Fax: 703.292.9085
Email: prtaylor@nsf.gov

Richard Lane (EAR)
Program Director
Phone: 703.292.8551
Fax: 703.292.9025
Email: hlane@nsf.gov