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Geology and Paleontology The Geology and Paleontology Program (GE) supports research in three general areas:

Geobiology and Environmental Geochemistry: Basic research in biogeosciences, low-temperature geochemistry, and terrestrial environmental geochemistry. The Program supports studies of (1) the interactions between biological and geological systems across spatial and temporal scales, and the processes influencing those interactions; (2) the role of life in the evolution of the earth's systems; (3) processes, rates, and mechanisms of inorganic and organic geochemical phenomena occurring at or near the earth's surface now and in the past; (4) surficial chemical and biogeochemical systems and cycles and their modification through natural and anthropogenic change; and (5) geochemical phenomena at the broad spectrum of environmental interfaces ranging in scale from planetary and regional to mineral-surface and supramolecular.

Land Use Dynamics and Geomorphology: Studies of (1) the physical, chemical, and biological controls on processes producing the landforms, sediments, and soils of the earth's surface; (2) the history of geologic changes as recorded by modern and ancient surface features; and (3) human or natural changes in land use and covers critical to ecosystem functioning, services, and human welfare.

Sedimentary Geology and Paleobiology: Studies of (1) life in past geologic time based on fossil plants, animals, and microbes, and their relationships to existing plants, animals, and environments; (2) stratified rocks and interpretation of the historical information they contain (history of surface morphology, life, climate, tectonism, magnetic polarity, etc); and (3) the science of dating and measuring the time sequence of events that formed the sedimentary crust of the earth and extraterrestrial bodies.

Geology and Paleontology is interactive on a wide range of space and time scales with the ocean, atmospheric, polar, solid earth, hydrologic, biological and anthropological sciences. Support for geology and paleontology at NSF is managed to foster these interactions by encouraging inter-disciplinary proposals, and by linking with other NSF programs to arrange joint funding when appropriate.

Target Dates and Deadlines

Deadlines for proposal submission are July 16th and January 16th. Dates for other programs vary.

Program Contact(s)

Dr. Enriqueta Barrera
Program Director
Phone: 703.292.8551
Fax: 703.292.9025
Email: ebarrera@nsf.gov

Dr. H. Richard Lane
Program Director
Phone: 703.292.8551
Fax: 703.292.9025
Email: hlane@nsf.gov