Arctic Research Opportunities
Arctic Natural Sciences; Arctic Social Sciences; Arctic System Science; Arctic Research Support and Logistics; Arctic Cyberinfrastructure and Sensors; and Arctic Research and Education

August 30, 2004

Please see full text of this solicitation for information about Deadline Dates and Target Dates for specific programs.

February 15, 2005

Please see full text of this solicitation for information about Deadline Dates and Target Dates for specific programs.

IMPORTANT NOTICE
See below for information about programs with Deadline Dates or Target Dates.

DEADLINE DATES
Arctic Natural Sciences: August 30, 2004 and February 15, 2005
Proposals will not be accepted to the Arctic Natural Sciences Program after the Deadline Date.

TARGET DATES
Arctic Social Sciences: August 30, 2004 and February 15, 2005
Arctic System Science: August 30, 2004 and February 15, 2005
Arctic Research Support and Logistics: August 30, 2004 and February 15, 2005
Arctic Cyberinfrastructure and Sensors: August 30, 2004 and February 15, 2005
Arctic Research and Education: August 30, 2004 and February 15, 2005

Arctic Natural Sciences instituted Deadline Dates to facilitate improved management of the program, which receives a high proposal load. All other programs in the Arctic Sciences Section utilize Target Dates.

Target Dates allow program directors the flexibility to accept proposals after the published target date. Proposers must contact the cognizant program director for approval prior to the target date when submitting a proposal after the target date. This is essential for orderly review of all submissions. Though a particular proposal may miss a panel or competition, proposals may still be reviewed if received after the target date provided that the proposer has prior approval from the program director. Failure to obtain prior approval of the cognizant program director for late submissions may result in the proposal being returned without review.

Revisions to NSF 03-574:

• Updated Section I. Introduction
• Updated Section II. Program Descriptions for all programs
• Added emphasis area to support Arctic Cyberinfrastructure and Sensors
• Updated Section V. Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions
• Updated Section IX. Other Programs of Interest including the OPP Postdoctoral program and information on REUs
• Updated Award Information
• Updated list of Program Directors

Arctic Research Opportunities
Arctic Natural Sciences; Arctic Social Sciences; Arctic System Science; Arctic Research Support and Logistics; Arctic Cyberinfrastructure and Sensors; and Arctic Research and Education

The National Science Foundation (NSF) invites investigators at U.S. organizations to submit proposals to conduct research in the Arctic and to perform research and data analysis. The goal of the NSF Arctic Research Programs is to gain a better understanding of the Earth's physical, biological, geological, chemical, social and cultural processes, and the interactions of ocean, land, atmosphere, biological, and human systems in the Arctic. Arctic research is supported at NSF by the Office of Polar Programs (OPP) (http://www.nsf.gov/od/opp) in the Office of the Director, as well as by a number of other programs within the Foundation. Program representatives from OPP and other NSF programs that support arctic research coordinate across NSF, including joint review and funding of arctic proposals, as well as mutual support of special projects with high logistical costs. Researchers interested in submitting proposals should consult this announcement and plan proposals in accordance with OPP's Guidelines and Award Conditions for Scientific Data (http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?opp991). Researchers should also follow the Principles for Conduct of Research in the Arctic (http://www.nsf.gov/od/opp/arctic/conduct.htm).

The Arctic Sciences Section in the Office of Polar Programs (OPP) supports scientific research of the Arctic region and related research and operational support. Science programs are suitable for disciplinary, multidisciplinary and broad, interdisciplinary investigations directed toward both the Arctic as a region of special scientific interest and a region important to the global system. Models indicate that the Arctic is among the most sensitive regions to environmental change. Climate records and human settlement spanning thousands of years as well as vast landscapes and partially ice-covered oceans provide a unique basis for integrated research on global systems and human adaptation.

OPP disciplinary interests encompass the atmospheric, biological, physical, earth, ocean, and social sciences. The Arctic System Science program provides the unique opportunity for interdisciplinary investigations of the Arctic as a system. In addition to supporting research on long-term human-environment interactions, OPP encourages the study of contemporary socioeconomic, cultural, and demographic issues. OPP also encourages research relevant to both polar regions, especially glaciology, permafrost, sea ice, oceanography, ecology, and aeronomy. Increasing emphasis is being given to the integration of research and education. Scientific programs that partner with schools, students (K-12 and higher), and communities in the north and that improve the public’s understanding of science and basic research are strongly encouraged.

The United States Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984 defines the Arctic as all areas north of the Arctic Circle and all United States territory north and west of the boundary formed by the Porcupine, Yukon, and Kuskokwim Rivers; all contiguous seas including the Arctic Ocean and the Beaufort, Bering, and Chukchi seas; and the Aleutian chain. Field projects falling outside these boundaries but directly related to arctic science and engineering conditions or issues, such as laboratory and theoretical studies, may also be appropriate; OPP recommends contacting the program director to verify the appropriateness of the proposed study before preparing a proposal.

The Foundation is one of twelve Federal agencies that sponsor or conduct arctic science, engineering, and related activities. As mandated by the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984, Federal interagency research planning is coordinated through the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC), which is chaired by NSF.

The Study of Environmental ARctic CHange (SEARCH) is an interagency effort to study changes occurring in the arctic system (http://psc.apl.washington.edu/search/). NSF is among the agencies contributing to this effort, which is also gaining support as a major international effort. The Arctic Sciences Section has funded SEARCH research through special announcements of opportunity and expects to continue supporting the development of SEARCH through this mechanism as funding becomes available. Future SEARCH themes supported by the Arctic Sciences Section will be guided by the research community through avenues such as the SEARCH Committee and the SEARCH Open Science Meeting (http://www.arcus.org/SEARCH/search.html).

Because the Arctic is the homeland of numerous Native peoples, special attention must be given to all aspects of research and education that may potentially impact their lives. An interagency statement of "Principles for the Conduct of Research in the Arctic" has been developed. All arctic research grantees are expected to abide by these principles, which can be found at http://www.nsf.gov/od/opp/arctic/conduct.htm. 

In fiscal year 2003 NSF spent $93.08 million on awards for Arctic science, education, and infrastructure projects. Of this, $67.30 million was from the OPP Arctic Research Program. 

A compilation of all NSF Arctic and related research grants for each fiscal year is available from the Polar Information Staff, Office of Polar Programs (phone: 703-292-8031). Information for FY2003 will be available in summer 2004. The current NSF Guide to Programs should be consulted for additional program information. Crosscutting programs at NSF (http://www.nsf.gov/home/crssprgm/) have provided support for research, education and infrastructure projects in the Arctic and should be consulted for additional opportunities.

RESEARCH PROGRAMS

Below are the descriptions of the programs and emphasis areas in the Arctic Sciences Section of the Office of Polar Programs (OPP) that support arctic research and education.

There are three science programs: Arctic Natural Sciences, Arctic Social Sciences, and Arctic System Science.

The Arctic Research Support and Logistics program provides research infrastructure and research support in the form of collection, management and dissemination of data with implications for the broader arctic research community, including long-term observations. The Arctic Cyberinfrastructure and Sensors emphasis area supports the development of new technologies for the acquisition and communication of data and information. The Arctic Research and Education program supports projects integrating research and education with an emphasis on encouraging the participation of women and underrepresented minorities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. 

A.  Arctic Natural Sciences Program

The OPP Arctic Natural Sciences (ANS) Program supports research in glaciology and in the atmospheric, biological, earth, and ocean sciences. This program provides core support for disciplinary research in the Arctic and coordinates its support of arctic research with the Directorates for Geosciences, Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Social and Behavioral, and Biological Sciences. Areas of special interest include marine and terrestrial ecosystems, arctic atmospheric and oceanic dynamics and climatology, as well as arctic geological and glaciological processes. For information regarding field support for proposals with field components, please see Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions below.

Atmospheric Sciences

Research in arctic atmospheric sciences focuses on arctic climate and meteorology, including atmosphere-sea and atmosphere-ice interactions. Research on past climates and atmospheric gases preserved in snow and ice is encouraged. The program also supports research on stratospheric and tropospheric processes.

In the areas of upper atmospheric and space physics, proposals often are considered jointly with the Division of Atmospheric Sciences in the Geosciences Directorate and the Antarctic Aeronomy and Astrophysics Program in OPP when conjugate studies are proposed.

Biological Sciences

OPP supports projects that emphasize understanding of the adaptation of organisms to the arctic environment. Biological studies in the Arctic include research in freshwater, marine, and terrestrial biology, and ecology. 

Earth Sciences

OPP supports projects in the areas of terrestrial and marine geology and geophysics. Of greatest interest is a better understanding of Arctic geological processes that are important for improving our ability to interpret the geologic record of environmental change in the polar regions, particularly in the Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic, with special emphasis on the Quaternary. Understanding the processes responsible for the evolution of permafrost and its consequent effects is also of significant importance. A better understanding and reconstruction of the plate tectonic history of the Arctic Ocean remains a priority, as well. 

Glaciology

OPP supports projects that focus on the history and dynamics of all naturally-occurring forms of snow and ice, including seasonal snow, glaciers, and the Greenland ice sheet. The Arctic Natural Sciences Program also supports modeling of mass balance, glacial geology, and remote sensing studies of ice sheets.

Ocean Sciences

OPP supports projects that advance our knowledge of the structure and processes of the Arctic Ocean and adjacent seas and their interactions with their boundaries, including the Arctic sea-ice cover. Areas of special interest are: low temperature life processes; the formation, movement, and mixing of arctic water masses; the dynamics of sea ice; and the role of the Arctic Ocean and adjacent seas in global climate. Proposals concerned with the interdependencies of chemical and physical processes and marine organisms and productivity are encouraged.

B.  Arctic Social Sciences Program

The OPP Arctic Social Sciences Program (ASSP) encompasses all social sciences supported by NSF. These include, but are not limited to anthropology, archaeology, economics, geography, linguistics, political science, psychology, science and technology studies, sociology, traditional knowledge and related subjects.

Although unsolicited proposals in any of the social sciences mentioned above are welcome, areas of particular interest include culture and environment, resources and economic change, development of social and political institutions, ethnic (cultural) and regional identities, and knowledge systems. These five research areas are identified and explained in the report, Arctic Social Sciences: Opportunities in Arctic Research (Arctic Research Consortium of the United States, June 1999, Fairbanks, Alaska. Available through the Arctic Research Consortium at http://www.arcus.org).

The Arctic Social Sciences Program especially encourages projects that are circumpolar and/or comparative; involve collaborations between researchers and those living in the Arctic; or form partnerships among disciplines, regions, researchers, communities, and/or students (K-12, undergraduate, or graduate). Dissertation research proposals will be accepted. Please consult the "Dissertation Panel Advice to Students" guidelines in the Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences (DBCS)(http://www.nsf.gov/sbe/bcs/anthro/cultdadv.htm). These guidelines are to provide the applicant with a basic outline for their proposals. Applicants should apply to this announcement/solicitation number and talk to the ASSP program director about funding limits, which vary from those in DBCS. 

Projects involving research with human subjects must ensure that subjects are protected from research risks in conformance with the Common Rule (Federal Policy for the protection of Human Subjects, 45 CFR para. 690). Before issuance of an NSF award, all projects involving human subjects must either have approval from the organization's Institutional Review Board (IRB) or identify the applicable subsection exempting the proposal from IRB review, as established in section 101(b) of the Common Rule. The box for "Human Subjects" should be checked on the Cover Sheet with the IRB approval date (if available) or exemption subsection from the Common Rule identified in the space provided. If letters of permission or approval are included, such as those from Native organizations or communities in which the work will take place, please contact the program director for instructions on how to include them. 

The Arctic Social Sciences Program considers joint review and funding within OPP and with other NSF programs, when appropriate. Special funding opportunities may also be available through the human dimensions component of the Arctic System Science (ARCSS) Program (see below). For information regarding field support for proposals with field components, please see Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions below.

C.  Arctic System Science (ARCSS) Program

The Arctic comprises a complex, tightly coupled system of air, ice, ocean, land and people. The arctic system behaves in ways that we do not fully understand and has demonstrated the capacity for rapid and unpredictable change with global ramifications. Because the Arctic is pivotal to the dynamics of our planet, it is critical that we understand this complex and interactive system. The goal of the Arctic System Science (ARCSS) program is to answer the following question:

What do changes in the Arctic system imply for the future?

To address this question ARCSS must:

• Advance from a component understanding to a system understanding of the Arctic.
• Understand the behavior of the Arctic system, past, present, and future.
• Understand the role of the Arctic as a component of the global system.
• Include society as an integral part of the arctic system.

Building on a solid foundation of over a decade of observation, modeling, and process studies, the ARCSS program is entering a synthesis-driven enterprise aimed at achieving system level understanding of the Arctic. This may well still include some of the kinds of component level studies carried out before, but successful proposals will focus much more on the relationships amongst the pieces of the system than on the pieces themselves and priorities will be set by the needs of the program in understanding the system. ARCSS will focus much more on achieving that system understanding. The ARCSS program will:

• Integrate modeling, observational, process, and paleoenvironmental studies.
• Develop a hierarchy of conceptual and quantitative models of the Arctic system.
• Identify the most sensitive components and interactions driving Arctic system behavior.
• Refine understanding of these key components and interactions.
• Strengthen the interactions between arctic system research and the broader Earth system science.
• Enhance two-way communication with stakeholders, decision-makers, and the public.

ARCSS Structure and focus

In recent years ARCSS has had four active, more-or-less disciplinary components: Ocean/Atmosphere/Ice Interactions (OAII); Land/Atmosphere/Ice Interactions (LAII); Human Dimensions of the Arctic System (HARC), and Paleoenvironmental Arctic Sciences (PARCS), under which research activities have been developed. PARCS proposals were considered within the Earth System History competition of the United States Global Change Research Program solicited under a different NSF announcement with separate submission dates.

The ARCSS program is undergoing a major transition, led by the research community, away from these somewhat multidisciplinary organizing principles toward a new ARCSS program that is integrated, synthetic and more truly interdisciplinary. In particular, efforts will continue to extract as much as possible from research already performed and to capture the knowledge and experience achieved under these components. Replacing them will be a more pro-active ARCSS committee that will guide the system science thinking of the program, strive to develop more extensive connections to a broader array of disciplines for new ideas, and devote considerable attention to fostering ARCSS research efforts during their full life cycle from inception of idea through archival of data, synthesis of results and communication of them to the community and public.

The ARCSS program supports most of its research through special targeted announcements developed in close cooperation amongst NSF, the ARCSS research community and the ARCSS committee. However ARCSS does support a small number of proposals received through this regular Arctic Section announcement. Proposals to this general announcement of opportunity should put forth new ideas or efforts that do not fit well under more organized banners and that are smaller in scope than one might find in the specialized announcements of opportunity. Just as any ARCSS proposal, these proposals must focus on advancing our knowledge of the arctic system. Moreover, with the exception of proposals that were specifically encouraged by a panel and NSF to resubmit as filling an essential gap in a particular ARCSS effort, this general announcement of opportunity should not normally be viewed as a mechanism to re-submit proposals that were declined in a targeted announcement, because those efforts are assembled as a package.

Information describing the current thinking of the ARCSS program is available on the ARCSS web site (http://www.arcus.org/ARCSS/ARCSS.html) and via links therein. Future special announcements for funding opportunities in ARCSS will draw on and aggregate ideas presented in more than one individual disciplinary science plan. Examples of some of the kinds of ideas identified at the 2002 All Hands Meeting as being likely to have high priority in ARCSS in the coming years were: 

• Arctic-CHAMP: pan-Arctic Community-wide Hydrological Analysis and Monitoring Program (http://nsidc.org/arcss/projects/champ.html)          
• Nearshore and Coastal Processes (expanded from RAISE: http://nsidc.org/arcss/projects/raise.html)          
• Pan-Arctic Cycles, Transitions and Sustainability (http://www.laii.uaf.edu/pubs/PACTS-Oct02.pdf)

However, as the ARCSS synthesis develops, ARCSS is likely to work proactively with its constituent communities to develop these along with other new ideas.

Synthesis in ARCSS

The arctic system includes physical, chemical, geological, biological, and cultural factors that respond to global change processes. Some models that predict the climatic response to global change show greater change in the Arctic than any other region. The predicted climatology, however, may not consider the largely unknown interannual to centennial variability in the Arctic. The historical and current human occupation of and dependence on resources in the Arctic, a region subject to possibly large environmental perturbations, makes it important that scientists understand better the interactions of the global and arctic systems. Therefore, the research supported in ARCSS extends beyond purely observational studies to those studies that predict and analyze the consequences of environmental variability and global change important to wise stewardship of renewable resources and development of decision and policy options for resource managers and residents. 

To achieve this, ARCSS supports efforts that synthesize knowledge of how the arctic system works, including focus on the linkages between parts of the system, and better articulation of the implications for the future. In general the program is trying to concentrate on understanding the relations amongst the components of the system and leaving the detailed studies at the subcomponent level to other, more disciplinary programs.

Defining an ARCSS Proposal

The interdisciplinary nature of system science can make it difficult to determine whether a proposal is or is not suitable for the ARCSS program. A proposal suitable for competition in the ARCSS program will normally be expected to:

• have a direct connection to and be essential to success of the ARCSS effort,
• fill a significant gap in our understanding of the arctic system that has been identified by the ARCSS synthesis,
• determine or investigate the important relations amongst components of the arctic system,
• help explain the range of states for the arctic system,
• focus on explaining cause-and-effect, or
• contribute significantly to our understanding of the structure and function of the arctic system through synthesis and further study.

To be successful, a proposal to the ARCSS program should have several or all of the above characteristics. Moreover ARCSS proposals must define explicitly how they contribute to system understanding. Failure to do so will result in the return of a proposal. 

For more information on how a research proposal might best fit the themes of ARCSS, contact the program director. For information regarding field work for proposals with field components, please see Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions below.

OTHER SUPPORT FOR ARCTIC RESEARCH

D.  Arctic Research Support and Logistics Program

The Arctic Research Support and Logistics (RSL) program will accept proposals that:

• support long-term observations of the Arctic, 
• support the acquisition of data sets that can be considered used by a broad Arctic research community,
• will lead to Cooperative Agreements to operate multi-use Arctic research facilities, or
• provide services that broadly support the arctic research community, such as facilitating communication, development of research ideas in an Arctic wide community setting, and cooperation with Arctic communities.

Long Term Observations

The Arctic Research Support and Logistics (RSL) program will accept proposals that seek to establish or maintain long-term observation data sets. They should be justified in the context of providing critical data to regional or global modeling efforts and/or as a framework for process studies. Investigators are encouraged to show strong community support for these measurements and mechanisms to engage the stakeholders in providing guidance on the collection of the datasets. If appropriate, reference should be made to how the proposed activity fits into the SEARCH implementation plan (see the SEARCH web site for more information http://psc.apl.washington.edu/search/). Development of robust instrumentation approaches is encouraged and these can be developed in conjunction with support from the Arctic Cyberinfrastructure and Sensors (CIS) effort described below. Data sets from Long-Term Observatories are expected to be made publicly available immediately upon collection.            

Data Acquisitions or Collection

The RSL program will accept proposals that:

• Support the acquisition of satellite and airborne imaging and mapping data and the production and dissemination of user-friendly data products that will be made available to the NSF research community. 
• Support aspects of collecting underway data from ships. This includes documentation, quality control and archiving. Proposals need not address all possible data streams, but they should address the end-to-end management of any covered data stream to the point that data are suitable for acceptance into an appropriate archive. Researchers are required to develop a website or alternative venue that advertises the existence of the data, and how the data can be obtained. Researchers wishing to propose an underway data project are encouraged to review the posted correspondence that is available on the AICC website (http://www.unols.org/aicc/). It is envisioned that proposals may be received to cover the acquisition of multibeam and other bathymetric data, acoustic Doppler current profiler data, and meteorological data.               
• Develop components of geospatial information infrastructure to benefit the arctic research community. The Arctic GIS website hosted by the Arctic Research Consortium of U.S. (ARCUS; http://www.arcus.org/gis) contains information about meetings, workshops, initiatives and links to data and information about arctic geospatial information infrastructure.

Facility Operations

The RSL program will accept proposals for the operation of research support facilities that support, or will support NSF funded projects. If successful, awards are expected to be made as cooperative agreements. Proposal should show the range of projects and programs being supported or that would be supported using the facility.

The proposal should also show the facility's approach to project planning, how decisions are made on project support plans, the approach to project support in a research and polar environment--both of which tend to force adaptation of plans--how the facility solicits user feedback and how that feedback is evaluated and leads to organizational change.

Fieldwork

The RSL program supports field components of research funded by the Arctic Sciences Section, other directorates at NSF and occasionally other federal agencies. Support includes, but is not limited to, providing transportation, food and shelter while conducting field work, user and day-rate fees at field camps, salaries of staff hired specifically for field work, activities such as travel to coordinate projects with permitting agencies and local communities. More detailed information is available on the RSL web site (http://www.nsf.gov/od/opp/arctic/suplog.htm).

Access to logistical support from the RSL program is through the regular proposal process. For further information see the Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions below.

E.  Arctic Cyberinfrastructure and Sensors

The goal of the Arctic Cyberinfrastructure and Sensors (CIS) emphasis area is to enable the development of both sensors and links in an Arctic-wide network of multidisciplinary, integrated sensors, connecting to potential users via the Internet. 

The term cyberinfrastructure was explicated in a recent NSF report entitled,  “Revolutionizing Science and Engineering Through Cyberinfrastructure, January 2003 (http://www.cise.nsf.gov/sci/reports/toc.cfm):  “The base technologies underlying cyberinfrastructure are the integrated electro-optical components of computation, storage, and communication that continue to advance in raw capacity at exponential rates. Above the cyberinfrastructure layer are software programs, services, instruments, data, information, knowledge and social practices applicable to specific projects, disciplines, and communities of practice. Between these two layers is the cyberinfrastructure layer of enabling hardware, algorithms, software, communications, institutions and personnel. This layer should provide an effective and efficient platform for the empowerment of specific communities of researchers to innovate and eventually revolutionize what they do, how they do it, and who participates.”

The 2004 NSF announcement of opportunity for Sensors and Sensor Networks (http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2004/nsf04522/nsf04522.htm) discusses sensor development at length. These discussions are relevant to the development of sensors and sensor networks for the Arctic.

Within these contexts, CIS will focus on the research required to create new, more capable sensors of physical, biological or chemical variables in the ocean, ice and air, as well as the methodologies to enable such measurements to be made from fixed arrays or autonomous platforms. Because of a wide range of cyberinfrastructure efforts at NSF, CIS will tend to focus on Arctic-specific issues in the areas of communications and software as, for example, methodologies for data transmission from under an ice pack as opposed to data transmission protocols in general.

A natural tie exists between the CIS emphasis area and the RSL program; as a rule of thumb, CIS should be the recipient of proposals that address forefront research issues in the development of novel sensors or instruments. Conversely, proposals for long-term observations in the Arctic using more established means should be submitted to the RSL Program. Because development efforts may be a part of proposals to the ANS, Arctic Social Sciences and ARCSS Programs, such proposals will be jointly reviewed and joint funding may result for successful proposals.

F.  Arctic Research and Education

The integration of scientific research with education and outreach is important to OPP. Investigators are encouraged to include these activities in their research proposals in accordance with the broader impacts review criterion. Some education and outreach activities may develop during the course of a research grant or warrant a separate proposal specifically for the education and outreach activities.

The Arctic Research and Education program supports activities that bridge research and education in concert with funded research grants and agreements through supplement requests or as separate proposal requests to support new ventures. Proposals to this program may include formal or informal education or outreach for students K-12 and higher or to the broader public. Most commonly awards are made as supplements to research grants or as small grants. The Arctic Research and Education program seeks to collaborate with other directorates at NSF to promote the integration of research and education. For information regarding field support for proposals with field components, please see Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions below.

See Section IX for Other Programs of Interest.

 

OPP expects to make approximately 130-160 awards each year, with a combination of standard and continuing grants and cooperative agreements. Award sizes will vary widely depending on the type of work proposed. Funding for the Arctic research programs will total approximately $75 million, per year, including all logistics costs and continuing grant increments, pending availability of funds. Approximately $25 million is available for new projects each year.  

The GPG contains information about proposal preparation, submission, review and administration helpful to the proposing community. Particular style and format rules ensure fairness among proposals and readability for reviewers and program directors. Proposals have been returned without review for failing to comply with the GPG or the solicitation. Please bear in mind the following:

• Proposals that are resubmissions must be substantially changed from the original,
• Minimum font size and maximum lines and characters per centimeter are specified in the GPG,
• Follow the format rules for biosketches, in particular, do not include more than 10 publications,
• For efficiency of processing, please arrange listings alphabetically by last name in the Collaborators, Students, Advisors, Other Affiliations, Suggested Reviewers and related sections.

Principles for Conduct of Research in the Arctic

Researchers should conform to the Principles for the Conduct of Research in the Arctic, prepared by the Social Science Task Force of the U.S. Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC) and approved by IARPC in 1990. These principles are listed at http://www.nsf.gov/od/opp/arctic/conduct.htm.

Proposals Involving Arctic Field Work

The Arctic Sciences Section does not require the use of logistics forms for Arctic field-work. However, for proper review of the proposal and advanced logistics planning to support successful proposals, the anticipated field work should be described in the proposal. A description of fieldwork is appropriate in a section of the proposal describing the overall project schedule. Figures showing the field work area are encouraged. 

If a third-party is arranging logistics (a logistics contractor) the costs should not be itemized or included in the project budget spreadsheet. Instead, the scope and kind of support should be described clearly in the budget justification to allow the logistics provider and reviewers to assess the scope and feasibility (see Section II, "Arctic Research Support and Logistics"). 

Proposals that include fieldwork should be submitted well in advance. For example, for fieldwork in Summer 2006, proposals should be submitted by February 2005.

The RSL program was created, in part, to enhance access, safety  and interactions with local Arctic communities. Accordingly investigators are encouraged to propose effective and efficient use of logistics resources to reach research goals and cooperate with communities near field research sites. More information is available on the RSL program website (http://www.nsf.gov/od/opp/arctic/suplog.htm).

Logistics Providers and Field Stations

The RSL program works with several organizations to meet the needs of arctic field research.  Projects working through NSF’s prime logistics contractor (VECO Polar Resources; http://vecopolar.com/) are encouraged to contact them to develop a preliminary plan. Researchers proposing to work near Barrow, Alaska are required to contact the Barrow Arctic Science Consortium (BASC) prior to submission of a proposal to ensure the project can be accommodated, see (http://www.sfos.uaf.edu/basc/).  Researchers proposing to work at Toolik Field Station are required to contact the station prior to submission of a proposal to ensure the project can be accommodated, see (http://www.uaf.edu/toolik/).  

Greenland

Principal investigators contemplating work in Greenland should obtain the Danish Polar Center application form for research in Greenland. Application forms are available at http://www.dpc.dk. A copy of the application should be included in the supplementary documentation with the proposal submitted to OPP (in the Supplementary Documents section of Fastlane).

UNOLS Vessel Requests

Researchers intending to use a vessel from the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) or the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) vessels Healy, Polar Sea or Polar Star should follow the UNOLS procedure (http://www.unols.org). 

Identify this Solicitation in Proposal

August 30, 2004
Please see full text of this solicitation for information about Deadline Dates and Target Dates for specific programs.

February 15, 2005
Please see full text of this solicitation for information about Deadline Dates and Target Dates for specific programs.

DEADLINE DATES
Arctic Natural Sciences: August 30, 2004 and February 15, 2005

Proposals will not be accepted to the Arctic Natural Sciences Program after the Deadline Date. Arctic Natural Sciences instituted Deadline Dates to facilitate improved management of the program, which receives a high proposal load. All other programs in the Arctic Sciences Section utilize Target Dates.

TARGET DATES
Arctic Social Sciences: August 30, 2004 and February 15, 2005
Arctic System Science: August 30, 2004 and February 15, 2005
Arctic Research Support and Logistics: August 30, 2004 and February 15, 2005
Arctic Cyberinfrastructure and Sensors: August 30, 2004 and February 15, 2005
Arctic Research and Education: August 30, 2004 and February 15, 2005

Target Dates allow program directors the flexibility to accept proposals after the published target date. Proposers must contact the cognizant program director for approval prior to the target date when submitting a proposal after the target date. This is essential for orderly review of all submissions. Though a particular proposal may miss a panel or competition, proposals may still be reviewed if received after the target date provided that the proposer has prior approval from the program director. Failure to obtain prior approval of the cognizant program director for late submissions may result in the proposal being returned without review.

OPP, in conformance with NSF policy, expects investigators to share with other researchers, at no more than incremental cost, and within a reasonable time, the data, derived data products, samples, physical collections, and other supported materials gathered or created in the course of a research project. For further details on this policy, please see "Guidelines and Award Conditions for Scientific Data" at http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?opp991.

Principle Investigators are expected to follow the Principles for the Conduct of Research in the Arctic, prepared by the Social Science Task Force of the U.S. Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC) and approved by IARPC in 1990. These principles are listed at http://www.nsf.gov/od/opp/arctic/conduct.htm.

Postdoctoral Fellowships in Polar Regions Research

OPP remains committed to providing opportunities for education and increasing diversity in the science workforce. In 2004 OPP announced Postdoctoral Fellowships in Polar Regions Research (http://www.nsf.gov/pubsys/ods/getpub.cfm?nsf04566) to support postdoctoral training and research on any aspect of scientific study of the Antarctic and/or the Arctic. Please see the solicitation for information and deadline dates. The point of contact for the OPP Postdoctoral Fellowship program is Dr. Bernie Lettau, Ocean and Climate Systems Program Officer (email: blettau@nsf.gov; phone: 703-292-8030).

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

Annually OPP supports Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU; http://www.nsf.gov/pubsys/ods/getpub.cfm?nsf04584) through research grants, as supplements to research grants and as awards for REU sites to provide research and training opportunities for undergraduate students (http://www.nsf.gov/home/crssprgm/reu/start.htm). The REU program is intended to provide meaningful experiences to undergraduate students in planning, conducting, analyzing and if possible publishing original research to develop a new generation of researchers. The REU program is a major contributor to the NSF goal of developing a diverse, internationally competitive, and globally-engaged scientific and engineering workforce. It draws on the integration of research and education to attract a diversified pool of talented students into careers in science and engineering and to help ensure that they receive the best education possible.

REU support comes from program research budgets. Requests for REU students should be made in the original research proposal or as supplements to existing grants. As with all supplement requests, contact the cognizant program officer prior to submitting a supplement request to host an REU student. REU supplement request to programs in the Arctic Sciences Section are supported pending availability of funds. The emphasis will be on selecting the best research experiences for students and providing REU opportunities to researchers who have not had them in the past.

Other Programs at NSF

Crosscutting programs at NSF include interdisciplinary programs, programs that are supported by multiple Directorates at NSF, and programs jointly supported by NSF and other Federal agencies. Selected major programs are listed on the Crosscutting programs website at http://www.nsf.gov/home/crssprgm/.

Within the crosscutting program Environmental Research and Education are several emphasis areas compatible with arctic research, including Biocomplexity in the Environment, Global Change Research, and Environmental Education. More information about these emphasis areas at NSF can be found on the ERE web site at http://www.nsf.gov/geo/ere/ereweb/index.cfm.

OPP also works closely with other programs in the Geosciences Directorate (http://www.geo.nsf.gov/start.htm), including Ocean Sciences, Atmospheric Sciences and Earth System History and has co-funded education projects with the Elementary, Secondary and Informal Education (ESIE) program in the Education and Human Resources Directorate (http://www.ehr.nsf.gov/).