Facilities for Atmospheric Research and Education
The Facilities for Atmospheric Research and Education grant supports cutting-edge instruments and facilities for atmospheric science studies through the FARE Program's LAOF and CIF components.
Funder: National Science Foundation
Due Dates: Proposals accepted anytime
Funding Amounts: No specified ceiling or floor; funding varies by project and facility needs. Support may include technician time, minor upgrades, and outreach travel.
Summary: Supports access to and development of state-of-the-art instruments and facilities for fundamental atmospheric science research via the LAOF and CIF programs.
Key Information: LAOF proposals are by invitation only; contact the program director before applying.
Description
The National Science Foundation's Facilities for Atmospheric Research and Education (FARE) program is designed to advance fundamental research in atmospheric sciences by supporting access to and development of cutting-edge instruments and facilities. The program is managed by the Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences (AGS) and consists of two main components:
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Lower Atmosphere Observing Facilities (LAOF): Provides the geosciences research community with access to multi-user national facilities, specialized instrumentation, and field support services for a wide range of geophysical investigations. LAOF supports both the planning and deployment of NSF-sponsored facilities for scientific field programs. Proposals to LAOF are accepted by invitation only.
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Community Instruments and Facilities (CIF): Offers the atmospheric sciences community access to specialized instrumentation for field and laboratory-based studies. CIF invites proposals from instrument and facility providers willing to make their equipment available for community use. Support may include limited technician time, minor upgrades, and travel for outreach.
The FARE program aims to ensure that researchers have the necessary infrastructure to conduct high-impact atmospheric science, from experimental design and operational planning to field deployment and data collection.
