Funder: National Science Foundation
Due Dates: October 20, 2025 (Full Proposal) | Annually Thereafter
Funding Amounts: Typical awards up to $400,000 over 3 years; total program funding ~$14M/year; ~35 awards/year.
Summary: Supports interdisciplinary research using paleo data and models to inform understanding of past, present, and projected climate, with a focus on regional/seasonal climate and climate forcing, sensitivity, and feedbacks.
Key Information: Proposals with Antarctic fieldwork are not eligible; submit those to separate OPP solicitations.
Description
This opportunity funds interdisciplinary research that leverages geological and environmental records to improve understanding of Earth's climate system over multi-decadal to millennial timescales. The program aims to provide paleo perspectives that inform present and future climate projections, focusing on two main research themes:
- Past Regional and Seasonal Climate: Understanding variability and trends at regional and seasonal scales, including extremes and their drivers.
- Past Climate Forcing, Sensitivity, and Feedbacks: Investigating the mechanisms, thresholds, and feedbacks that have influenced Earth's climate, including non-linear responses and tipping points.
Projects are expected to integrate observational and modeling approaches, and may include synthesis of existing data, application of novel methodologies, and evaluation of uncertainties. The program encourages proposals that adhere to FAIR data principles, broaden participation, and engage stakeholders.
Due Dates
- Full Proposal Target Date: October 20, 2025
- Subsequent Deadlines: October 20 annually thereafter
Funding Amount
- Typical Award: Up to $400,000 over a period of up to 3 years
- Total Program Funding: Approximately $14,000,000 per year (subject to availability)
- Number of Awards: ~35 new awards per year
Eligibility
- Eligible Applicants: U.S. institutions and organizations eligible under the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG); unaffiliated individuals are not eligible.
- PI/Co-PI Restrictions: No restrictions on who may serve as PI or co-PI.
- Proposal Limits: No limits on the number of proposals per organization or per PI/co-PI.
- Fieldwork Restrictions: Proposals with fieldwork in the Arctic are eligible; proposals with fieldwork in the Antarctic are not eligible and should be submitted to separate OPP solicitations.
Application Process
- Submission Platforms: Proposals must be submitted via Research.gov or Grants.gov; FastLane is not accepted.
- Letters of Intent/Preliminary Proposals: Not required.
- Full Proposal Requirements: Follow the NSF PAPPG and the program solicitation.
- Data Management Plan: Required; must ensure data are publicly accessible within 2 years of collection.
- Broader Impacts: Proposals should address broadening participation and, where appropriate, stakeholder engagement.
Additional Information
- FAIR Data Principles: Projects must ensure data are findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable.
- Broader Participation: Proposals from minority-serving institutions, PUIs, non-R1 institutions, early-career researchers, and underrepresented groups are encouraged.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Proposals may include plans for engaging community stakeholders and co-production of knowledge.
- Types of Proposals Not Accepted: EAGER, RAISE, RAPID, GOALI, Mid-Career Advancement, Postdoctoral Fellowships, and CAREER proposals should be submitted to other relevant NSF programs.
External Links
Contact Information
- For technical support with Research.gov: 1-800-673-6188, rgov@nsf.gov
- For Grants.gov support: 1-800-518-4726, support@grants.gov