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Jessica RobinNational Science Foundation

2012

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In a sustainable world, human needs would be met without chronic harm to the environment and without sacrificing the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

Meeting this grand challenge i b t ti l i i

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requires a substantial increase in our understanding of the integrated system of society, the natural world, and the alterations humans bring to Earth.

www.nsf.gov/sees

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NSF's SEES portfolio aims to address this need through support for interdisciplinary research and education.

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SEES established in Fiscal Year 2010Cross-directorate NSF investmentPortfolio of existing, new and upcoming programsEncourage systems-based approachesHighlights NSF’s unique role

Cyber-enabled Materials, Manufacturing, and Smart Systems (CEMMSS)

OneNSF priorities:

RESPONSIVENESSLEVERAGELEADERSHIP

(CEMMSS)Cyberinfrastructure Framework for 21st Century Science and Engineering (CIF21)Expeditions in Education (E2)Innovation Corps (I-Corps)Integrated NSF Support Promoting Interdisciplinary Research and Education (INSPIRE)Science, Engineering, and Education for Sustainability (SEES)Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace (SaTC)

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Goals:1. Building the knowledge base.

Mission: To advance science, engineering, and education to inform the societal actions needed for environmental and economic sustainability and sustainable human well-being.

Support interdisciplinary research and education that can facilitate the move towards global sustainability.

2. Growing the workforce of the future.Develop a workforce trained in the interdisciplinary scholarship needed to understand and address the complex issues of sustainability.

3. Forging critical partnerships.Build linkages among existing projects and partners and add new participants in the sustainability research enterprise.

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Topical themes:Natural Systems Human SystemsBuilt SystemsEnergy & Materials Adaptation & Resilience

Functional characteristics:Systems-Thinking Partnerships & Networks Education & Learning Workforce DevelopmentInformation Systems

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Topical themes:Natural Systems Human SystemsBuilt SystemsEnergy & Materials Adaptation & Resilience

Functional characteristics:Systems-Thinking Partnerships & Networks Education & Learning Workforce DevelopmentInformation Systems

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Ocean Acidification (NSF 12-500)Climate Change Education (NSF 12-523)Decadal and Regional Climate Prediction using Earth System Models (NSF 12-522)Dimensions of Biodiversity (NSF 12-528) W t S t i bilit d Cli t (NSF

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Water Sustainability and Climate (NSF 11-551)Research Coordination Networks – SEES track (NSF 11-531)Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems – SEES track (NSF 10-612)

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Goals: To understand geochemistry biochemistry of ocean acidification; how ocean acidification interacts with biological and physical processes at the organism level; how earth system history informs our understanding of the effects of OA.NSF Di t t GEO BIO OPP NSF Directorates: GEO, BIO, OPP Deadline: January 6, 2012

Saturation State of Aragonite

Credit: Rachel Fletcher

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Goal: To increase public understanding of global climate change and prepare the next generation of scientists and educators.

Connects:o climate scientistso experts in theories on how people learn scienceo formal and informal education experts

NSF Directorates: EHR, GEO, BIO, OPP

Deadline: March 21, 2012

FY 2009 FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2012

Ten CCE awards in response to DCL

Fifteen CCEP-1 awards (2y, up to $1M)

Twelve supplements$250,000 each

CCEP-2; 5 year awards

Next competition:Implementation of mature strategic plans that serve the larger goals of the CCE program

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Goals• Achieve comprehensive, reliable global & regional

predictions of decadal climate variability & change • Quantify impacts on ecological, agricultural &

other human systems• Maximize the utility of data for impact assessments

Earth System ModelingEarth System Modeling

• Translate model results into basis for management decisions

Awards: support development of next-generation Earth System models by interdisciplinary teams Interagency: NSF, DOE, USDANSF Directorates: GEO, MPS, SBE, OPPDeadline: May 11, 2012

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Goal: A 10-year campaign to characterize the dimensions of biodiversity on Earth

Purpose: to support research that characterizes biodiversity on Earth through the use of integrative and innovative approaches to develop an innovative approaches to develop an understanding of key dimensions of biodiversity

Solicitation targeted areas where three dimensions of biodiversity overlap

• NSF Directorates: BIO, GEO, OPP• Additional partners: NASA, China (NSFC), Brazil (FAPESP)• Deadline: April 10, 2012

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Goals:• How Earth's water system is linked to climate change, land

use, ecosystems and the built environment• Enable a new interdisciplinary paradigm in water research

Interagency: NSF, USDA/NIFANSF Directorates: GEO, ENG, SBED dli O t b 19 2011Deadline: October 19, 2011

Synthesis of behavioral and ecohydrologicmodels for dryland rivers

Climate change, land use, and urbanization in a Midwestern agricultural landscape

Scott Sim

pson

Bryce Richter

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Standing, interdisciplinary NSF program Quantitative, interdisciplinary analyses of human and natural system processes and complex interactions at diverse scalesCNH encourages SEES themes; adds support for exploratory & new team awards & research coordination networks NSF Directorates: GEO, BIO, SBEDeadline: November 15, 2011

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Credit: J. Brashares Credit: S. PerzCredit: I. Peralta, USFS

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SEES-RCN track: Advance sustainability science, engineering & education as an integrative systems approach

Interdisciplinary teams; encourage diverse stakeholder participation

Existing awards focused on: Existing awards focused on: Water DiplomacyUrban SustainabilityWomen – Developing Countries

Up to 5 years at $150k per year

NSF Directorates: All

Deadline: February 3, 2012

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SEES Fellows (NSF 11-575)Sustainability Research Networks (NSF 11-574)Sustainable Energy Pathways (NSF 11-590)

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SEES focus in Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE) solicitation (NSF 11-564)RCN – SEES track continues (NSF 11-531) CNH – SEES track continues (NSF 10-612) Climate-related (CRI) competitions continue

Awards

Requirements

2 - 3 years of fellowship costs over a maximum 4-year period

$88K/year for salary and benefits

$20K/year for research expenses

$10K/year if project includes an international partner

Indirect costs

To create the necessary workforce to enable discoveries leading to environmental, energy, and societal sustainability

The Fellow's proposed research should:

• Cross traditional disciplinary boundaries

• Go beyond his/her current core disciplinary expertise

• Address issues of sustainability through a systems approach

NSF 11-575

Due December 5, 2011

Due Thereafter First Monday in December

Requirements

Restrictions

Grant to institution. PI must:

Be US citizen, national, or permanent resident

Have received PhD within 4 years of deadline

Teaching is limited to one course per semester and no more than 2 courses during award period

• Build bridges between academic inquiry, economic growth, and societal needs

Fellows must develop a research partnership in order to broaden the impact/scope of the proposed research

Fellows are expected to devote time to a professional development activity

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SRNs will connect interdisciplinary teams of investigators focused on performing cutting-edge research and education relating to the challenges of sustainability Links

Collaborative

Research

Frontier

Sustainability

Theme

of sustainability. Links scientists, engineers and educators at existing institutions, centers and networks, and develop new nodes of research

2 - 3 awards; 4 - 5 years

Up to $12 million each

Multi-institutional

Team

Interdisci-plinary

Approach

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Each SRN will focus on a SEES themeExamples:

Energy and Materials Issues in SustainabilityUrban SustainabilityLarge-Scale Energy Production and Consumption DynamicsCoastal System Vulnerability and Resiliencey yAltered Biogeochemistry of Earth SystemsSustainability of Freshwater SuppliesFood Security and Land Use Change

NSF Directorates: ENG, BIO, CISE, EHR, GEO, MPS, SBE, OISE, OPPDeadlines:

Pre-proposal -- Dec. 1, 2011 Full Proposal -- April 1, 2012

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Energy Resource Assessment &

Harvesting

Environmental, Economic & Societal Impacts

Energy Conversion, Transmission, Storage,

& Consumption

Key components: Key components: Sustainability - from resource to realizationInterdisciplinary and system approachAddresses science and engineering Challenges, informed by the environmental, societal, and economic aspects

NSF Directorates: MPS, ENG, CISE, SBE, GEO, BIO, OISE, EHRDeadline: February 1, 2012

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Build strong research & education partnerships with domestic and foreign collaborators that enable research excellence

• Fosters internationalization of US institutions in science & engineering

• Provides strong well-mentored international research experiences for US students

2012 PIRE competition focused exclusively on SEES

Co-funding opportunities possible• Domestic : US EPA, USAID• International : UK(EPSCR & ESRC); Japan(JST), Russia(MES), IAINSF Directorates: OISE (coordinating office) for all directoratesDeadlines: • Pre-proposals: October 19, 2011• Full proposals: May 15, 2012

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Chemistry, Materials, Engineering• Renewable, non-toxic materials, process improvements

Coastal and Arctic Regions • Vulnerability, resilience, cultural impacts

Hazards and Disasters • Science, engineering, risk assessment, decision-making, g g, , g

Information Science and Engineering• Energy consumption, clean computing issues

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Sustainability requires long-term perspectives, emphasizing:

Integrated approaches across disciplines Developing systems-level modelsRealizing data-enabled science Linking observational networksExploring linkages between technological solutions and environmental effects Communicating research findings to decision-makers and the public

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Questions?

Jessica Robinjrobin@nsf.gov

Visit: www.nsf.gov/sees

Questions?

Jessica Robinjrobin@nsf.gov

Visit: www.nsf.gov/sees26