Purpose: The
National Science Foundation (NSF) seeks proposals to establish an adaptive and
responsive research network that supports investigations of the Earth’s Critical
Zone (CZ). The
CZ, which extends from the top of the vegetation canopy to the base of weathered
bedrock is where fresh water flows, soils are formed, and most terrestrial life
flourishes on Earth. The CZ is under unprecedented pressure because of
contemporary human demands for food, water, land, and other resources that drive
global economies. In the heterogeneous and complex CZ, multiple components of
the Earth’s life-support system interact through connected processes that
operate at different temporal and spatial scales. These coupled processes
directly influence and are affected by lithology, climate, tectonics,
anthropogenic activity, ecology, and cycles of water, nutrients, and other
constituents. The Critical-Zone Collaborative Network will build upon the
outcomes of the Critical Zone Observatories (CZO) to address significant
interdisciplinary scientific questions at the regional and national scale, and
develop predictive models of complex CZ phenomena. In order to achieve these
goals, stimulate collaborations among new and existing CZ community members, and
expand the CZO infrastructure to more diverse participation, the Critical-Zone
Collaborative Network to be established will consist of several
science-driven Thematic
Clusters linked
to a Coordinating
Hub.
This Critical-Zone
Collaborative Network will consist of two components that will work together to
advance knowledge, education, and outreach in this convergent science:
1)
Thematic Clusters of fixed
or temporary locations will conduct basic research on significant, overarching
scientific questions concerning the structure, function, and processes of the
CZ. These U.S.-based Clusters could include existing observatories engaged in
collecting environmental data, other monitoring locations that have been in
operation for extended periods of time, and new sites that will support the
scientific goals of the Cluster;
2)
A Coordinating Hub that will
oversee the compatibility and archiving of the data resulting from the Thematic
Clusters, coordinate outreach and community-building activities, support the use
of network facilities by outside researchers, and plan for infrastructure needs
of the network.
Note: NSF expects to award one
cooperative agreement for a Coordinating Center and 8-10 grant awards or
cooperative agreements for Thematic Clusters.
Funding Amount/ Project
Period: Thematic
Clusters -
varied award amounts for 5 years; Coordinating Hub - $1 million per year
for 5 years
Link
to Funding Opportunity Announcement
Institutional Limit:
4 (1 Coordinating Hub and 3 Thematic Clusters)
Internal
Competition: To
participate in the university’s selection process,please upload the
following,assembled
into a single PDF file, to the Office of the Vice President for Research via
this
portal
with a copy to your Associate Dean for Research by August 6,
2019:
A committee will be
convened to review the material and make a recommendation.
For questions or issues
with submission through the portal, email the limited submission mailbox
(limitedsubmissions@uky.edu), or call 257-2861.
Agency Deadline: December
2, 2019