FOA-Sustainable
Regional Systems Research Networks (SRS RNs); January 11,
2021
Agency
National
Science Foundation
Description
The
United States is made up of regional systems comprising interdependent urban
and rural systems and every community category between urban and rural. Urban
systems are dependent on rural systems for the provisioning of food, energy,
water, and other materials and natural resources, while rural systems are
dependent on urban systems for markets, manufactured goods, and medical
resources. These systems are also connected by ecological processes that both
influence and are influenced by human behavior. The vital interconnection of
urban-rural systems underscores the critical need for the advancement of
sustainable regional systems (SRS). The goal of this solicitation is to fund
convergent research and education that will advance sustainable regional
systems science, engineering, and education to facilitate the transformation of
current regional systems to enhance sustainability. To further the advancement
of SRS science, engineering, and education, NSF will support Full Scale
proposals and Planning Grant proposals for Sustainable Regional Systems Research
Networks (SRS RNs).
Sustainable
regional systems are connected urban and rural systems that are transforming
their structures and processes collaboratively with the goal of measurably and
equitably advancing the well-being of people and the planet. The purpose of the
SRS RNs competition is to develop and support interdisciplinary,
multi-organizational teams of investigators and stakeholders working
collaboratively to produce cutting-edge convergent research, education, and
outreach that addresses grand challenges in sustainable regional systems. SRS
RNs will study multiscale regional systems to further SRS science, engineering,
and education. Key elements will include new data, methods, and models to
understand interactions between natural, human-built, and social systems;
improved understanding of interdependencies, mutual benefits, and trade-offs of
different wellbeing outcomes for humans and the environment; new and
generalizable theories of change relevant to SRS; the co-production of
knowledge; and exploration of concepts of social equity in sustainable regional
systems across spatial and temporal scales. SRS RN outcomes will have the
potential to inform societal actions for sustainability across urban systems and
the connected rural communities that make up regional
systems.
Subject
to availability of funds and quality of proposals, this SRS RN solicitation
will support projects in the following categories:
SRS
RNs Full Scale Awards (Track 1). These awards will support fundamental
convergent research, education, and outreach that addresses engineering,
environmental (biology, chemistry - including sensing, chemical analytics, and
recyclable plastics, atmospheric sciences, hydrology, geology), computer and
data sciences, and social and behavioral sciences of sustainable regional
systems in partnerships that may embrace universities, colleges, practitioners,
non-profit organizations, local governments, industry, and community groups.
The award size is up to $15 million total with a duration of 5
years.
SRS
RNs Planning Grants (Track 2). These awards are for capacity building to
prepare project teams to propose future well-developed SRS RN Full Scale (Track
1) proposals. Each of these Track 2 awards will provide support for a period of
one year and may be requested at a level not to exceed $150,000 for the total
budget.
SRS
RNs will conduct innovative and pioneering fundamental research and education
that is of a scale and complexity that would not be possible within a single
organization, center, or through the normal collaborative modes of NSF research
support in core programs.
Announcement
Number:
NSF
20-611
Closing
Date:
January
11, 2021
Link
to Full Announcement
https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2020/nsf20611/nsf20611.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click
Contact
Information
Bruce
K. Hamilton
(703)
292-7066