Marine Geology and Geophysics
This program provides funding for researchers to explore and understand geological and geophysical processes in marine environments, including ocean basins and the Great Lakes, with a focus on advancing scientific knowledge rather than applied outcomes.
The National Science Foundation administers the Marine Geology and Geophysics (MG&G) Core Program under the Directorate for Geosciences and the Division of Ocean Sciences. The Foundation, an independent federal agency, supports fundamental research across a broad spectrum of sciences, with this program focused on enhancing the understanding of geological and geophysical processes within marine environments. The MG&G program concentrates on the structure, composition, and evolution of ocean basins, margins, and the Great Lakes, promoting projects that expand knowledge of Earth’s marine systems and their global significance. The program’s objectives are comprehensive. It funds research into oceanic lithosphere dynamics, including tectonics, submarine volcanology, and crustal composition. It also encourages studies on paleoceanography, paleoclimate, and sea-level fluctuations, which are critical for reconstructing past environments and forecasting future change. Additional research areas include sedimentology, stratigraphy, marine hydrogeology, hydrothermal systems, seafloor geochemistry, and the indicators of life beneath the seafloor. Projects can address hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and mass wasting, or explore coastal processes like erosion, hurricane impacts, and sea-level rise. The MG&G program supports diverse approaches including the acquisition of new field data, synthesis and leveraging of existing data, laboratory experimentation, analytical techniques, and modeling. Its scope allows for a range of project types from highly specialized studies of submarine processes to integrative investigations linking geoscience with broader climate and oceanographic themes. Cross-program collaboration is encouraged, and investigators are advised to contact multiple NSF programs when research interests overlap. Funding under this program is intended to advance scientific understanding of marine geosciences rather than specific applied outcomes. Proposals are evaluated through NSF’s two-stage merit review process, beginning with ad hoc mail reviews followed by panel reviews as necessary. This process ensures that the strongest, most innovative proposals are funded. Proposals are assessed on intellectual merit and broader impacts, consistent with NSF policy. Applications must be prepared and submitted through either Research.gov or Grants.gov. All proposals must comply with the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) or the Grants.gov Application Guide, depending on submission method. Unlike many NSF programs, the MG&G Core Program does not operate on fixed deadlines or target dates. Full proposals are accepted at any time, making it a rolling opportunity. This system allows flexibility for investigators but also requires careful preparation to meet NSF standards. The program has no specified award limits in the public guidelines, and information on total funding available or number of expected awards is not provided. Matching funds are not indicated as a requirement. Applicants are encouraged to discuss their project scope with program officers for additional clarity. Program contacts include Gail L. Christeson (gchriste@nsf.gov, 703-292-2952), Emily R. Estes (emestes@nsf.gov, 703-292-5081), and Scott M. White (scwhite@nsf.gov, 703-292-8369), all within the GEO/OCE division. In summary, the Marine Geology and Geophysics Core Program provides continuous support for research into fundamental marine geological and geophysical processes. It is best suited for scientists seeking to expand the frontiers of knowledge about Earth’s oceans, margins, and Great Lakes, with broad topical eligibility, flexible submission timing, and rigorous peer review.
Award Range
Not specified - Not specified
Total Program Funding
Not specified
Number of Awards
Not specified
Matching Requirement
No
Additional Details
Funding supports field data collection, synthesis of existing data, laboratory and analytical work, and modeling.
Eligible Applicants
Additional Requirements
The following organizations in the following categories are eligible to submit proposals: (a) Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs)  Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the U.S., acting on behalf of their faculty members. IHEs located outside the U.S. fall under paragraph 6. below. Special Instructions for International Branch Campuses of U.S. IHEs If the proposal includes funding to be provided to an international branch campus of a U.S. IHE (including through use of subawards and consultant arrangements), the proposer must explain the benefit(s) to the project of performance at the international branch campus and justify why the project activities cannot be Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide I-6 NSF 23-1 performed at the U.S. campus. Such information must be included in the project description. The box for “Funding of an International Branch Campus of a U.S. IHE” must be checked on the Cover Sheet if the proposal includes funding for an international branch campus of a U.S. IHE. (b) Non-profit, Non-academic Organizations  Independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies, and similar organizations located in the U.S. that are directly associated with educational or research activities. (c) Tribal Governments  The term “ tribal government” means the governing body of any Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, or community that the Secretary of the Interior acknowledges to exist as an Indian tribe under the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 479a, et seq.) 2. The following organizations may be eligible to submit proposals: (a) For-profit Organizations  U.S.-based commercial organizations, including small businesses, with strong capabilities in scientific or engineering research or education and a passion for innovation. An unsolicited proposal from a for-profit organization may be funded when the project is of special concern from a national point of view, special resources are available for the work, or the proposed project is especially meritorious. NSF is interested in supporting projects that couple industrial use-inspired challenges and research resources with those of IHEs; therefore, the Foundation especially welcomes proposals for cooperative projects involving both IHEs and industry. Specific NSF funding opportunities also may make For-Profit Organizations eligible for submission of proposals to the Foundation. US-based affiliates or subsidiaries of foreign organizations must contact the cognizant NSF program officer prior to preparing and submitting a proposal to NSF. (b) State and Local Governments  As programmatically necessary and as provided for in a solicitation or BAA, State, and local governments may be eligible to submit proposals. (c) Foreign Organizations  NSF rarely provides direct funding support to foreign organizations. NSF will consider proposals for cooperative projects involving U.S. and foreign organizations, provided support is requested only for the U.S. portion of the collaborative effort. In cases however, where the proposer considers the foreign organization or foreign individual’s involvement to be essential to the project and proposes to provide funding through the NSF budget (through a subaward or consultant arrangement), the proposer must explain why support from the foreign counterpart’s incountry resources is not feasible and why the foreign organization or foreign individual can carry out the activity more effectively than a U.S. organization or U.S. individual. In addition, the proposed activity must demonstrate how one or more of the following conditions have been met: • The foreign organization or foreign individual contributes unique expertise, organizational capability, facilities, data resources, and/or access to a geographic location not generally available to U.S. investigators (or which would require significant effort or time to duplicate); and/or • The foreign organization or foreign individual offers significant science and engineering education, training, or research opportunities to the U.S. Such information must be included in any proposal to NSF, including new and renewal proposals. The information must be included in the project description section of the proposal. The box for "Funding of a Foreign Organization or Foreign Individual" must be checked on the Cover Sheet if the proposal includes funding for a foreign organization or foreign individual. Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide I-7 NSF 23-1 (d) Other Federal Agencies  NSF does not normally support research or education activities by scientists, engineers or educators employed by Federal agencies or FFRDCs. Under unusual circumstances, other Federal agencies and FFRDCs may submit proposals directly to NSF. A proposed project is only eligible for support if it meets one or more of the following exceptions, as determined by a cognizant NSF Program Officer in advance of proposal submission: • Special Projects. Under exceptional circumstances, research, or education projects at other Federal agencies or FFRDCs that can make unique contributions to the needs of researchers elsewhere or to other specific NSF objectives may receive NSF support. • National and International Programs. The Foundation may fund research and logistical support activities of other Government agencies or FFRDCs directed at meeting the goals of special national and international research programs for which the Foundation bears special responsibility, such as the U.S. Antarctic Research Program. • International Travel Awards. To help ensure appropriate representation or availability of a particular expertise at an international conference, staff researchers of other Federal agencies may receive NSF international travel awards. Proposers who think their project may meet one of the exceptions listed above must contact a cognizant NSF Program Officer before preparing a proposal for submission. In addition, a scientist, engineer or educator who has a joint appointment with an IHE and a Federal agency (such as a Veterans Administration Hospital, or with an IHE and a FFRDC) may submit proposals through the IHE and may receive support if the individual is a faculty member (or equivalent) of the IHE, although part of the individual’s salary may be provided by the Federal agency. Preliminary inquiry must be made to the appropriate program before preparing a proposal for submission.
Geographic Eligibility
All
Contact program officers if the proposal spans multiple scientific domains; ensure proposals conform to the NSF PAPPG requirements; submit via Research.gov or Grants.gov as per guidelines.
Application Opens
July 13, 2017
Application Closes
Not specified
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