Education and Broadening Participation in Earth Sciences

The National Science Foundation (NSF), an independent federal agency, is dedicated to advancing science and engineering across the United States through funding initiatives that support research, education, and workforce development. Within the NSF, the Directorate for Geosciences (GEO) and its Division of Earth Sciences (EAR) manage the Education and Broadening Participation (EAR EBP) program. This initiative aims to increase participation and diversity within Earth Sciences by funding a wide range of education and professional development efforts. These include hands-on research experiences for students and teachers, postdoctoral fellowships, early-career faculty development, and innovative recruitment and retention strategies. The EAR EBP program supports four main categories of proposals. First, Research Experiences for Undergraduates and Teachers provides financial support to academic institutions that facilitate summer internships and research experiences in Earth Sciences for both undergraduate students and teachers. These efforts aim to cultivate early engagement and practical knowledge in geoscience fields. Second, the EAR Postdoctoral Fellowships are designed for recent PhD recipients, defined as those within 24 months of obtaining their degree, offering them a two-year opportunity to conduct independent research alongside professional development activities that support their scientific careers. The third core component is support for Faculty Early Career Development through CAREER awards. These awards are intended for pre-tenure faculty members seeking to integrate educational excellence with meaningful research contributions. EAR EBP places particular emphasis on CAREER proposals that explicitly include strategies for broadening participation in geosciences, thereby aligning with the overarching goal of diversifying the field. Finally, the program also accepts unsolicited or "ad hoc" proposals. These proposals are meant to encourage creative and nontraditional methods of engaging and retaining diverse participants in Earth Sciences. To ensure alignment with program goals, principal investigators must first submit a concept outline for approval before submitting a full ad hoc proposal. All proposals must adhere to the submission requirements outlined in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG), current at the time of submission. Applications may be submitted through either Research.gov or Grants.gov, depending on the applicant’s institutional preferences. When submitting ad hoc proposals, concept outlines should be emailed directly to a cognizant program officer for feedback on fit and appropriateness. The program does not publish fixed deadlines for submission, instead accepting full proposals on an ongoing basis. This rolling submission format allows applicants to apply at a time that aligns with their institutional and research timelines. However, applicants must still ensure their proposals meet all policy and format guidelines at the time of submission. While there is no mention of matching requirements or award ceilings and floors, interested applicants are encouraged to contact the listed program officer for guidance. The primary contact for this program is Aisha R. Morris, who serves within the GEO/RISE organization. She can be reached by email at armorris@nsf.gov or by phone at (703) 292-7081. The opportunity was most recently published on April 11, 2025. Proposals are evaluated according to the criteria defined in the NSF’s overarching award policies, with emphasis on the scientific merit of the research, the quality of educational activities, and the impact of proposed diversity and inclusion strategies within Earth Sciences.

Submit concept outlines for ad hoc proposals to ensure relevance; use PAPPG for proposal structure compliance.