Geospace Cluster

The Geospace Cluster (GC), administered under the Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences (AGS) within the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), supports a wide spectrum of fundamental and solutions-oriented research initiatives that enhance scientific understanding of Earth’s near-space environment. This includes regions such as the mesosphere, thermosphere, ionosphere, exosphere, magnetosphere, radiation belts, and parts of the solar atmosphere and inner heliosphere. The overarching goal of the GC program is to deepen comprehension of the interconnected Sun–Earth system through an examination of physical processes that span dynamic, electrodynamic, and chemical couplings. It also funds efforts aimed at increasing societal resilience to natural hazards like space weather and climate change in the upper atmosphere. GC’s funding portfolio spans numerous research themes, including aeronomy (e.g., energy transport and chemical dynamics in upper atmospheric layers), magnetospheric physics (including how solar winds interact with the Earth’s magnetic field), and solar-terrestrial physics (such as the origins and impacts of solar flares and solar wind particles). The program also explicitly supports modeling and observational work to advance predictive capabilities in space weather and space climate, with an emphasis on understanding how these phenomena affect critical infrastructure and technological systems. Eligible research proposals can utilize ground-based or space-based instruments, laboratory experiments, theoretical modeling, or data-centric analyses. GC supports both independent investigator-driven research and participation in larger collaborative initiatives. Specific targeted programs under this umbrella include the Coupling, Energetics, and Dynamics of Atmospheric Regions (CEDAR), Geospace Environment Modeling (GEM), Solar, Heliospheric, and Interplanetary Environment (SHINE), and Faculty Development in geoSpace Science (FDSS). Each has its own eligibility nuances and submission timeline. Proposals for general GC funding, however, are accepted at any time. In addition to its core scientific mandate, GC emphasizes inclusive capacity building and workforce development. Through programs such as AGS Postdoctoral Research Fellowships, CAREER awards, Mid-Career Advancement (MCA), and other NSF-wide infrastructure initiatives like the Major Research Instrumentation and Mid-Scale Research Infrastructure programs, NSF ensures that researchers at all career stages and institution types can participate. Special encouragement is given to applicants from Minority Serving Institutions, Emerging Research Institutions, EPSCoR jurisdictions, and primarily undergraduate institutions. To submit proposals, applicants must follow the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) applicable at the time of submission. Proposals may be submitted through Research.gov or Grants.gov, and all must conform to format and procedural requirements stated in PAPPG or in relevant solicitations. Noncompliant proposals will be returned without review. Contact points are provided for each scientific area, including individuals responsible for Aeronomy, Magnetospheric Physics, Solar-Terrestrial research, and Space Weather coordination. There is no defined deadline for submissions to the general GC program, but those interested in participating in subprograms such as CEDAR, GEM, SHINE, or FDSS must review specific timelines published in their respective solicitations. Proposals will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the absence of a fixed deadline provides flexibility for proposers, though timely adherence to subprogram calls is critical. Evaluation of proposals will be based on NSF’s merit review criteria, which weigh both intellectual merit and broader societal impacts.