OARS funding Geology & Earth Science

The mission of the BLM is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of public lands for use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The overlying objective of the proposed project is to improve watershed health (i.e., structure and function) within the Upper Gila River Watershed upstream of the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation dam and New Mexico border. Healthy watersheds provide economic and ecological benefits to local communities through flood attenuation, erosion control, and improved water quality and increased quantity.

GeoPRISMS (Geodynamic Processes at Rifting and Subducting Margins) Program investigates the coupled geodynamics, earth surface processes, and climate interactions that build and modify continental margins over a wide range of timescales. These interactions cross the shoreline and have applications to margin evolution and dynamics, construction of stratigraphic architecture, accumulation of economic resources, and associated geologic hazards and environmental management. The GeoPRISMS Program includes two broadly integrated science initiatives (Subduction Cycles and Deformation (SCD) and Rift Initiation and Evolution (RIE)), linked by five overarching scientific topics and themes, where transformative advances are likely to occur in the decade 2011-2020, and where a focused scientific program could be most effective. These overarching science topics include 1) Origin and evolution of continental crust; 2) Fluids, magmas and their interactions; 3) Climate-surface-tectonics feedbacks; 4) Geochemical cycles; and 5) Plate boundary deformation and geodynamics. Each of the initiatives has identified primary sites for focused investigations, as well as thematic studies that will complement primary site studies.

Background - In February 2014, the National Park Service (NPS) released new Cultural Resource Spatial Data Transfer Standards (the "Standards") that all NPS cultural resource inventories must follow when producing new data. All inventory legacy data is required to meet these standards in a timely manner. The benefit of using the standards is to create a database of accurate locations of cultural resources so that they can be managed and shared between parks, parks and regions, among regions, between parks/regions and programs and among programs. The standards will help insure spatial data consistency, quality, accuracy and to insure the data is used appropriately. Using location as a way of linking the 15 existing descriptive cultural resource databases together further allows users to explore all facets of a cultural resource in ways that are not currently possible.

The principle purpose of this cooperative agreement is to support the use of the best available science, combined with engaging broad public partners, to inform the public, stakeholders, and the BLM on best management practices (BMPs) for implementing adaptive management techniques on public lands. Focus areas of the project include collecting and analyzing rangeland health and upland vegetation treatments data and providing outreach stakeholders on status and trends of resources and effectiveness of restoration efforts and BMPs on the management of working landscapes. Data collected from this cooperative agreement will be available to the public.

As defined by the DoD, basic research is "systematic study directed toward greater knowledge or understanding of the fundamental aspects of phenomena and of observable facts without specific applications towards processes or products in mind. It includes all scientific study and experimentation directed toward increasing fundamental knowledge and understanding in those fields of the physical, engineering, environmental, and life sciences related to long-term national security needs. It is farsighted high payoff research that provides the basis for technological progress." (DoD 7000.14-R, vol. 2B, chap. 5, para. 050105.B) The DoD's basic research program invests broadly in many scientific fields to ensure that it has early cognizance of new scientific knowledge.

The U.S. Department of Energy's Geothermal Technology Office(GTO) Zonal Isolation for Manmade Geothermal Reservoirs funding opportunity announcement (FOA) supports early-stage development of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) tools and technologies, and will seek to improve the performance and economics of EGS systems by funding research in zonal isolation. Zonal isolation technologies can radically improve the performance and economics of EGS, or manmade geothermal reservoirs. These technologies provide the ability to target specific zones for stimulation activities, which can enable the command and control of fracture location and the economy of resources. In turn, this reduces development costs and operational risks associated with EGS development and promotes more power from fewer wellbores. Under this funding opportunity, GTO is interested in two topic areas: Topic 1 - Invention and Innovative Design of Zonal Isolation Technologies and Techniques for EGS Stimulation; and, Topic 2 - Adaption of Existing Zonal Isolation Technologies for EGS Stimulation. The projects selected from this FOA will aim to develop reliable zonal isolation tools and technologies that: * Present low risk to wellbore integrity or the conductivity of fractures; * Can operate at high-temperatures in corrosive, hard rock environments for extended periods of time; and * Withstand large pressure differentials.

The Division of Earth Sciences (EAR) awards Postdoctoral Fellowships to recent recipients of doctoral degrees to conduct an integrated program of independent research and professional development. Fellowship proposals must address scientific questions within the scope of EAR disciplinary programs and must align with the overall theme for the postdoctoral program. The program supports researchers for a period of up to two years with fellowships that can be taken to the institution of their choice (including institutions abroad). The program is intended to recognize beginning investigators of significant potential, and provide them with research experience, mentorship, and training that will establish them in leadership positions in the Earth Sciences community. Because the fellowships are offered only to postdoctoral scientists early in their career, doctoral advisors are encouraged to discuss the availability of EAR postdoctoral fellowships with their graduate students early in their doctoral programs. Fellowships are awards to individuals, not institutions, and are administered by the Fellows.

NOAA's Office of Ocean Exploration & Research (OER) is soliciting proposals for ocean exploration in waters under U.S. jurisdiction, including the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and areas mapped by, or of interest to, the U.S. Extended Continental Shelf (ECS) Project. Presently, important marine habitats and living and non-living resources are neither fully explored nor characterized. OER's intent is to address these knowledge gaps and support growth in the Nation's Blue Economy by soliciting ocean exploration proposals that focus on:

As part of that mission, the foundation's Conservation Grants Program provides support for the professional practice of art conservation. Grants are awarded to projects that create and disseminate specialized knowledge, including archival projects, development and dissemination of scholarly databases, documentation projects, exhibitions and publications, with a focus on art conservation, scholarly publications, and technical and scientific studies. Grants are also awarded for activities that permit conservators and conservation scientists to share their expertise with both professional colleagues and a broad audience through international exchanges, professional meetings, conferences, symposia, consultations, the presentation of research, exhibitions that include a prominent focus on materials and techniques, and other professional events.

The Division of Earth Sciences (EAR) awards Postdoctoral Fellowships to recent recipients of doctoral degrees to conduct an integrated program of independent research and professional development. Fellowship proposals must address scientific questions within the scope of EAR disciplinary programs and must align with the overall theme for the postdoctoral program. The program supports researchers for a period of up to two years with fellowships that can be taken to the institution of their choice (including institutions abroad). The program is intended to recognize beginning investigators of significant potential, and provide them with research experience, mentorship, and training that will establish them in leadership positions in the Earth Sciences community. Because the fellowships are offered only to postdoctoral scientists early in their career, doctoral advisors are encouraged to discuss the availability of EAR postdoctoral fellowships with their graduate students early in their doctoral programs. Fellowships are awards to individuals, not institutions, and are administered by the Fellows.

This project will allow baseline data to be obtained on gypsum production of Worldâ¿¿s Largest Gypsum Dune Field in support of a citizen science program. The associated analyses, characterizations of mineralogy, and photo documentation will provide important baseline information about unique environmental and geological conditions that formed and preserve this incredible gypsum island and new media to be shared with the public.

The mission of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Defense Sciences Office (DSO) is to identify and pursue high-risk, high-payoff research initiatives across a broad spectrum of science and engineering disciplines and to transform these initiatives into disruptive technologies for U.S. national security. In support of this mission, the DSO Office-wide BAA invites proposers to submit innovative basic or applied research concepts that address one or more of the following technical domains:

Engaging students at an educational institution with the capacity to produce a variety of digital products in the research and exploratory development of a prototype digital Junior Ranger program for national historic trails (NHTs) that when completed will engage youth ages 9-12 in stories of US history across multiple states. Project Objectives -- 1. Students and faculty will connect with the NHT stories 2. Students will gain awareness of the diversity of NPS programs and opportunities for employment 3. Students will show an increased interest in trail stewardship and support 4. The Partner and NPS will cooperatively develop multiple program prototypes 5. The Partner and NPS will cooperatively develop media for family audiences that meets universal design, accessibility and NPS standards

The proposed two-phase geoarchaeological study by the University of New Mexico, Office of Contract Archeology (OCA) will provide a systematic sample documentation of geoarchaeological data within both the active and stabilized gypsum dune fields at GUMO. The sites will be located with GPS units with sub-meter accuracy that can be tied into the GUMO GIS system. The information collected in the field during the Phase I Study will be used to create inferences about the types of sites and their periods of occupation. The systematic collection of data will also allow OCA to spatially analyze the data and assess whether the ⿿Horizontal Stratigraphy Model⿝ applies at GUMO. If so, GUMO archaeologists may be able to utilize the defined zones of occupation within the dunes to predict the periods of occupations for other yet to be discovered sites. In addition, this research may also contribute to other scientific fields. For example, based on the locations of sites in proximity to the leading edge of the dune field, it may be possible to evaluate changes in the rate of dune movement per year or over several millennia. Finally, information gleaned from the Phase II Study may be useful in understanding the relationships between the development of the gypsum dunes and late Pleistocene-early Holocene paleoclimates in GUMO. These data could, in turn, provide a new understanding about the use of the landscape by GUMO⿿s earliest occupants, the Paleoindians and the evolution of site usage and occupation following the Paleoindians.

Administered since 1933 through cooperative agreements with the National Park Service, the Library of Congress, and the private sector, ongoing programs such as Historic American Building Survey of the National Park Service have recorded America's built environment in multi-format surveys comprising thousands of measured drawings, large-format photographs, and written histories for more than 38,600 historic structures and sites dating from Pre-Columbian times to the twentieth century. This project will focus on the physical documentation and creation of measured drawings, large format photography, and a historic context for historic buildings at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. The buildings are the Superintendent Building and the Mission 66-era Six-Plex. The project will entail the following: HABS Standard I, Documentation Level 1, Part 1 of which includes a full set of measured drawings depicting existing or historic conditions. The project will also include the field notes necessary to develop the measured drawings, this field notes will follow HABS standards which are described as sketches of floor plan, sections and elevations generally not to exact scale although often drawn from measurements, where the features are shown in proper relation and proportion to one another. This also includes large format photography and a historic context of the buildings and site.

Supports research on algebraic topology, including homotopy theory, ordinary and extraordinary homology and cohomology, cobordism theory, and K-theory; topological manifolds and cell complexes, fiberings, knots, and links; differential topology and actions of groups of transformations; geometric group theory; and general topology and continua theory. Conferences Principal Investigators should carefully read the program solicitation "Conferences and Workshops in the Mathematical Sciences" (link below) to obtain important information regarding the substance of proposals for conferences, workshops, summer/winter schools, and similar activities. For conference proposals with budgets not exceeding $50,000, which in accordance with NSF policy can be reviewed internally at NSF, the following target dates are in effect: For an event that will start on a date prior to October 1 during a given calendar year, the proposal should be submitted in September of the previous year. For an event that will start in the period October 1 through December 31 of a given year, the proposal should be submitted in April of the same year. A conference proposal with a budget request exceeding $50,000 should be submitted at least eight months before the event is scheduled to take place, in order to allow time for external review.

n accordance with 10 USC §2192, Improvement of education in technical fields: general authority regarding education in science, mathematics, and engineering, the National Defense Education Program (NDEP) K-16 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education and outreach is seeking to strategically implant a vehicle to identify and support stronger guidelines for conducting K-16 education and outreach programs. The Department of Defense seeks to diversify its portfolio of support and increase focus on efforts that support the Force of the Future, and align with the Federal and DoD STEM strategies. Enhancing the permeability of ideas into DoD's workforce, especially the STEM workforce, through alliances with academia, industry and various non-traditional partners in STEM should deliver far-reaching sustainable and scalable programs and partnerships. While aligning with the DoD STEM mission, "to attract, inspire, and develop exceptional STEM talent across the education continuum to enrich our current and future DoD workforce to meet defense technological challenges," the Defense STEM Education Consortium (DSEC) should collaboratively work with the Government to provide a cohesive strategy to meet the vision, roles, and goals outlined in the DoD STEM Strategic Plan

The BARI program supports basic research in science and engineering stemming from interactive collaborative efforts between U.S. institutions of higher education (hereafter referred to as "U.S. universities") and U.K. institutions of higher education (hereafter referred to as "U.K. universities") that is of potential interest to U.S. DoD and UK MOD. The program is focused on international collaborative research efforts where teams from the United States and the United Kingdom combine unique skillsets and approaches to provide rapid advances in scientific areas of mutual interest to the U.S. DoD and UK MOD. In the inaugural year of this program, this area is artificial intelligence and collaborative decision making.

GeoPRISMS (Geodynamic Processes at Rifting and Subducting Margins) Program investigates the coupled geodynamics, earth surface processes, and climate interactions that build and modify continental margins over a wide range of timescales. These interactions cross the shoreline and have applications to margin evolution and dynamics, construction of stratigraphic architecture, accumulation of economic resources, and associated geologic hazards and environmental management. The GeoPRISMS Program includes two broadly integrated science initiatives (Subduction Cycles and Deformation (SCD)and Rift Initiation and Evolution (RIE)), linked by five overarching scientific topics and themes, where transformative advances are likely to occur in the decade 2011-2020, and where a focused scientific program could be most effective. These overarching science topics include 1) Origin and evolution of continental crust; 2) Fluids, magmas and their interactions; 3) Climate-surface-tectonics feedbacks; 4) Geochemical cycles; and 5) Plate boundary deformation and geodynamics. Each of the initiatives has identified primary sites for focused investigations, as well as thematic studies that will complement primary site studies. The GeoPRISMS Office, supported separately by an award to Pennsylvania State University, is tasked with community outreach and engagement through conferences, meetings, and maintenance of a website.

For this opportunity, the objective of O2R is broadly defined as the joint pursuit of improvements of operational capabilities and advancements in related fundamental research. NASA's role is to implement and support a national research program to understand the Sun and its interactions with Earth and the Solar System to advance space weather modeling and prediction capabilities applicable to space weather forecasting; develop and operate space-weather-related research missions, instrument capabilities, and models; and support the transition of space weather models and technology from research to operations and from operations to research. Proposers interested in this program element are encouraged to see the overview of the Heliophysics Research Program in B.1 of this ROSES NRA. NOAA's role is to provide timely and accurate operational space weather forecasts, watches, warnings, alerts, and real-time space weather monitoring for the government, civilian, and commercial sectors, exclusive of the responsibilities of the Secretary of Defense; and to ensure the continuous improvement of operational space weather services, utilizing partnerships, as appropriate, with the research community, including academia and the private sector, and relevant agencies to develop, validate, test, and transition space weather observation platforms and models from research to operations and from operations to research. For this opportunity, NASA and NOAA have identified the following focus area for research and development to advance specification and/or forecast models of energetic particles and plasma in Earth's magnetosphere: