Scientific Opportunities

NSF ANNOUNCES NEW OCEAN ACIDIFICATION SOLICITATION

Since the publication of The Royal Society’s report Ocean Acidification Due to Increasing Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide (June 2005, www.royalsoc.ac.uk), there has been growing concern for the potential adverse impacts of a slowly acidifying sea upon marine ecosystems.  In recognition of the need for basic research concerning the nature, extent and impact of ocean acidification on oceanic environments in the past, present and future, this announcement has the following broad goals:

• To understand the chemistry and physical chemistry of ocean acidification and, in particular, its interplay with fundamental biochemical and physiological processes of organisms;
• To understand how ocean acidification interacts with processes at the organismal level, and how such interactions impact the structure and function of ecosystems, e.g. through life histories, food webs, biogeochemical cycling, and other interactions;
• To understand how the earth system history informs our understanding of the effects of ocean acidification on the present day and future ocean.

New research frontiers require the development of interdisciplinary partnerships and capacity building within the scientific community.  Accordingly, full research proposals, exploratory proposals and community development efforts such as workshops and symposia all are encouraged.  Proposals must clearly demonstrate links between the research outcome and the emphasis areas described within the solicitation.  Preference will be given to proposals that create new partnerships across traditional disciplines (including molecular and cellular biology, physiology, marine chemistry and physics, ecological sciences, paleoecology, and earth system history) and use diverse approaches (observational systems, experimental studies, theory and modeling) to examine cutting edge research questions related to ocean acidification.

The required Letter of Intent is due March 29, 2010 and the Full Proposal is due April 26, 2010.  For more information, visit http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2010/nsf10530/nsf10530.htm.

NOAA FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

NOAA’s Office of Education (OEd) has issued a request for applications for informal/nonformal science education projects that engage the public in activities that utilize emerging and/or advanced technologies and leverage NOAA assets to improve understanding and stewardship of the local and global environment.  There is specific interest in projects that use emerging and/or advanced technologies to (1) facilitate outdoor experiences involving scientific inquiry and exploration of the natural world apart from formal K-12 curricula and (2) visualize, display, and interpret data to improve understanding and provide a systems perspective of Earth’s dynamic processes. All projects must focus on one or more of the following informal/nonformal science education activities:

• Technologically facilitated outdoor experiential learning for youth and adults;
• Public participation in science related to one or more of NOAA’s mission goals;
• Exhibitions and online programs allowing the visualization and exploration of data supporting the interpretation of ocean, coastal, Great Lakes, weather and climate sciences for public audiences;
• Spherical display system (including NOAA’s Science On a Sphere) installations and programming; and
• Professional development programs and training programs for informal/nonformal education staff.

Letters of Intent are required.  The deadline for letters of intent is 5:00 PM EST February 16, 2010.
The deadline for full applications is 5:00 PM EDT on April 6, 2010.

For further information please visit: http://www.oesd.noaa.gov/funding_opps.html

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OPPORTUNITY FOR EDUCATORS, WRITERS AND ARTISTS TO SAIL ABOARD THE JOIDES RESOLUTION ON IODP EXPEDITION 327

Apply to sail on the JOIDES Resolution along with an unprecedented international education/science communication team. The Juan de Fuca expedition will install subseafloor observatories (“CORKS”) and include an intensive course on marine geology and geophysics, with an emphasis on seafloor hydrogeology. Deep Earth Academy (the education arm of the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program’s (IODP) U.S. Implementing Organization) invites interested educators at all levels (elementary – college), informal science educators, artists, writers and other communicators who live and work in the United States to apply to be a part of this team. The team will work together and alongside scientists and engineers from IODP member nations to help achieve critical shipboard science objectives, serve as communications/education officers to develop and implement innovative ways to bring drilling science to students, teachers and the general public, create products (such as classroom activities, written articles, digital art, blogs, video conferences and much more) that contribute towards these goals, and educate each other and the science party about their own areas of expertise. We are looking for applicants who demonstrate enthusiasm about science and education, have innovative ideas, open minds, interesting backgrounds and experience, and show excitement about sharing exploration and discovery. Expedition dates are 5 July – 4 September 2010.  All expenses to and from the ship’s ports of call and while on board the ship will be paid by Deep Earth Academy.

Applications are available at http://www.deepearthacademy.org and http://joidesresolution.org.

Deadline: Application acceptance and review will begin immediately and continue until positions are filled, or March 1, 2010.

For further information, please contact Sharon Cooper; Assistant Director, Deep Earth Academy; 202-787-1632; scooper@oceanleadership.org.

NOPP SEEKS RESEARCH PROPOSALS FOR OCEAN RENEWABLE ENERGY AND STEWARDSHIP

The National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP) encourages research proposal submission for the topic, Developing Environmental Protocols and Monitoring to Support Ocean Renewable Energy and Stewardship.  NOPP welcomes proposals from research teams meeting the goal of partnerships between at least two of the following three sectors: academia, industry (including NGOs), and government.   The deadline to apply is 3:00 p.m. EST on Monday, February 22, 2010.  More information can be found through the Federal Business Opportunities web site, www.fedbizopps.gov under solicitation number M10PS00152.

NOAA CORAL REEF CONSERVATION PROGRAM – 2010 INTERNATIONAL GRANTS

The NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program, as authorized under the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, provides matching grants of financial assistance for international coral reef conservation projects. The Program solicits proposals under three funding categories: (1) Support Planning for Effective Marine Protected Area Management; (2) Encourage the Development of National Networks of Marine Protected Areas in the Wider Caribbean, Bermuda, Brazil, Southeast Asia, and the South Pacific; and (3) Promote Regional Socio-Economic Training and Monitoring in Coral Reef Management in the Wider Caribbean, Brazil, Bermuda, the Western Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, the South Pacific, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Each funding category has specific applicant and project eligibility criteria.

Final applications must be received and validated by Grants.gov, postmarked, or provided to a delivery service on or before 5 p.m. ET, Wednesday, February 17, 2010.

For more information, log on to www.grants.gov.

OFFICE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY POLICY STUDENT VOLUNTEER INTERNSHIPS

White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) interns are accepted for one of three annual terms (spring, summer or fall), which will last no more than 90 days.  While these positions are without compensation, the assignments provide educational enrichment, practical work experience and network opportunities with other individuals in the science and technology policy arena.

For more information about OSTP and its divisions, and information on how to apply log on to http://www.ostp.gov/cs/Student_Volunteers.

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