Multiple Opportunities Available
Call for Proposals
Geoscience Education
National Science FoundationApplications Solicited
Arctic Research Experiences for Undergraduate Students
The Svalbard REU Project, Summer 2010Call for Nordic Centre of Excellence Programme
Interaction between Climate Change and the Cryosphere
NordForsk
- Call for Proposals
Geoscience Education
National Science Foundation
The Geoscience Education (GeoEd) Program is part of a portfolio of
programs within the Directorate for Geosciences (GEO) that seeks to
increase public understanding of Earth system science and foster
recruitment, training, and retention of a diverse and skilled geoscience
workforce for the future. The program achieves these goals by
supporting innovative or transformative projects that improve the
quality and effectiveness of formal and informal geoscience education at
all educational levels, increase the number of students pursuing
geoscience education and career paths, broaden participation of
traditionally underrepresented groups in the geosciences, and promote
public engagement in Earth system science.
In FY 2010 and FY 2012, the GeoEd program invites proposals in four
main areas:
- Advancing public Earth system science literacy, particularly
through strengthening geoscience education in grades K-14 and
informal education settings;
- Fostering development and training of the diverse scientific and
technical workforce required for 21st century geoscience careers;
- Utilizing modern technologies to facilitate and increase access to
geoscience education and/or develop innovative approaches for using
geoscience research activities and data for educational purposes;
and
- Establishing regional networks and alliances that bring together
scientists, formal and informal science educators, as well as other
stakeholders, in support of improving Earth system science education
and broadening participation in the geosciences.
Proposals focused on basic research that might catalyze discovery and
innovation at the frontiers of geoscience learning, education, and
evaluation will be considered by the GeoEd Program, but are not viewed
as a priority in this solicitation. However, the GeoEd Program expects
all proposed project activities to be grounded in current understanding
of how students learn and effective STEM education practices. Proposals
must include an appropriate evaluation or assessment plan that will help
to document project effectiveness and/or impact.
The GeoEd Program accepts proposals for pilot or proof-of-concept
projects (Track 1) and integrative collaborations (Track 2), as well as
for conferences or workshops related to the mission of the program.
Full Proposal Deadline: 8 March 2010.
For further information, please click on the 'Geoscience Education' link
at: http://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=GEO.
- Applications Solicited
Arctic Research Experiences for Undergraduate Students
The Svalbard REU Project, Summer 2010
The Svalbard Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Project
continues to offer exciting opportunities for students to participate
in polar science research projects on the arctic archipelago of
Svalbard. Since 2003, REU has been calibrating the record of Holocene
climate change contained in glacial-fed Lake Linne by studying the
modern glacial, fluvial, and lacustrine systems and their sediment
archives.
REU now seeks applications from motivated junior-year students to
join their program for Summer 2010. Students will formulate their own
research questions and carry out the associated fieldwork during a
five week field program on Svalbard. Students will complete their
projects at their home institution during their senior year. The
program will run from approximately 6 July to 21 August 2010. More
information can be found at http://www.mtholyoke.edu/go/svalbard.
Students from under-represented minority groups are particularly
encouraged to apply. Students selected for the Svalbard REU Project
will have all of their expenses paid (air fare, room/board, and
research costs) and will receive a summer stipend. The Svalbard REU
is supported by the Arctic Natural Sciences Division of the National
Science Foundation (NSF - Award Number 0649006). The NSF requires
participating students to be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Application Deadline: Friday, 15 January 2010.
For information and application specifics, please go to:
http://www.mtholyoke.edu/go/svalbard.
Or contact:
Steve Roof
Email: sroof [at] hampshire.edu
Al Werner
Email: awerner [at] mtholyoke.edu
- Call for Nordic Centre of Excellence Programme
Interaction between Climate Change and the Cryosphere
NordForsk
The Top-level Research Initiative (TFI) announces a call for a Nordic
Centre of Excellence (NCoE) program within the sub-program "Interaction
between Climate Change and the Cryosphere."
The initiative is a Nordic contribution towards solving the global
climate change challenges and intends to promote research and innovation
within the region. The TFI is the largest joint Nordic research and
innovation initiative to date. The focus will be on fields of climate
and energy research of common interest to the Nordic countries, and
where the region can contribute with international solutions. For more
information visit the TFI homepage: www.toppforskningsinitiativet.org/no.
The cryosphere refers to the part of the Earth System where water occurs
in its frozen form. It is extensive at high latitudes but also occurs in
elevated areas at lower latitudes. It is a prominent feature of the
arctic and sub-arctic areas but extends over most of the Nordic region.
Snow and sea ice, albeit the small volume, cover vast areas and are
crucial for solar reflection and ocean circulation at global scale. The
permafrost affects soil water content and vegetation of huge areas.
Glaciers and ice caps react relatively rapidly to climate change, with
impacts on ecosystems, human activity at regional levels, interactions
with and feedbacks on ocean currents, and act as good indicators of
climate change.
Temperature rise due to the changing climate is thought to be more
prominent in the arctic and sub-arctic areas than at lower latitudes and
thus affects the stability and dynamics of the cryosphere in these
regions. However, even modest temperature rises can have a major impact
on the cryosphere in other Nordic regions. Absence of winter ice in the
Baltic sea and snow cover over the boreal zones will impact the
environment and act as feed backs into the Earth System. In the Nordic
region, the direct impact of the changing cryosphere on society and
industry and the geographical proximity and long historical connection
to the Arctic, make the Nordic countries especially suitable for
accomplishing joint research programmes within this topic. The knowledge
produced by such a research programme is relevant not only for the
Nordic region, but also in a global perspective.
The main objectives of the TFI sub-programme "Interaction between
Climate Change and the Cryosphere" (ICCC) are to reinforce Earth System
research cooperation in the Nordic region and beyond, to improve our
understanding of the cryosphere stability and dynamics, to specify
cryosphere parameters in the Earth System models and to support science
driven questions of high interest to society, science, industry and/or
national infrastructure.
The NCoE is an instrument to increase the scientific quality,
efficiency, competitiveness and visibility of Nordic research through
enhanced collaboration between Nordic countries. A NCoE consists of
prominent research groups from at least three Nordic countries, forming
a physical or virtual centre with common objectives and coordination.
The main objectives of the NCoE-ICCC are to reinforce research of
excellent scientific quality; create critical Nordic mass and added
value; and increase the visible and attractive Nordic research in a
European and global context. Participants from industry, policy makers
and societal parties, should be included in the NCoE when relevant.
Further details on this call are available at:
https://funding.nordforsk.org/nordforsk/call/call.jsp?cid=34.