Dear Colleague Letter
Seeking Community Input on NSF Polar Programs Realignment
National Science Foundation
Joan Ferrini-Mundy
Assistant Director
Education and Human Resources
and
James Olds
Assistant Director
Biological Sciences
Dear Colleague,
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is currently conducting a review
of the position of the Division of Polar Programs within the Directorate
for the Geosciences (GEO). Prior to 2013, the Office of Polar Programs
(OPP) operated within NSF's Office of the Director. In 2013, NSF
realigned several functions, including positioning OPP within the
Directorate for the Geosciences (GEO) as the Division of Polar Programs
(PLR). The mission of the enterprise was not changed. Now that we have
several years of experience in this new configuration, NSF is conducting
this review. The review process is meant to be forward-looking and data
driven. Input from the science and engineering research community is an
important component of the review process, and we seek your comments and
thoughts.
Promoting the progress of science in the polar regions is a priority for
NSF. The Foundation has a distinguished record of pioneering and
supporting robust, leading-edge, polar-oriented science as well as
science that exploits the unique characteristics of polar regions as
platforms for research. The fascination of the public with polar regions
provides excellent opportunities for learning engagement and to showcase
the NSF research mission. PLR currently coordinates, manages and
initiates funding of basic research and operational support for science
that is best done or can only be done in the Arctic and/or Antarctica.
Investments in polar science are also made by other NSF directorates,
and encompass a broad array of topical areas including the geosciences,
biosciences, social sciences, engineering, and astronomy and
astrophysics. PLR science is also characterized by strong international
collaborations. To enable research in the polar regions, PLR oversees
substantial logistics capabilities and infrastructure that include
research stations, specialized facilities, surface vehicles, aircraft,
and ships in both Polar Regions. Organizationally, PLR comprises four
Sections: Arctic Sciences, Antarctic Sciences, Antarctic Infrastructure
and Logistics, and Polar Environment, Safety and Health. NSF has
specific federal responsibilities that are staffed and implemented by
PLR: Presidential Memorandum 6646 designates the NSF as the single-point
manager for the United States Antarctic Program on behalf of the U.S.
government. National Security Presidential Directive 66 and Homeland
Security Presidential Directive 25 designate NSF to lead the U.S. in
advancing Arctic research and international scientific cooperation.
NSF is interested in the perspectives of the research community on the
following questions. A document with relevant data and trends is
available at: http://www.nsf.gov/od/plr-review-data.jsp.
-Are there particular successes or failures that, in your opinion, arise
directly from the relocation of the Office of Polar Programs into GEO?
-Given the data and trends available at the above link, our direct
interaction with PLR, and NSF's budgets in general, please comment on
the extent to which PLR's current role within NSF supports and
anticipates the needed science and operations investments in polar
regions. -Has NSF PLR served the needs of the science and engineering
research community as well as possible in light of the current budget
realities? What, if any, changes might be made to enable NSF PLR to most
effectively perform all of its important functions?
We would like to hear from the interested community by July 21, 2016.
Please send your comments to: plr-review [at] nsf.gov.
Sincerely,
Joan Ferrini-Mundy
Assistant Director, Education and Human Resources
and
James Olds
Assistant Director, Biological Sciences
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