Dear Colleagues,
The solicitation for the Polar Instrumentation and Technology
Development Program competition is now publicly available on the NSF
website at http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?nsf0025. The deadline
for submission of proposals is April 3, 2000.
This program is to encourage and facilitate state-of-the-art
developments in polar instrumentation and technology. Polar research
still has a significant element of exploration requiring both advanced
instrumentation and the most modern technology for the support of
research. Furthermore, the remote and extreme polar environments do
not always permit the application of techniques and instruments that
are viable elsewhere. One of the objectives of this solicitation is to
develop unique techniques and instruments for research, and
technologies to enhance or streamline support for facilities and
operations. The elements of risk and environmental impact also require
somewhat different strategies; e.g., remote sensing, autonomous
vehicles and energy systems. The limitation of access; e.g.,
sub-glacial lakes and volcanoes also places burdens on the system not
frequently encountered elsewhere. This program is designed to
accomplish the goals of modern measurements, minimizing environmental
impact and enhancing the research support capability by using the
latest technologies that economically permit low-risk, environmentally
friendly observations of remote regions with limited or no direct
access.
This will be accomplished by
a) development of new instrumentation and
b) creation of innovative technological solutions to the problems of
research or infrastructure support in extreme environments.
Funding for these will include concept and engineering
development through field testing. Application/use will be subject to
funding via other mechanisms. The results of this initiative will be
improved observations over broader temporal and spatial scales;
reduced footprint in environmentally sensitive areas; safer access to
regions that are currently inaccessible or are too inhospitable; more
efficient, flexible technologies to enhance support of research in
polar regions.
Award amounts of up to $500,000/year will be available for proposals
submitted in response to this solicitation.
Proposal must be submitted via FastLane. The OPP POC for FastLane is
Sarita Rich
SRich [at] nsf.gov
703/306-1033
and help with the FastLane system is available from
FastLane User Support
fastlane [at] nsf.gov
703/306-1142
The cognizant Program Coordinator is
Simon Stephenson
sstephen [at] nsf.gov
703/306-1029
Regards,
Karl Erb
Director,
Office of Polar Programs