Our future sustainability and prosperity will require a transdisciplinary geoscience workforce that reflects the nation’s diversity and has the capacity to develop innovative solutions necessary to meet future environmental and societal challenges. The Geosciences Directorate (GEO) proposes a novel approach to simultaneously address two major challenges that require immediate action, (1) foster a just, equitable and inclusive geoscience research community that reflects the diversity of the United States and (2) develop a workforce with the skills required to understand how the Earth system can continue to sustain society. Cultural Transformation in the Geoscience Community (CTGC) responds to the desire of individuals from a wide range of backgrounds to make a difference in their world and supports the creative power of truly diverse groups to make major strides in Earth System Science in service of humanity. CTGC aims at engaging institutions that support Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), persons with disabilities, LGBTQIA+, and other individuals from marginalized/ minoritized groups, to help promote career advancement, and advance Earth system science.
CTGC builds on tenets of NSF programs like GOLD (Geoscience Opportunities for Diversity Leadership), ADVANCE and NSF INCLUDES that lead to environments that foster inclusion and belonging. The program will support projects that are based on geoscience education scholarship, mentorship, allyship, equity, anti-racist and anti-harassment practices, and increasing accessibility. CTGC projects will establish sustainable and long-term STEM learning and research ecosystems that connect individuals’ academic training with informal and work-based training opportunities through strong collaborative relationships and career-pathway mapping among schools, informal learning environments, local communities, private sector partners, and university and research partners. The program will support planning grants and implementation projects. Planning grants are intended to build capacity in the geoscience community to undertake the activities necessary to establish place-based and community-driven Earth system research projects. Implementation projects will build cohorts of individuals at specific career stages that will design inclusive research programs, conduct community engagement to identify research needs, or participate in community-driven research projects. CTGC projects will promote innovative approaches to Earth system sciences and will foster authentic and equitable collaborations between scientists and community members with the goal of addressing issues that contribute to the sustainability of the community.
The Cultural Transformation in the Geoscience Community (CTGC) is seeking proposals that will:
- Establish sustainable and long-term STEM learning and research ecosystems that will connect individuals’ academic training with informal and work-based training opportunities through strong collaborative relationships and career-pathway mapping among schools, informal learning environments, private sector partners, and university and research partners.
- Support the professional development of cohorts of individuals at different career stages through transition points, address areas where data demonstrates failure to engage or alienation from the research ecosystem of historically marginalized groups. Those engaged in this program will be proficient Earth system science team members whose contributions are cultivated in inclusive learning and workspaces.
This solicitation offers two funding tracks for (Planning Grants) and for (2) Implementation projects.
1. Planning Grants are intended to build capacity in the geoscience community to undertake the activities necessary to establish future CTGC implementation projects or similar activities. NSF recognizes that institutions may identify an important, complex challenge to address, but may not have the full complement of skills and expertise needed to successfully address the challenge. Planning Grants can be used to support team formation activities (e.g., filling gaps in expertise); develop and nurture relationships with potential partners; and access specialized frameworks or resources needed to better develop an Implementation Project. Planning Grants are suitable for institutions that would like to prepare to host an Implementation Project and ensure that their institution is fully inclusive and welcoming to all project participants, by training staff, conducting climate surveys, or to establish collaborations and partnerships. Planning Grants should include plans for the expansion, sustainability, and scale of their activities. Proposers funded through this solicitation may use the Planning Grant funding to organize catalytic activities (including, but not limited to, workshops and conferences) that can help collaborating organizations to crystallize their broadening participation vision and to develop an Implementation Project proposal. Planning Grants should include a small pilot program and adequate evaluation. Planning Grants should be for 24 to 30 months. Having a Planning Grant awarded is not a guarantee of subsequent funding for an Implementation Project. A Planning Grant is not a prerequisite for future CTGC competitions.
2. Implementation Projects - Institutions that have shown to be supportive of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), persons with disabilities, LGBTQIA+, and other individuals from marginalized/minoritized groups to help promote career advancement and/or institutions that have shown expertise in training the next generation of geoscientists in community-based research, participatory research, or place-based research are welcome to submit an Implementation Project proposal. In particular, Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) are encouraged to submit Implementation Projects. Proposers should demonstrate how they have established inclusive and safe research environments and should have established authentic mutually beneficial partnerships with local communities or other collaborators. Proposed projects should specify the cohorts that will be formed and entrained, the planned professional development opportunities, appropriate to their career stages, as well as the ways communities are engaged in authentic and equitable partnerships to address environmental challenges. Implementation Project proposals can be for up to 60 months.
Implementation grants have a limit of $1.5M per year for up to 5 years, planning grants have a limit of $120,000 per year for up to 2.5 years. Implementation grants are eligible for renewal for an additional 5 years pending availability of funds and favorable review.
Interested applicants should upload the following documents in sequence in one PDF file (File name: Last name_NSF22-562_2022) no later than 4:00 p.m. on the internal submission deadline:
1. Cover Letter (1 page, pdf):
- Descriptive title of proposed activity
- PI name, departmental affiliations(s) and contact information
- Co-PI's names and departmental affiliation(s)
- Names of other key personnel
- Participating institution(s)
- Number and title of this funding opportunity
2. Project Description (no more than two pages, pdf) identifying the project scope that addresses the key aspects and elements of the sponsor's solicitation, principal investigators, collaborators, and partner organizations. References may be included on an additional page.
3. 2-page CV's of Investigators
Formatting Guidelines:
Font/size: Times New Roman (12 pt.)
Document margins: 1.0” (top, bottom, left and right)
Standard paper size (8 ½” x 11)
Questions concerning the limited submissions process may be submitted to limitedsubs@psu.edu.