all competitions

all competition - Natural History Unit of Africa (NHU Africa) commissions, co-produces and distributes wildlife documentaries for both international and local broadcasters.

Producers are encouraged to apply for funding. Please read over the requirements for submissions.

Wildlife Documentary Funding Commissions

NHU Africa is looking for strong, African based stories that speak to the connections between people, animals and the natural world. We are not looking for proposals focusing anywhere other than Africa and we are not looking for issues, thesis’ or lectures. We are looking for powerful, entertaining, unusual and dramatic stories that provide an insight into the natural world and our place within it.

We are looking for films which will appeal to International audiences rather than simply South African domestic audiences. In particular we are looking to engage audiences in the US, UK, Europe and Asia. We will commission both one off specials at 1 x 60 mins and multi part series with episode lengths of either 30mins or 60 mins. We are particularly interested in the following areas:

Human/Animal interaction:

This ranges from unique single stories like Into The Dragon’s Lair – an intense and frightening personal quest to dive with Nile Crocodiles in the Okavango- to Cheetah Diaries – a light observational documentary series following the ongoing the work of the dedicated staff at The Cheetah Outreach. All films in this area need strong characters, developing story lines and an ability to tell us something new about the needs, desires and connections that drive human relationships with wild animals.

Adventure/Exploration:

Proposals in this area can be unique stories like Ice Man –the story of Lewis Pugh’s one man mission to highlight climate change by swimming in Antarctica – or more entertainment led series based ideas. All submissions whether for series or single films need to be built around strong characters and have a strong sense of a quest.

The Natural World/Blue Chip Natural History:

This ranges from 3 part series like Chameleons of the World- concentrating on one unusual species – to single more personal films like A Kalahari Tale- focusing on one particular individual animal. Proposals in this area must tell strong, unusual and dramatic stories, have their focus on the wild animals and offer high visual values.

Investigation/Revelation:

Proposals in this area will tend to be more journalistic in approach. They can range from stories like The Search for The Knysna Elephants – one man’s attempts to challenge the official view that only one elephant remained in the Knysna Forest – to Free Passage to Angola – testing the notion that elephants are able to detect landmines. Proposals in this area should focus on unusual, difficult or controversial subjects and deliver genuine revelation.

Please don’t hesitate to submit your idea for commission or co-production to geta@nhuafrica.com

Every submission must include:

* 1 page synopsis.
* Treatment (2-4 pages).
* Fully itemised budget in ZAR and US Dollars.
* Key Creatives biographies.
* Screener or showreel, if any.
* List of co-production, distribution or finance partners, if any already attached.

There is no closing date for the submissions and we take proposals at any time of year. You will hear back from NHU AFRICA within 4 weeks of your submissions as to whether your proposal has been successful or not.

What we require in Wildlife Documentary Funding

* 1 page synopsis.
* Treatment (2-4 pages).
* Fully itemised budget in ZAR and US Dollars.
* Key Creatives biographies.
* Screener or showreel, if any.
* List of co-production, distribution or finance partners, if any already attached.

Contact Us

Please don’t hesitate to submit your idea for commission or co-production to geta@nhuafrica.com

There is no closing date for the submissions and we take proposals at any time of year. You will hear back from NHU AFRICA within 4 weeks of your submissions as to whether your proposal has been successful or not.

Wildlife Documentary Funding website: http://www.nhuafrica.com/

The Biosensing Program supports fundamental research in engineering areas related to:

* Novel sensitive, discriminative, low cost, and easy to operate biosensing systems

* Innovative ideas in the development of novel biorecognition strategies

* Multifunctional nanomaterials and interfaces with predefined physical, chemical or biological characteristics for biosensing applications

* Fundamental study of bio-macromolecules confinement and orientation at the micro- and nano-interfaces for biosensing applications

* Molecular sensors capable of monitoring biological structures interaction (protein-protein interactions, cell-to-cell talk, interkingdom signaling, etc.)

Proposals outside of these specific interest areas are welcome. In particular, the Interfacial Processing and Thermodynamics Program and the Biosensing Program may jointly support novel projects related to surface functionalization at the molecular level.

The Biosensing Program supports innovative, transformative and insightful fundamental investigations of original technologies with broad long term impact and applications that require novel use of bio-inspired engineering principles and sophisticated approaches to meet the engineering and technology needs of the nation. The program is targeting research in the area of the monitoring, identification and/or quantification of biological phenomena and will support potential technological breakthroughs that exist at the intersection of engineering, life science and information technology. Projects submitted to the Program must advance both engineering and life sciences.

The development of novel principles and approaches will require highly collaborative interactions between engineers, life scientists and experts in nanotechnology, biomaterials, bioinformatics, and the chemical and physical sciences. The Program recognizes the important role of education and workforce development specifically relevant to the multidisciplinary nature of the area of biosensing.

The Program does not support applications with incremental improvements of existing approaches/technologies, nor does the Program support any device development such as point-of-care diagnostic systems or any applied medical technologies.

The duration of unsolicited awards is generally one to three years. The average annual award size for the program is $100,000 (including indirect cost). Proposals requesting a substantially higher amount than this, without prior consultation with the Program Director, may be returned without review. Small equipment proposals up to $70,000 will also be considered and may be submitted during the annual proposal submission window.

Innovative proposals outside of these specific interest areas can be considered. However, prior to submission, it is recommended that the PI contact the Program Director to avoid the possibility of the proposal being returned without review.

website: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503353&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

Biophotonics applies photonics technology to the fields of medicine, biology and biotechnology. Basic research and innovation in photonics that is very fundamental in science and engineering is needed to lay the foundation for new technologies beyond those that are mature and ready for application in medical diagnostics and therapies. Advances are needed in nanophotonics, optogenetics, contrast and targeting agents, ultra-thin probes, wide field imaging, and rapid biomarker screening. Low cost and minimally invasive medical diagnostics and therapies are key goals.

Examples of topics are:

* Macromolecule Markers - Innovative methods for labeling of macromolecules, new compositions of matter/methods of fabrication of multi-color probes such as might be used for marking and detection of specific pathological cells and push the envelope of optical sensing to the limits of detection, resolution, and identification

* Low Coherence Sensing at the Nanoscale - Low coherence enhanced backscattering (LEBS), n-dimensional elastic light scattering, and angle-resolved low coherence interferometry for early cancer detection (dysplasia)

* Neurophotonics - Studies of photon activation of neurons at the interface of nanomaterials attached to cells. Development and application of biocompatible photonic tools such as parallel interfaces and interconnects for communicating and control of neural networks

* Micro- and Nano-photonic - Development and application of nanoparticle fluorescent quantum-dots; sensitive, multiplexed, high-throughput characterization of macromolecular properties of cells; nanomaterials and nanodevices for biomedicine

* Optogenetics - Employing light-activated channels and enzymes for manipulation of neural activity with temporal precision.

The duration of unsolicited awards is generally one to three years. The average annual award size for the program is $100,000 for individual investigators and $200,000 for multiple investigators. Proposals requesting a substantially higher amount than this, without prior consultation with the Program Director, may be returned without review.

Innovative proposals outside of these specific interest areas can be considered. However, prior to submission, it is recommended that the PI contact the Program Director to avoid the possibility of the proposal being returned without review.

website: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=501025&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The mission of the Biomedical Engineering (BME) program is to provide opportunities to develop novel ideas into discovery-level and transformative projects that integrate engineering and life science principles in solving biomedical problems that serve humanity in the long-term. The Biomedical Engineering (BME) program supports fundamental research in the following BME themes:

* Neural engineering (brain science, computational neuroscience, brain-computer interface, neurotech, cognitive engineering)

* Cellular biomechanics (motion, deformation, and forces in biological systems; how mechanical forces alter cell growth, differentiation, movement, signal transduction, transport, cell adhesion, cell cytoskeleton dynamics, cell-cell and cell-ECM interactions; genetically engineered stem cell differentiation with long-term impact in tissue repair and regenerative medicine)

The BME projects must be at the interface of engineering and life sciences, and advance both engineering and life sciences. The projects should focus on high impact transforming methods and technologies. The project should include methods, models and tools of understanding and controlling of living systems; fundamental improvements in deriving information from cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems; new approaches to the design of structures and materials for eventual medical use in the long-term; and new novel methods of reducing health care costs through new technologies.

The projects should emphasize the advancement of fundamental engineering knowledge, possibly leading to the development of new methods and technologies in the long-term; and highlight multi-disciplinary nature, integrating engineering and the sciences. The long-term impact of the projects can be related to disease diagnosis and/or treatment, improved health care delivery, or product development. The BME program does not support clinical studies.

As stated earlier, the current program themes are Neural Engineering and Cellular Biomechanics.

BME Program requirement: On the last line of the project summary page for unsolicited and CAREER proposals, the PI should write the BME theme(s) given above that he/she is submitting the proposal for. [Please check the list above to determine the BME theme(s) for your proposal.]

The duration of unsolicited awards is generally one to three years. The typical annual award size for the program is $100,000 for individual investigators or $200,000 for multiple investigators per year (including indirect cost). Proposals requesting a substantially higher amount than this, without prior consultation with the Program Director, may be returned without review. Small equipment proposals of less than $100,000 will also be considered and may be submitted during the annual submission window.

Innovative proposals outside of these specific interest areas can be considered. However, prior to submission, it is recommended that the PI contact the Program Director to avoid the possibility of the proposal being returned without review.

website: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=501023&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The objective of the International Research Fellowship Program (IRFP) is to introduce scientists and engineers in the early stages of their careers to international collaborative research opportunities, thereby furthering their research capacity and global perspective and forging long-term relationships with scientists, technologists and engineers abroad. These awards are available in any field of science and engineering research and education supported by NSF.

website: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5179&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The Antarctic Artists and Writers Program furnishes U.S. Antarctic Program operational support, and round-trip economy air tickets between the United States and the Southern Hemisphere, to artists and writers whose work requires them to be in the Antarctic to complete their proposed project. It does not provide funds for salary, materials, completion of the envisioned works, or any other purpose.

U.S. Antarctic Program infrastructure consists of three year-round stations and numerous austral-summer research camps in Antarctica, research ships in the Southern Ocean, and surface and air transportation. These assets support the artist and writer projects. The main purpose of the U.S. Antarctic Program is scientific research and education.

The Antarctic Artists and Writers Program supports writing and artistic projects specifically designed to increase understanding and appreciation of the Antarctic and of human activities on the southernmost continent.

The program does not support short-term projects that are essentially journalistic in nature.

website: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503518&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The Science of Science & Innovation Policy (SciSIP) program supports research designed to advance the scientific basis of science and innovation policy. Research funded by the program thus develops, improves and expands models, analytical tools, data and metrics that can be applied in the science policy decision making process. For example, research proposals may develop behavioral and analytical conceptualizations, frameworks or models that have applications across a broad array of SciSIP challenges, including the relationship between broader participation and innovation or creativity. Proposals may also develop methodologies to analyze science and technology data, and to convey the information to a variety of audiences. Researchers are also encouraged to create or improve science and engineering data, metrics and indicators reflecting current discovery, particularly proposals that demonstrate the viability of collecting and analyzing data on knowledge generation and innovation in organizations.

Among the many research topics supported are:

* examinations of the ways in which the contexts, structures and processes of science and engineering research are affected by policy decision,
* the evaluation of the tangible and intangible returns from investments in science and from investments in research and development,
* the study of structures and processes that facilitate the development of usable knowledge, theories of creative processes and their transformation into social and economic outcomes,
* the collection, analysis and visualization of new data describing the scientific and engineering enterprise.

The SciSIP program invites the participation of researchers from all of the social, behavioral and economic sciences as well as those working in domain-specific applications such as chemistry, biology, physics, or nanotechnology. The program welcomes proposals for individual or multi-investigator research projects, doctoral dissertation improvement awards, conferences, workshops, symposia, experimental research, data collection and dissemination, computer equipment and other instrumentation, and research experience for undergraduates. The program places a high priority on interdisciplinary research as well as international collaboration.

Investigators are encouraged to submit proposals of joint interest to the SciSIP Program and other NSF programs and NSF initiative areas. The program places a high priority on broadening participation and encourages proposals from junior faculty, women, other underrepresented minorities, Research Undergraduate Institutions, and EPSCoR states. The program also supports small grants that are time-critical and small grants that are high-risk and of a potentially transformative nature

website: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=501084&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The Research on Gender in Science and Engineering program supports efforts to understand and address gender-based differences in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and workforce participation through research, the diffusion of research-based innovations, and extension services in education that will lead to a larger and more diverse domestic science and engineering workforce. Typical projects will contribute to the knowledge base addressing gender-related differences in learning and in the educational experiences that affect student interest, performance, and choice of careers; how pedagogical approaches and teaching styles, curriculum, student services, and institutional culture contribute to causing or closing gender gaps that persist in certain fields. Projects will communicate and apply findings, evaluation results, and proven good practices and products to a wider community.

The Research on Gender in Science and Engineering program has been funding these objectives since 1993, under the prior names "Program for Women and Girls" (PWG), "Program for Gender Equity in Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology" (PGE), and "Gender Diversity in STEM Education" (GDSE). The program continues to seek to broaden the participation of girls and women in all fields of STEM education, but also considers gender more broadly to include research and diffusion activities focused on men and boys who are underrepresented in STEM fields.

The program does not currently fund intervention or education projects that directly serve students as their primary purpose, or that focus solely on evaluating a student intervention. Research projects may involve an intervention with students as subjects only if the intervention is an integral part of creating a context for gathering data and if the findings from the intervention would substantially answer the research questions posed within the context of theory, concepts or frameworks of interest. There should be meaningful control or comparison groups also included in the design when appropriate. Those wishing to undertake direct intervention or education service projects or evaluations are encouraged to search the NSF web site and other publications for appropriate funding programs. Please see section IX below for suggested programs to consult.

Innovation through Institutional Integration (I3) projects enable faculty, administrators, and others in institutions to think and act strategically about the creative integration of NSF-funded awards, with particular emphasis on awards managed through programs in the Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR), but not limited to those awards. For Fiscal Year 2010, proposals are being solicited in nine EHR programs that advance I3 goals: CREST, GSE, HBCU-UP, ITEST, LSAMP, MSP, Noyce, RDE, and TCUP.

website: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5475&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB) supports fundamental research and related activities designed to promote understanding of complex living systems at the molecular, subcellular, and cellular levels. The Division is soliciting proposals for hypothesis-driven and discovery research and related activities in four core clusters:

* Biomolecular dynamics, structure, and function
* Cellular processes
* Genetic mechanisms
* Networks and regulation

The Division supports research using a range of experimental approaches--including in vivo, in vitro and in silico strategies--and a broad spectrum of model and non-model organisms, especially microbes and plants. Typical research in areas supported by MCB integrates theory and experimentation. The Division gives high priority to research projects that use theory, methods, and technologies from physical sciences, mathematics, computational sciences, and engineering to address basic biological questions. Projects that address the emerging areas of single molecule or single cell studies, molecular dynamics, small RNA and chromatin biology, predictive modeling of complexity at molecular and cellular levels, and synthetic biology are particularly welcome. The Division is also interested in projects aimed at understanding and predicting the molecular and cellular underpinnings of phenotypic variation and adaptation to environmental change. Highest funding priority is given to applications that are outstanding in both intellectual merit and broader impacts. The Division supports both hypothesis-driven research and discovery-based, large-scale biology research. Proposals that are motivated by relevance of the proposed research to human health or proposals that address the molecular basis of human diseases and treatment are not appropriate for the Division and will be returned without review.

website: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503626&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The Innovation and Organizational Sciences (IOS) program supports scientific research that advances our understanding of organizational phenomena, including innovation and innovation management, as well as other aspects of organizational effectiveness, competitiveness, dynamics, change or evolution. Levels of analysis may include (but are not limited to) individuals, groups, organizations, cross-organizational phenomena and/or institutional arrangements. Intellectual perspectives may involve (but are not limited to) organization theory, strategy, organizational behavior, social or industrial psychology, technology and innovation management, organizational sociology, entrepreneurship, organizational economics, communication sciences, information sciences, public administration, or decision and management sciences. Research methods may span a broad variety of qualitative and quantitative methods, including (but not limited to) archival analyses, surveys, simulation studies, experiments, comparative case studies, and network analyses. Research may involve industrial, educational, service, government, not-for-profits, voluntary organizations or interorganizational arrangements.

IOS-funded research must be grounded in theory and generalizable. It must advance our scientific understanding of innovation and organizations. Scientific inquiries that are relevant to real problems and organizations in generalizable ways are encouraged. Proposals that aim to implement or evaluate innovations or particular organizational change programs rather than to advance fundamental, generalizable knowledge about innovation and organizations are not appropriate for IOS.

Researchers who seek to conduct IOS-appropriate research in an industrial site and/or via an industry-university collaboration are invited to also look at the Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaisons with Industry (GOALI) homepage

website: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=13706

The Catalyzing New International Collaborations program supports the participation of U.S. researchers and students in activities intended to catalyze new international collaborations.

This program provides educational opportunities for Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students, Postdoctoral Fellows . This program provides indirect funding for students. To inquire about possible funding opportunities from grantees, please look at the active awards for this program.

website: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=12815&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The Cognitive Neuroscience Program seeks highly innovative and interdisciplinary proposals aimed at advancing a rigorous understanding of how the human brain supports thought, perception, affect, action, social processes, and other aspects of cognition and behavior, including how such processes develop and change in the brain and through time.

website: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5316&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program supports active research participation by undergraduate students in any of the areas of research funded by the National Science Foundation. REU projects involve students in meaningful ways in ongoing research programs or in research projects specifically designed for the REU program. This solicitation features two mechanisms for support of student research: (1) REU Sites are based on independent proposals to initiate and conduct projects that engage a number of students in research. REU Sites may be based in a single discipline or academic department, or on interdisciplinary or multi-department research opportunities with a coherent intellectual theme. Proposals with an international dimension are welcome. A partnership with the Department of Defense supports REU Sites in DoD-relevant research areas. (2) REU Supplements may be requested for ongoing NSF-funded research projects or may be included as a component of proposals for new or renewal NSF grants or cooperative agreements.

Undergraduate student participants in either Sites or Supplements must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or its possessions.

Students may not apply to NSF to participate in REU activities. Students apply directly to REU Sites and should consult the directory of active REU Sites on the Web at

This program provides educational opportunities for Undergraduate Students . This program provides indirect funding for undergraduate students to participate in research. To inquire about possible funding opportunities, please contact the organizations that have received awards.

website: http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.cfm

The Physical Anthropology Program supports basic research in areas related to human evolution and contemporary human biological variation. Research areas supported by the program include, but are not limited to, human genetic variation, human adaptation, human osteology and bone biology, human and nonhuman primate paleontology, functional anatomy, and primate socioecology. Grants supported in these areas are united by an underlying evolutionary framework, and often a consideration of adaptation as a central theoretical theme. Many proposals also have a biocultural orientation. The program frequently serves as a bridge within NSF between the social and behavioral sciences and the natural and physical sciences, and proposals are commonly jointly reviewed and funded with other programs.

For more information about Multidisciplinary Research and Training Opportunities, please visit the SBE Office of Multidisciplinary Activities web site.

Also, for more information on the Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grants please visit the Physical Anthropology specific page.

Under NSF's data sharing policy, the Foundation expects investigators to share with other researchers, at no more than incremental cost and within a reasonable time, the data, samples, physical collections, and other supporting materials created or gathered in the course of the work. To implement that policy in ways appropriate to Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, beginning July 1, 2005 these Programs will require that all proposals include a one-page detailed description of the applicant's data access plan in the "Supplementary Documents" section. This page will be in addition to the standard 15-page project description. Applications lacking this statement will not be reviewed. The Programs realize that individual cases may differ widely and recognize that any absolute timeline or rigid set of rules is not possible. They also recognize that revision and adjustment may often be required as the work proceeds. The data access plan, however, will be considered an integral part of the project and therefore subject to reviewer and panel evaluation. Major departure from it will constitute a significant project change and require NSF approval. Successful applicants will be required to address this issue in every progress and final report. PIs on all awards made under these guidelines will be expected to discuss implementation of their plans in the "Results of Prior Research" section when they submit subsequent applications.

website: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5407&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The purpose of the FRG activity is to allow groups of researchers to respond to recognized scientific needs of pressing importance, to take advantage of current scientific opportunities, or to prepare the ground for anticipated significant scientific developments in the mathematical sciences. Groups may include, in addition to mathematical scientists, researchers from other science and engineering disciplines appropriate to the proposed research. The activity supports projects for which the collective effort by a group of researchers is necessary to reach the scientific goals. Projects should be scientifically focused and well-delineated. It is not the intent of this activity to provide general support for infrastructure. Projects should also be timely, limited in duration to up to three years, and substantial in their scope and impact.

website: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5671&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The Economics program supports research designed to improve the understanding of the processes and institutions of the U.S. economy and of the world system of which it is a part. This program also strengthens both empirical and theoretical economic analysis as well as the methods for rigorous research on economic behavior. It supports research in almost every area of economics, including econometrics, economic history, environmental economics, finance, industrial organization, international economics, labor economics, macroeconomics, mathematical economics, and public finance.

The Economics program welcomes proposals for individual or multi-investigator research projects, doctoral dissertation improvement awards, conferences, workshops, symposia, experimental research, data collection and dissemination, computer equipment and other instrumentation, and research experience for undergraduates. The program places a high priority on interdisciplinary research. Investigators are encouraged to submit proposals of joint interest to the Economics Program and other NSF programs and NSF initiative areas. The program places a high priority on broadening participation and encourages proposals from junior faculty, women, other underrepresented minorities, Research Undergraduate Institutions, and EPSCoR states.

The program also funds conferences and interdisciplinary research that strengthens links among economics and the other social and behavioral sciences as well as mathematics and statistics.

website: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5437&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The Decision, Risk and Management Sciences program supports scientific research directed at increasing the understanding and effectiveness of decision making by individuals, groups, organizations, and society. Disciplinary and interdisciplinary research, doctoral dissertation research, and workshops are funded in the areas of judgment and decision making; decision analysis and decision aids; risk analysis, perception, and communication; societal and public policy decision making; management science and organizational design. The program also supports small grants that are time-critical (Rapid Response Research - RAPID)and small grants that are high-risk and of a potentially transformative nature (EArly-Concept Grants for Exploratory Research - EAGER). For detailed information concerning these two types of grants, please review Chapter II.D of the NSF Grant Proposal Guide.

Funded research must be grounded in theory and generalizable. Purely algorithmic management science proposals should be submitted to the Operations Research Program rather than to DRMS.

website: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5423&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

Due to the ubiquitous presence of catalysis in the many aspects of goods and services impacting our lives, the Catalysis and Biocatalysis program has many potential directions for funding support. Programs in this area encompass a blend of fundamental and innovative applied research drivers. All programs are hypothesis-driven, and the experimental programs aimed at resolving the issues frequently combine a variety of approaches. Chemical engineering and chemistry are intertwined. Proposals which receive funding in this Program may include any number of the following broad scopes:

* Catalyst Synthesis, Characterization, Behavior and Performance

* Kinetics and Mechanisms of Key Catalytic Reactions

* Catalysis at Surfaces or in Reactor Process Streams

* Synthesis and Fabrication of Component Materials and Catalyst Composites

* Modeling and Fundamental Studies of a Catalyst or Catalytic Process

* Catalysts and Studies for Renewable Energy Systems.

These approaches apply equally to classical inorganic or carbon catalysts as well as to enzymatic or biocatalysts. Specialized materials synthesis procedures may be necessary to provide active catalysts in any of the studies. Applications-driven studies, such as Biomass conversion catalysis, Electrocatalysis and Photocatalysis, involving energy interconversion devices or systems employing catalysts are highly desired.

Most studies will focus on the catalysis of one or more chemical reactions with products including molecules used for fuels, energy sources, feedstocks, fine chemicals, bulk chemicals and specialized materials. While proposals will be accepted in any of the above areas, national needs suggest heightened interest be given to proposals relating to processes and catalysts for conversions of biomass to fuels and chemicals, for development of renewable energy sources and for transition to green or environmentally benign products and processes. Submissions investigating unique nanoparticle or biomimetic catalysis are welcome.

Projects are coordinated and may be jointly funded with other CBET and NSF divisional programs. Proposals developing technology involving catalysis + separation or catalysis + reaction engineering or catalysis + renewable energy systems may be submitted to Catalysis and Biocatalysis requesting that joint funding be explored. The Program has high interest in industry/university collaborations as outlined in the GOALI program. EAGER proposals are recognized as useful vehicles to ultimately develop full proposals. Support of undergraduates, workshops and travel are opportunities to further research goals. CAREER proposals are enthusiastically received. All of these activities have specific rules pertaining, and should be discussed with the Program Director prior to submission.

The duration of unsolicited awards is generally one to three years. The typical annual award size for the program is $100,000. Proposals requesting a substantially higher amount than this, without prior consultation with the Program Director, may be returned without review. Small equipment proposals of less than $100,000 will also be considered and may be submitted during the annual submission window.

Innovative proposals outside of these specific interest areas can be considered. However, prior to submission, it is recommended that the PI contact the Program Director to avoid the possibility of the proposal being returned without review.

website: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=13360&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The Biotechnology, Biochemical, and Biomass Engineering (BBBE) program supports fundamental engineering research that advances the understanding of cellular and biomolecular processes (in vivo, in vitro, and/or ex vivo) and eventually leads to the development of enabling technology and/or applications in support of the biopharmaceutical, biotechnology, and bioenergy industries, or with applications in health or the environment. Quantitative assessments of bioprocesses are considered vital to successful research projects in the BBBE program.

Fundamental to many research projects in this area is the understanding of how biomolecules and cells interact in their environment, and how those molecular level interactions lead to changes in structure, function, phenotype, and/or behavior. The program encourages proposals that address emerging research areas and technologies that effectively integrate knowledge and practices from different disciplines, and effectively incorporate ongoing research into educational activities.

Research projects of particular interest in BBBE include, but are not limited to:

* Metabolic engineering and synthetic biology

* Quantitative systems biotechnology

* Tissue engineering and stem cell culture technologies

* Protein engineering/protein design

* Development of novel "omics" tools for biotechnology applications

The duration of unsolicited awards is generally one to three years. The average annual award size for the program is $100,000 for individual investigators and $200,000 for multiple investigators. Proposals requesting a substantially higher amount than this, without prior consultation with the Program Director, may be returned without review.

Proposals in the areas of nanobiotechnology, fermentation, cell culture, recombinant DNA, and enzyme technology will still be accepted, given that they represent highly innovative and potentially transformative research in these areas. Proposals outside of these specific interest areas will be considered; however, the PI should contact the Program Director prior to submission to avoid the possibility of the proposal being returned without review.

website: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=501024&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The solar and heliospheric research communities are dedicated to promoting enhanced understanding of, and predictive capabilities for, solar disturbances that propagate to the Earth. Broad-based, grass-roots associations such as SHINE have developed to focus community effort on these scientific questions. Proposals are solicited for research directly related to topics under consideration and discussion at community workshops organized by SHINE.

website: http://www.shinecon.org