**ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND BIOGEOCHEMISTRY **

**Research at the Interfaces of Geochemistry, Hydrology, Coastal
Sciences, Atmospheric Sciences, Chemistry, Microbial and Molecular
Biology, Colloid and Transport Engineering, and Mathematical Sciences**

**\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_**

***Solicitation***

**DIVISION OF EARTH SCIENCES**

**DIVISION OF OCEAN SCIENCES**

**DIVISION OF ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES**

**DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY**

**DIVISION OF CHEMICAL & TRANSPORT SYSTEMS **

**DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY**

**DIVISION OF MOLECULAR & CELLULAR**

** BIOSCIENCES**

**DIVISION OF MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES**

**DEADLINE DATE: *January 7, 1998***

**^\ NATIONAL\ SCIENCE\ FOUNDATION^**

# Description

The goal of the Environmental Geochemistry and Biogeochemistry activity
is to enhance fundamental, interdisciplinary research on chemical
processes that determine the behavior and distribution of inorganic and
organic materials in environments near the Earth's surface. Of
particular importance are projects that characterize chemical parameters
in both perturbed and unperturbed natural systems, clarify the chemical
processes or behavior observed, or combine observations and
interpretations into predictive models.

A central challenge of environmental research is understanding how the
physical, chemical, geological, and biological processes that comprise
the Earth's natural systems are functionally interrelated. The
Environmental Geochemistry and Biogeochemistry research activity
addresses this challenge by supporting studies on the
physical-chemical-biological behavior of chemical substances within one
environment or by emphasizing research that focuses on a common chemical
theme throughout a variety of environments. Environments of interest are
soils, ground waters, surface waters, coastal marine and estuarine
areas, and portions of the troposphere in contact with these
environments.

This research activity encourages integration of critical inquiry from
the disciplines of inorganic, organic, bioinorganic, and bioorganic
chemistry (reactions in complex environments), geochemistry
(characterization and distribution of chemical compounds in natural
systems), hydrology (flow and transport), biology (dynamic influences of
microbes and other communities), colloid, interfacial, and transport
engineering (including generic mechanisms in porous media), and
mathematics (analytical, statistical, and computational modeling of
complex systems) to address environmental problems. Research projects
combining approaches from other chemically-based science or engineering
fields of study with these disciplines are also appropriate. This
Environmental Geochemistry and Biogeo-chemistry activity is *not an
appropriate venue for research suitable for support in existing
disciplinary programs or for research having impact on a single
discipline.* Such proposals should be submitted to existing disciplinary
programs in the various divisions. Additionally, *it is not suitable for
research with an epidemiological or toxicological approach*.

Research supported through this activity will facilitate development of
a multi-faceted perspective and predictive understanding of the complex

interactions of the geosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere as
they relate to chemical transport. The results will contribute to the
knowledge base used by management and policy decision-makers in
planning, development, pollution avoidance, remediation, and restoration
activities.

Selected examples of research areas suitable for study under this
interdisciplinary research activity follow:

· interactions of inorganic and organic compounds, colloids, and
microbes in natural waters, soils, and sediments, and impacts on
processes such as speciation and transport behavior of contaminants and
nutrients at the molecular level;

· the integrated effects of physical, chemical, biological, geological,
and anthropogenic factors on chemical sorption, transport, and
bioavailability in natural waters, soils and sediments;

· trace and major tropospheric gases: role of soils, biota, and coastal
waters as receptors and emitters; reservoir size and flux;

· modeling, including mathematical and numerical simulation, that
integrates solute/suspension transport and geochemical reactions
involving inorganic and organic substances and microorganisms;
developing the means for extrapolating chemical observations among
different space and time scales (*e.g*., molecular and laboratory level
to field and watershed level);

· holistic, interdisciplinary studies of interactions among the
geosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere that elucidate a
natural system's response to, and recovery from, chemical perturbations
caused by natural phenomena or human activities;

· national or international workshops or conferences on appropriate
topics that emphasize interdisciplinary research or future directions
for environmental geochemistry and biogeochemistry.

Award lists and abstracts for the FY95, FY96 and FY97 competitions are
available on-line at http://www.nsf.gov/stratare/egch/envresop.htm. For
further information about the Environmental Geochemistry and
Biogeochemistry research activity, contact Maryellen Cameron, Division
of Earth Sciences, (703) 306-1554, mcameron@nsf.gov; Margaret Cavanaugh,
Division of Chemistry, (703) 306-1842, mcavanau@nsf.gov; L. Douglas
James, Division of Earth Sciences, (703) 306-1549, ldjames@nsf.gov; Ken
Buesseler, Division of Ocean Sciences, (703) 306-1589, kbuessel@nsf.gov;
Roger Arndt, Division of Chemical and Transport Systems, (703) 306-1371,
rarndt@nsf.gov; Anne-Marie Schmoltner, Division of Atmospheric Sciences,
(703) 306-1522, aschmolt@nsf.gov; J. Tom Callahan, Division of
Environmental Biology, (703) 306-1479, jcallaha@nsf.gov; or Shil
DasSarma, Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, (703)
306-1441; Michael Steuerwalt, Division of Mathematical Sciences, (703)
306-1878, msteuerw@nsf.gov.

## Preparation and Submission of Proposals

Proposals submitted in response to this solicitation will be accepted
from colleges, universities, and other not-for-profit institutions in
the U.S. Organizations affiliated with local, state, or federal
government units (including FFRDCs) are not considered eligible to
submit proposals. Such organizations may, however, request support to
participate in research conducted by eligible organizations by means of
subcontracts. These subcontracts are intended to cover lab, field and
travel, but not salary, expenses, and must constitute less than \<20% of
total requested funding.

Award durations of two to three years will be considered. The total
funding requested for each project, for all investigators at all
institutions, must not exceed \$550,000. **Proposals for projects that
exceed this amount cumulatively will be returned without review.** The
number of awards will depend on a variety of factors, including quality
of proposals submitted and linkages with other NSF activities and
programs. In FY 1998, NSF expects to make awards totaling approximately
\$ 4.6 million for this activity, depending on availability of funds.

Proposals must meet all guidelines (except for the length and deadline
noted herein) specified in the NSF *Grant Proposal Guide* (GPG), NSF
98-2 and must be prepared in accordance with the *Proposal Forms Kit*
NSF 98-3. These guides are available in most university offices of
sponsored research. They can also be accessed through the NSF Home Page
(http://www.nsf.gov/) Single copies are available at no cost from:

NSF Clearinghouse

P.O. Box 218

Jessup, MD 20794-018

TEL: (301) 947-2722, or

e-mail: pubs@nsf.gov

The normal 15-page limit for the project description (including results
of prior research) specified in the GPG will be strictly enforced. For
group proposals involving three or more PIs/co-PIs the page limitations
described in GPG, section II.D.12.b, are superseded by the following: up
to 10 pages may be used for the project description plus up to 2 pages
per senior investigator for description of progress under prior NSF
awards.

Group and collaborative proposals involving more than one institution
MUST be submitted as a single administrative package from one of the
institutions involved. Multiple submissions will not be accepted. (These
single packages may be split into separate proposals for each
institution if the project is recommended for support.) The package
should include one project summary, one table of contents, one project
description, one section for references, and one copy of special
information and appendices as specified in GPG section II.D.10-11.
Additionally, the package should include, for each university and its
PIs/co-PIs, a signed cover sheet, budget pages and explanation, results
from prior NSF support (up to 2 pages per person), biographic sketches
(up to 2 pages per person), current and pending support for each
PI/co-PI, and facilities and other resources unique to each institution.

The Environmental Geochemistry and Biogeochemistry (EGB) name and
solicitation number should be referenced in the upper left corner of the
proposal cover sheet. Twenty stapled copies of each proposal/proposal
package, including one copy bearing original signatures from all
institutions, should be mailed to:

Solicitation No. NSF 97-172

National Science Foundation

Room P60 - PPU

4201 Wilson Blvd.

Arlington, VA 22230

Proposals may also be submitted electronically via Fastlane. For
information, contact FastLane user support services (tel: 703-306-1142;
e-mail: fastlane@nsf.gov).

**Proposals submitted in response to this solicitation must be received
no later than 5:00 pm EST on January 7, 1998. For proposals submitted
via Fastlane, both electronic and hard copy materials must also arrive
by this deadline date and time. Proposals received after this deadline
will be returned without review.**

# Proposal Review:

Proposals will be evaluated by ad hoc mail review, panel review, or a
combination of the two in accordance with established Foundation
procedures. Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation
will be subject to the **NEW** merit review criteria approved by the
National Science Board on March 28, 1997 (NSB97-72). The new merit
review criteria are (1) what is the intellectual merit and quality of
the proposed activity? and (2) what are the broader impacts of the
proposed research? (Additional information on the new merit criteria is
available in the Merit Review Task Force Final Report on the NSF Home
Page at sttp://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?nsfmr975.) In addition to
these two generic criteria, a third criterion in the evaluation process
is the potential interdisciplinary synergism among the various research
components.

It is anticipated that each review panel will have expertise in the
fields of chemistry, geochemistry, atmospheric chemistry, hydrology,
oceanography, biology, engineering and mathematics.

Review and processing of proposals require approximately six months.

***Grant Administration:***

Grants awarded as a result of this solicitation will be administered in
accordance with the terms and conditions of NSF GC-1 or FDP, **Grant
General Conditions**. Copies of these documents are available at no cost
from the NSF Clearinghouse, phone (301) 947-2722, or via e-mail
pubs@nsf.gov (Internet). More comprehensive information is contained in
the **NSF Grant Policy Manual** (NSF 95-26, July 1995), for sale through
the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office (GPO),
Washington, D.C. 20402. The telephone number at GPO is (202) 783-3238
for subscription information. If the submitting institution has never
received an NSF award, it is recommended that appropriate administrative
officials become familiar with the policies and procedures in the NSF
Grant Policy Manual which are applicable to most NSF awards. If a
proposal is recommended for an award, the NSF Division of Grants and
Agreements will request certain organizational, management, and
financial information, including a certification of civil rights
compliance. These requirements are described in Chapter V of the NSF
Grant Policy Manual. One copy of the Grant Policy Manual will be
provided free of charge to any new grantee.

***FY 1999 and Beyond***

When it was initiated in FY95, the EGB activity was planned for a
five-year duration, after which it would be re-evaluated. Starting as
soon as the FY99 competition, the nature and emphasis of future EGB
special competitions may change. Future solicitations will continue to
be posted electronically with hard copies available upon request.

***Related disciplinary programs:***

NSF disciplinary programs supporting research related to Environmental
Geochemistry and Biogeochemistry include:

Division of Earth Sciences (703-306-1550)

Geology and Paleontology

Hydrologic Sciences

Petrology and Geochemistry

Division of Chemistry (703-306-1840)

Analytical and Surface Chemistry

Environmentally Benign Chemical Synthesis and Processing

Experimental Physical Chemistry

Inorganic, Bioinorganic, or Organometallic

Chemistry

Organic Synthesis and Dynamics

Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences

(703-306-1440)

Biomolecular Processes

Genetics

Cell Biology

Biomolecular Structure and Function

Division of Environmental Biology (703-306-1480)

Ecological Studies

Systematic and Population Biology

Division of Bioengineering and Environmental Systems (703-306-1320)

Bioengineering

Environmental and Ocean Systems

Division of Chemical and Transport Systems

(703-306-1371)

Chemical Reaction Processes

Fluid, Particulate and Hydraulic Systems

Interfacial, Transport and Separation Processes

Division of Civil and Mechanical Structures

(703-306-1360)

Geomechanical, Geotechnical and Geo-

Environmental Systems

Division of Atmospheric Sciences (703-306-1522)

Atmospheric Chemistry

Division of Ocean Sciences (703-306-1580)

Biological Oceanography

Chemical Oceanography

Coastal Ocean Processes

Marine Aspects of Earth System History

Marine Geology and Geophysics

Division of Mathematical Sciences (703-306-1870)

Applied Mathematics

Computational Mathematics

Statistics and Probability

***Other related programs & activities:***

Arctic Systems Science - Office of Polar Programs

(703-306-1033)

Earth System History (703-306-1527)

Long-Term Ecological Research (703-306-1480)

Land-Margin Ecosystem Research (703-306-1480)

Life in Extreme Environments (703- 306-1551)

NSF/EPA Partnership for Environmental Research (703-306-1480)

Terrestrial Ecology (TECO) and Global Change

(703-306-1479)

Water and Energy: Atmospheric, Vegetative, and Earth Interactions
(703-306-1549)

The Foundation provides awards for research and education in the
sciences and engineering. The awardee is wholly responsible for the
conduct of such research and preparation of the results for publication.
The Foundation, therefore, does not assume responsibility for the
research findings or their interpretation.

The Foundation welcomes proposals from all qualified scientists and
engineers and strongly encourages women, minorities, and persons with
disabilities to compete fully in any of the research and education
related programs described here. In accordance with federal statutes,
regulations, and NSF policies, no person on grounds of race, color, age,
sex, national origin, or disability shall be excluded from participation
in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any
program or activity receiving financial assistance from the National
Science Foundation.

Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities
(FASED) provide funding for special assistance or equipment to enable
persons with disabilities (investigators and other staff, including
student research assistants) to work on NSF projects. See the program
announcement or contact the program coordinator at (703) 306-1636.

Privacy Act. The information requested on proposal forms is solicited
under the authority of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as
amended. It will be used in connection with the selection of qualified
proposals and may be disclosed to qualified reviewers and staff
assistants as part of the review process; to applicant
institutions/grantees; to provide or obtain data regarding the
application review process, award decisions, or the administration of
awards; to government contractors, experts, volunteers, and researchers
as necessary to complete assigned work; and to other government agencies
in order to coordinate programs. See Systems of Records, NSF 50,
Principal Investigators/Proposal File and Associated Records, and
NSF-51, 60 Federal Register 4449 (January 23, 1995), Reviewer/Proposal
File and Associated Records, 59 Federal Register 8031 (February 17,
1994).

Public Burden. Submission of the information is voluntary. Failure to
provide full and complete information, however, may reduce the
possibility of your receiving an award.

The public reporting burden for this collection of information is
estimated to average 120 hours per response, including the time for
reviewing instructions. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or
any other aspect of this collection of information, including
suggestions for reducing this burden, to Gail A. McHenry, Reports
Clearance Officer, Information Dissemination Branch, National Science
Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 245, Arlington, VA 22230.

The National Science Foundation has TDD (Telephonic Device for the Deaf)
capability, which enables individuals with hearing impairment to
communicate with the Foundation about NSF programs, employment, or
general information. To access NSF TDD, dial (703) 306-0090; for FIRS,
1-800-877-8339.

Activities described in this publication are in categories 47.076,
Education and Human Resources; 47.050, Geosciences; 47.041, Engineering;
47.049, Mathematical and Physical Sciences; 47.074, Biological Sciences
in the Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA).

*(outside back cover)*

OMB 3145-0058 **NSF 97-172**

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