Building on knowledge from previous investments in the NSF “Big Ideas,” Using the Rules of Life to Address Societal Challenges (URoL:ASC) (NSF 23-512) will support use-inspired research across a broad range of living systems to tackle pressing societal concerns.
Examples of some societal challenges that may be addressed by URoL:ASC proposals are: climate change and associated risks, including geohazards, extreme events, and loss of biodiversity; environmental degradation, including impacts on land and water resources; inequalities in availability of and access to essential natural assets; lack of sustainability, including for food, energy, and waste production; and threats from pandemic disease,
As in previous Big Idea solicitations, this new activity, is a cross-directorate NSF program and will bring together interdisciplinary teams that span two or more NSF Directorates (BIO, CISE, EDU, ENG, GEO, MPS, SBE, and TIP).
This solicitation differs in key respects from previous solicitations associated with the Understanding the Rules of Life Big Idea:
- It focuses on how rules of life can be used rather than discovered
- Proposals should begin with a description of broader impacts, articulating the expected outcomes of the research;
- Proposers must adopt a co-production strategy that involves both producers and users of the research outcomes in all phases of the research;
- Projects must integrate innovative education and training activities aimed at fostering convergent research;
- Projects should actively promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in all activities by involving members of underrepresented groups as PIs, co-PIs, postdoctoral researchers, students, and other personnel.
FFull proposals are due February 15, 2023.
Opportunities to Learn More
NSF Program Directors representing the URoL:ASC program will hold a Virtual Office Hour on December 14th, 2022 from 2:00 PM ET to 3:00 PM ET.
Please register for the webinar here: https://nsf.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_rcG95iI9QOOed-VfarsHFQ
Contact: URoL-ASC@nsf.gov
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