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Dear
Colleague,
Research
Coordination Networks in Biological Sciences (RCN) has released a new
announcement (04-567) http://www.nsf.gov/pubsys/ods/getpub.cfm?ods_key=nsf04567
that represents a revision of earlier announcements in this program. We want to call your attention to the
specific interest in encouraging joint proposals from Biologists and
Geoscientists.
RCNs are designed to foster
communication and promote collaboration among scientists with common interests
from a broad background across disciplinary, geographical, and organizational
boundaries. The ultimate objective is to move a field forward or to create new
research directions through increased research coordination and networking. It
is anticipated that this program will contribute to further advances in all
areas of biological sciences supported by the National Science Foundation. This new announcement provides
opportunities for broadening cooperation between the Biological Sciences and
Geosciences.
The Directorate for Geosciences has
recognized the importance of collaboration between biologists and geoscientists
through creation of the interdisciplinary program Biogeosciences. This adds to a rich set of biologically
oriented programs in the Directorate for Geosciences including paleobiology,
geobiology, biological oceanography as well as the NCAR Biogeosciences
Initiative. These provide natural
vehicles for cooperation in funding biologically related research that spans the
disciplines.
With these opportunities we
recognize the success of blended science approaches, which are creating new
paths for research. One example is
the emerging field of geomicrobiology.
Another is the use of molecular techniques to examine the timing of
evolutionary divergences. This
latter field is still in its infancy yet offers enormous opportunities and
significant problems that require combinations of expertise from both biology
and geosciences including: molecular genetics, radiometric dating and
stratigraphic paleontology.
Understanding paleoecosystem
operation and organization using molecular techniques can provide new insights
into life in deep time. The
structure and evolution of biodiversity remains poorly understood but may be
revealed through application of molecular techniques. Coupling of genetic control structures
and environmental forcing and response may similarly be better understood with
application of molecular-scale tools and knowledge to paleobiological
questions.
Conversely, insights into rates and
processes of molecular change derived from paleobiological studies may yield
dramatic improvements in understanding of modern genetic systems. The record of the past can act as a test
of principles that is not commonly applied and so the principles themselves may
be clarified.
In light of these opportunities we
encourage the research community to carefully consider the RCN announcement as a
vehicle for development of ideas in the Molecular Biogeosciences. We further encourage other, similar
efforts to more intimately combine geoscience and biological science to explore
basic research challenges. Deadline
for this program is June 25, 2004 and questions can be directed to Dr. Chris
Greer, Chair, Research Coordination Networks Working Group (703-292-8470, biorcn@nsf.gov).
Rachael Craig
Program Director, Biogeosciences and
Carbon Cycle
703-292-8233
H. Richard
Lane
Program Director, Sedimentary
Geology and Paleobiology
703-292-4730
H. Richard Lane
Program Director,
Sedimentary Geology and Paleobiology Program
Earth Science Division
National Science Foundation
4201 Wilson Blvd., Room 785,
Arlington, Virginia 22203 USA
Ph: 703-292-4730; Fax: 703-292-9025
NOTE: Sedimentary Geology and Paleobiology Program deadline is January 16 and July 16 of each year.
Submitting a proposal?
See the new NSF Publication: A Guide for Proposal Writing [nsf04016]
URL : http://www.nsf.gov/pubsys/ods/getpub.cfm?nsf04016.
Got some
exciting results to report from NSF supported research?
Send a
message to our press officer at cdybas@nsf.gov.
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