Announcement of Opportunity and Special Competition for FY 1997
National Science Foundation
Directorate for Biological Sciences
Directorate for Engineering
Directorate for Geosciences
Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Office of Polar Programs
DEADLINE DATE: April 14, 1997
LIFE IN EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS (LExEn)
The LExEn research program will explore the relationships between
organisms and the environments within which they exist, with a strong
emphasis upon those life-supporting environments that exist near the
extremes of planetary conditions. In addition, the LExEn program will
explore planetary environments in our own solar system and beyond to
help identify possible sites for life elsewhere. Research is required
to enhance understanding of the microbial systems on Earth
particularly with respect to their diversity and the mechanisms that
allow microbes to survive and alter extreme environments. Examples of
relevant topics include studies to discover, quantify, culture and
preserve microorganisms from extreme environments; research on the
diversity, ecology, physiology, biochemistry, genetics and
evolutionary history of microbes from extreme environments within the
context of the diversity of conditions found in those environments
and/or their possible utility in biotechnology; and paleobiological
studies of microbial life on Earth, including efforts which improve
understanding of the products of life that are preserved in the
geological record.
In addition to the study of microorganisms from the above perspectives
and for use in biotechnology applications, there are particular
opportunities for collaborative research between scientists and
engineers to overcome the sampling and preservation problems by
developing,sampling robots which can withstand volcanic or undersea
environments or specialized environmental chambers. Keep in mind that
the studies involve "critters" in extremes of temperature, pressure,
pH, dessication, etc.
Linda Duguay lduguay [at] nsf.gov is the contact for the Antarctic and Doug
Siegel-Causey dsiegel [at] nsf.gov is the contact for the Arctic.
For more information on this opportunity, please see ARCUS' Web site
at the address,http://arcus.polarnet.com/Funding