TBA (last known deadline was September 16, 2011)
Deadlines: Nominations are due at the Graduate School on Friday, September 16; Applications are due for internal review TBD. Project Description: Sustainability Research Networks will engage and explore fundamental theoretical issues and empirical questions in sustainability science, engineering, and education that will increase our understanding of the ultimate sustainability challenge - maintaining and improving the quality of life for the nation within a healthy Earth system. The goal of the Sustainability Research Networks (SRN) competition is to support the development and coalescence of entities to advance collaborative research that addresses questions and challenges in sustainability science, engineering, and education. SRNs will link scientists, engineers, and educators, at existing institutions, centers, networks, and also develop new research efforts and collaborations. Each SRN network will be built upon an ambitious and nationally important sustainability theme. Possible themes include Energy & Materials Issues in Sustainability; Urban Sustainability; Large Scale Energy Production and Consumption Dynamics; Coastal System Vulnerability & Resilience; Altered Biogeochemistry of Earth Systems; Sustainability of Freshwater Supplies; and Food Security & Land Use Change. Proposers will be tasked with choosing a specific theme for their network, identifying the research already being done in this area, proposing methods for linking existing research efforts, and then proposing research needed to advance their specific research theme. SRNs will foster new knowledge and tools at a frontier of research that significantly crosses and melds the boundaries of diverse disciplines, and creates the integrated science and engineering disciplines of the future. SRNs will pursue new opportunities in science, engineering and educational research that truly require the scale, scope, and facilities enabled by such a network. Three to four SRNs will be awarded. Proposals are expected to be 4-5 years in duration with costs not exceeding $12M per award. Eligibility: The number of pre-proposals UW–Madison may submit is limited to three. Full proposals are by invitation only.