Core Geoscience Research

Atmospheric and geospace sciences

The Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences (AGS) program supports research that advances understanding of Earth's atmosphere and the near-Earth space environment. Projects explore the physical and chemical processes that drive variability and coupling across these regions. Research spans a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. 

Reach out to atmos@nsf.gov or geospace@nsf.gov with questions about these programs.

Earth sciences

The Earth Sciences program supports research that advances understanding of Earth's interior and surface processes, past and present. Projects address structure, physics and chemical evolution of Earth's interior; water, landscape and critical zone processes; and life and environments through time.

Reach out to WaLCZ@nsf.gov, SPSE@nsf.gov, LET@nsf.gov or CESEV@nsf.gov for more information about these programs.

Ocean sciences

The Ocean Sciences program supports research that advances all fields of ocean studies to increase understanding of the ocean basins and Great Lakes and their role in the Earth system. Fields include biological, chemical and physical oceanography. Projects can address geological and geophysical processes of the ocean. The Ocean Sciences program includes the U.S. Sub-Seafloor Sampling program, which supports a variety of sub-seafloor sampling approaches and tools, including scientific ocean drilling, large-scale collaborations on ocean drilling legacy assets, and technology and instrument development. Investigators planning to propose projects that will be implemented by the NSF Scientific Ocean Drilling Coordination Office (NSF SODCO) should coordinate with the office prior to submitting a proposal.

Reach out to BioOCE@nsf.gov, CO@nsf.gov, physo@nsf.gov, MGG@nsf.gov and OTIC@nsf.gov for more information about these programs.