ECosystem for Leading Innovation in Plasma Science and Engineering (ECLIPSE)

Plasma science is a transdisciplinary field of research where foundational studies in many disciplines, including plasma physics, plasma chemistry, materials science, and space science, come together to advance knowledge and drive discovery and technological innovation. The primary goal of the ECosystem for Leading Innovation in Plasma Science and Engineering (ECLIPSE) program is to identify and capitalize on opportunities for bringing foundational plasma science investigations to bear on problems of societal and technological need within the scope of science and engineering supported by the participating NSF programs.

The ECLIPSE meta-program has been created to foster an inclusive community of scientists and engineers, an ecosystem spanning multiple NSF Directorates, in the pursuit of translational research at the interface of foundational plasma science and technological innovation. The ECLIPSE program builds on NSF's long history of leadership in supporting multi-disciplinary research in plasma science and engineering and is intended to enhance organizational unity within NSF by considering proposals and supporting projects that may otherwise struggle to find a natural home within the Foundation.

Examples of topical areas within the scope of the ECLIPSE program include but are not limited to:

• Plasma surface interactions, with applications to, e.g., advanced manufacturing, materials processing, and catalysis.

• Atmospheric pressure plasmas and microplasmas with applications to, e.g., microelectronics, plasma agriculture, environmental remediation, and other goals enabled by electrification of the chemical industry.

• Dusty plasmas with applications to, e.g., development of nanomaterials, aerosols, and functionalized surface coatings.

• Novel sensor development for highly non-equilibrium plasmas with applications to, e.g., CubeSat-based geospace measurements and industrial plasma diagnostics.

• Novel computational modeling for multi-component and/or multi-phase plasma systems with applications to, e.g., space weather prediction and plasma reactor design.

• New chemical measurement science for characterizing processes occurring in plasmas and using plasmas as part of measurement systems with applications to, e.g., analysis of environmental contaminants or identification of forensic evidence.

• Study of fundamental chemical reactions and mechanisms in plasmas with applications to, e.g., novel chemical synthesis.

Proposals submitted for consideration by this program should address societal or technological needs within the scope of science and engineering supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation. Proposals addressing technology development primarily supported by other U.S. government funding agencies are not eligible for consideration and may be returned without review. Proposers are strongly encouraged to contact the cognizant Program Officers if they are unsure of the suitability of a project to this program.

Proposals submitted for consideration by the ECLIPSE program should satisfy the following criteria:

(1) clearly articulate the foundational scientific and/or engineering challenge in plasma science and engineering; and

(2) provide a substantive discussion of how a resolution of the stated scientific and/or engineering challenge will address specific societal and/or technological needs identified as priorities by the research communities, policymakers and/or other stakeholders. Depending on the nature of the proposal, the latter may be described as the Intellectual Merit or the Broader Impact of the proposed activity.  

A proposal that is requesting consideration within the context of ECLIPSE should begin the title with the identifying acronym "ECLIPSE:" and should be submitted to one of the "Related Programs" listed below. In choosing the most relevant program, proposers are advised to read program descriptions and funding opportunities carefully and to consult with cognizant Program Officers in advance of proposal preparation. Proposal submissions outside of the scientific scope of the receiving program may be transferred to a different program or may be returned without review. Proposers should ask for consideration and review as an ECLIPSE proposal only if the proposal addresses both of the criteria listed above. Proposals marked for consideration by the ECLIPSE program that do not address both of these criteria may be returned without review or reviewed within the context of an individual program.

The target date for any proposal is the target date (if any) for submission to the relevant program. Some participating programs may require submission of a Letter of Intent or a preliminary proposal prior to full proposal submission. Proposals must comply with the specific submission instructions listed for the relevant program.

Information Sharing with other Funding Agencies

When permitted under an MOU between NSF and another funding agency, NSF may share information from proposals for consideration of joint funding and may invite employees of such organizations to attend merit review panels as observers.