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WINDOWS ON THE UNIVERSE: THE ERA OF MULTI-MESSENGER ASTROPHYSICS  (WoU-MMA)


CONTACTS
Name Email Phone Room
Hans  A. Krimm hkrimm@nsf.gov (703) 292-2761  AST  
James  E. Neff jneff@nsf.gov (703) 292-2475  AST  
Nigel  A. Sharp nsharp@nsf.gov (703) 292-4905  AST  
Martin  D. Still mstill@nsf.gov (703) 292-4290  AST  
Vladimir  Papitashvili vpapita@nsf.gov (703) 292-7425  OPP  
Jean  Cottam Allen jcallen@nsf.gov (703) 292-8783  PHY  
Vyacheslav  Lukin VLUKIN@nsf.gov (703) 292-7382  PHY  
Pedro  Marronetti pmarrone@nsf.gov (703) 292-7372  PHY  
James  H. Thomas jhthomas@nsf.gov (703) 292-2911  PHY  

The WoU-MMA program includes the Division of Astronomical Sciences (AST) and the Division of Physics (PHY) within the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS), and the Office of Polar Programs (OPP) within the Directorate for Geosciences (GEO).

The contacts listed above are the designated Division-level representatives for the MMA-WoU program.  The appropriate contact for a specific program participating in MMA-WoU can be found through the program hyperlinks listed below under "Related Programs.”


PROGRAM GUIDELINES

Apply to PD 18-5115 as follows:

For full proposals submitted via FastLane: standard NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide proposal preparation guidelines apply.
For full proposals submitted via Grants.gov: the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide: A Guide for the Preparation and Submission of NSF Applications via Grants.gov Guidelines applies. (Note: The NSF Grants.gov Application Guide is available on the Grants.gov website and on the NSF website at: http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=grantsgovguide)

Important Information for Proposers

A revised version of the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 20-1), is effective for proposals submitted, or due, on or after June 1, 2020. Please be advised that, depending on the specified due date, the guidelines contained in NSF 20-1 may apply to proposals submitted in response to this funding opportunity.


DUE DATES

Full Proposal Window

    October 1, 2020 - September 30, 2021

        Antarctic Astrophysics and Geospace Sciences

    August 15, 2021 - October 15, 2021

    August 15 - October 15, Annually Thereafter

        Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowships

    October 1, 2021 - September 30, 2022

        Antarctic Astrophysics and Geospace Sciences

    October 1, 2021 - November 15, 2021

    October 1 - November 15, Annually Thereafter

        Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Grants; Advanced Technologies and Instrumentation

    November 15, 2021

    Third Monday in November, Annually Thereafter

        Plasma Physics

    November 24, 2021

    Fourth Wednesday in November, Annually Thereafter

        Gravitational Physics - Theory; LIGO Research Support

    December 7, 2021

    First Tuesday in December, Annually Thereafter

        Nuclear Physics - Theory and Experiment; Particle Astrophysics - Experiment

    December 14, 2021

    Second Tuesday in December, Annually Thereafter

        Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology - Theory

Proposals should be submitted to one of the participating programs as described in the Synopsis.  Participating programs and their respective proposal deadlines are listed above.  Links to more information about these programs are provided at the end of this document under "Related Programs."  Proposals submitted to programs in the participating divisions that are not listed as "Related Programs" may also be considered if they satisfy the WoU-MMA criteria described below.  Proposers are strongly encouraged to contact an appropriate program director if they are unsure how to apply.  A description of the program, specific instructions for proposal submission, and the relevant due dates can be accessed through the program hyperlink.  Where the scientific scope of a proposal overlaps multiple programs, the proposal should be submitted to the program most closely aligned to the proposal goals and by this primary program’s submission due date.  Secondary programs may be indicated.  Proposals that involve efforts related to facilities in the polar regions should list relevant OPP programs as secondary.  All listings will appear as a Fastlane, Research.gov or Grants.gov option.

The due date for any proposal is the due date for submission to the relevant program.  Proposals must comply with the specific submission instructions and be submitted by the due dates listed for the relevant program. Proposals that are submitted to a specific division outside the proposal window, target date, or deadline for the program in that Division may be returned as non-compliant.

 


SYNOPSIS

The Universe is the ultimate laboratory, and we can now probe it as never before through several powerful and diverse windows – electromagnetic waves, high-energy particles, and gravitational waves.  Each of these windows provides a different view.  Together they reveal a detailed picture of the Universe that will allow us to study matter, energy, and the cosmos in fundamentally new ways.

The NSF's Big Idea “Windows on the Universe” is implemented through this WoU-MMA program.  WoU-MMA identifies three categories of messengers - electromagnetic waves, high-energy particles including neutrinos and cosmic rays, and gravitational waves. The goals of WoU-MMA are to build the capabilities and accelerate the synergy and interoperability of the three messengers to realize integrated, multi-messenger astrophysical explorations of the Universe.

The WoU-MMA program welcomes proposals in any area of research supported through the participating divisions that address at least one of the following criteria:

  • Coordination: Hardware, software, or other infrastructure to coordinate observations involving more than one messenger. 
  • Observations: Observations of astrophysical objects or phenomena that are potentially sources of more than one messenger, including the use of existing observatories, experiments, and data archives, as well as the development and construction of new capabilities for advancing multi-messenger astrophysics. 
  • Interpretation: Theory, experiment, simulations and other activities to understand or interpret observations of astrophysical objects that are sources of more than one messenger.

 

The WoU-MMA program focuses on three broad areas of investment:

Enhancing and accelerating the theoretical, computational, and observational activities within the scientific community:  Proposals for support of the scientific community to build the observational and analysis capabilities in each of the three window areas, integrate the different research communities to develop full interoperability between the three windows, and develop a new workforce that is skilled in this new paradigm.  These efforts should expand community activities that advance the goals and accelerate progress in multi-messenger astrophysics.  Proposals should be submitted to the relevant programs listed below.  These include the Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowships (AAPF) program, and the Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Grants (AAG) programs within AST, and all PHY and OPP programs listed below.

Building dedicated instrumentation and capabilities: Proposals for the construction of experiments and instrumentation or creation of cyberinfrastructure that will make critical contributions to the multi-messenger research infrastructure by enabling new capabilities in energy range or sky coverage, improved sensitivity, or new experimental or computational capabilities.  Proposals should be submitted to one or more of the relevant programs listed below including the Advanced Technologies and Instrumentation (ATI) program in AST.  Proposals for support of midscale-range projects that are primarily focused on the electromagnetic spectrum within the purview of AST should be submitted to the MSIP program.  Proposals for support of midscale-range projects that are primarily focused on high-energy particles, gravitational waves or other WoU-MMA science within the purview of PHY should be submitted to the relevant individual programs within PHY.  Proposals that include facilities located in Antarctica should be submitted to OPP's Antarctic Astrophysics and Geospace Sciences (AAGS) program or should list AAGS as a secondary program if submitted to AST or PHY. 

Exploiting current facilities and developing the next generation of observatories:  Proposals for support of enhanced infrastructure and modest upgrades that will enable the full utilization of the current generation of multi-messenger facilities, and proposals requesting support for the planning and development for the next generation of observatories to accelerate progress to realize significantly greater capabilities and extend our scientific reach.  Proposals should be submitted to the relevant programs listed below.  Major NSF Facilities may also submit appropriate supplement proposals to their cooperative agreements after consulting with their cognizant program officer.  (Such Facilities are listed, for example, at this url: https://www.nsf.gov/about/budget/fy2020/pdf/40a_fy2020.pdf)

PIs considering submitting proposals requesting more than $3M are strongly encouraged to contact the program directors for the relevant participating programs in advance.

The WoU-MMA program is not intended to replace existing programs that make awards that involve experimental or theoretical efforts related to each of the three messengers. Rather, the WoU-MMA program is meant to fund awards that have significant components of multi-messenger astrophysics.  Priority will be given to proposals for dedicated efforts that significantly advance the WoU-MMA goals rather than proposals that maintain ongoing activities.  A proposal that is requesting consideration within the context of WoU-MMA should begin the title with the identifying acronym "WoU-MMA:"  PIs should ask for consideration and review as a WoU-MMA proposal only if the proposal addresses at least one of the criteria listed above.  Proposals marked for consideration by the WoU-MMA program that do not address at least one of these criteria will be reviewed solely within the participating program(s) to which they were submitted. Supplement requests to existing awards within a program that address one of the above criteria will also be considered.


RELATED PROGRAMS

What Has Been Funded (Recent Awards Made Through This Program, with Abstracts)

Map of Recent Awards Made Through This Program

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