MARSBUGS: The Electronic Astrobiology Newsletter Volume 5, Number 27, 31 December 1998. Editors: Dr. David Thomas, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, 83844-3051, USA. Marsbugs@aol.com or davidt@uidaho.edu. Dr. Julian Hiscox, Division of Molecular Biology, IAH Compton Laboratory, Berkshire, RG20 7NN, UK. Julian.Hiscox@bbsrc.ac.uk Marsbugs is published on a weekly to quarterly basis as warranted by the number of articles and announcements. Copyright of this compilation exists with the editors, except for specific articles, in which instance copyright exists with the author/authors. While we cannot copyright our mailing list, our readers would appreciate it if others would not send unsolicited e-mail using the Marsbugs mailing list. The editors do not condone "spamming" of our subscribers. Persons who have information that may be of interest to subscribers of Marsbugs should send that information to the editors. E-mail subscriptions are free, and may be obtained by contacting either of the editors. Article contributions are welcome, and should be submitted to either of the two editors. Contributions should include a short biographical statement about the author(s) along with the author(s)' correspondence address. Subscribers are advised to make appropriate inquiries before joining societies, ordering goods etc. Back issues and Adobe Acrobat PDF files suitable for printing may be obtained via anonymous FTP at ftp.uidaho.edu/pub/mmbb/marsbugs or at the official Marsbugs web page at http://members.aol.com/marsbugs/marsbugs.html. The purpose of this newsletter is to provide a channel of information for scientists, educators and other persons interested in exobiology and related fields. This newsletter is not intended to replace peer-reviewed journals, but to supplement them. We, the editors, envision Marsbugs as a medium in which people can informally present ideas for investigation, questions about exobiology, and announcements of upcoming events. Astrobiology is still a relatively young field, and new ideas may come out of the most unexpected places. Subjects may include, but are not limited to: exobiology and astrobiology (life on other planets), the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI), ecopoeisis and terraformation, Earth from space, planetary biology, primordial evolution, space physiology, biological life support systems, and human habitation of space and other planets. ------------------------------------------------------------------ CONTENTS 1) CARBON OFFERS GLIMPSE OF ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF THE UNIVERSE NASA release 98-75AR 2) BOEING DELTA II TO LAUNCH MARS POLAR LANDER AND DEEP SPACE 2 Boeing press release 3) 1998 MARS SURVEYOR PROJECT STATUS REPORTS By John McNamee 4) MARS GLOBAL SURVEYOR PROJECT STATUS REPORT OVERVIEW Prepared by the Mars Surveyor operations project manager 5) NEW STARDUST PHOTOS By Ron Baalke 6) NEW MARS POLAR LANDER PHOTOS By Ron Baalke 7) LIFE IN EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS (LExEn) NSF Announcement of Opportunity and Special Competition for FY 1999 ------------------------------------------------------------------ CARBON OFFERS GLIMPSE OF ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF THE UNIVERSE NASA release 98-75AR 18 December 1998 Scientists at NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, collaborating with the Astrophysikalisches Institut in Germany, have demonstrated that organic chemistry is abundant in the universe, implying that carbon-based life could be possible throughout the universe. In a paper published in the December 18th issue of Science entitled "Carbon in the Universe," Thomas Henning of the Astrophysikalisches Institut in Jena, Germany and Farid Salama of NASA Ames report finding the unique signatures of an exotic form of carbon in deep space. Known as PAH's (short for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), these carbon-based molecules, shaped like fragments of chicken wire, are thought to be ubiquitous in space. The existence of PAH's in the interstellar medium (ISM) may explain the mysterious spectral signatures that are common throughout interstellar space. "Understanding the makeup of the ISM will help us better understand the origin and evolution of life in the universe," said Farid Salama, the paper's co-author. "It is a key issue for astrobiology and could demonstrate that life's essential, pre- biotic, carbon-based building blocks are abundant in the ISM." Without carbon, life as we know it would not exist. The element plays key roles in the evolution of stars, planets, and human bodies because it is abundant and can form complex structures. The paper reviewed how the study of cosmic carbon has provided clues to the solar system's origins, the introduction of life to Earth, and the very structure of the universe. Stars create carbon in their interiors and release it into space, making carbon an ideal probe and tracer of the birth and death of stars and planetary systems and of the processes in deep interstellar space. This research also helps solve a problem scientists have struggled with for most of the century. They have detected more than 100 interstellar absorption lines in the spectra (range of frequencies or color) of starlight approaching the Earth. The lines are called diffuse interstellar band (DIBs). Scientists believe a form of PAH's might be the long-sought matter producing the interstellar bands. Absorption lines are discrete colors of light that are absorbed by intervening matter; this absorption leaves holes or "lines" in the spectral rainbow. PAH's, thought to be formed in a star's atmosphere, are stable carbon molecules formed at high temperatures that can withstand the intense radiation and harsh environment of interstellar space. On Earth, they cause pollution and cancer. PAH's are found in diesel exhaust, burned pots and pans, charred hamburgers and cigarette smoke. Simulating the conditions of space, Ames scientists measured the spectra of large, carbon-bearing molecules in the UV and visible light bands and compared it to astronomical data from Kitt Peak and other observatories. The scientists simulated the space environment using extreme cold, a near-vacuum and artificial starlight. The next phase, Salama said, is to continue the research using a more sensitive gas-based measuring technique which almost precisely approximates interstellar conditions. The Astrophysikalisches Institut explored the problem by studying larger grain-sized carbon, another type of carbon material produced by stars. "I'm a big fan of science collaboration," said Salama. "It helps push the boundaries of science, generates new ideas and speeds up the process." ------------------------------------------------------------------ BOEING DELTA II TO LAUNCH MARS POLAR LANDER AND DEEP SPACE 2 Boeing press release 21 December 1998 Delta team will ring in the new year by launching the Mars Polar Lander and Deep Space 2 spacecraft for NASA. The Delta II rocket will lift off from Space Launch Complex 17B at Cape Canaveral Air Station, FL on January 3, 1999. The launch window is at 3:21 p.m. EST. The missions follow the Dec. 11 Delta launch, which sent NASA's Mars Climate Orbiter on a 10-month journey to the Red Planet. Over the years, Delta rockets have successfully placed into orbit an impressive number of scientific payloads, sending planetary spacecraft to the farthest reaches of our solar system. The Mars Polar Lander and Deep Space 2 launch represent the 77th scientific and technology development launch for the Delta family of rockets. Since 1960 Delta rockets have carried scientific and technology development payloads into space with a 98 percent launch success rate. Delta rockets sent Mars Pathfinder and Mars Global Surveyor to the Red Planet in 1996. "This year, Boeing Delta rockets have lifted Deep Space 1 and Mars Climate Orbiter into space as part of the NASA Medium-Light Expendable Launch Vehicle Services program," said Darryl Van Dorn, Boeing director of NASA and commercial programs. "Mars Polar Lander is the third in this 10-mission launch program for NASA," Van Dorn added. In addition, Delta launch vehicles will carry the NASA spacecraft Stardust, Landsat-7, FUSE, and EO-1/SAC-C into space next year. Both the Mars Polar Lander and Deep Space 2 spacecraft will travel 11 months through deep space to land next December on an uncharted area near the south pole of Mars. Mars Polar Lander will spend three months digging for traces of water beneath the frozen surface of Mars and will search for evidence of a physical record of climate change. A miniature microphone will permit scientists to record 10-second sound bytes of natural sounds from the planet. Deep Space 2 is comprised of two microprobes designed to penetrate the surface of Mars and collect samples for testing the water vapor content of the planet's subterranean soil. In addition, Deep Space 2 will validate the ability of small probes loaded with sensitive, miniaturized instruments to analyze the terrain of planets and moons throughout the solar system. The NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA manages the missions. Lockheed Martin Astronautics, Denver, Colo., built both spacecraft. The Delta II is manufactured in Huntington Beach, Calif., with final assembly in Pueblo, Colo., and is powered by the RS-27A engine built by Boeing in Canoga Park, CA. The Delta launch team at Cape Canaveral Air Station will handle launch coordination and operations. Alliant Techsystems, Magna, UT, builds the graphite epoxy motors for boost assist. Aerojet, Sacramento, CA, manufactures the second-stage engine; Cordant Technologies, Elkton, MD, supplies the upper-stage engine; and AlliedSignal, Teterboro, NJ, builds the guidance and flight control system. ------------------------------------------------------------------ 1998 MARS SURVEYOR PROJECT STATUS REPORTS By John McNamee, Mars Surveyor 98 project manager 14 December 1998 Mars Polar Lander: Launch -20 days Electrical testing to close several open items and to perform final verification of cruise solar arrays, medium gain antenna, and the UHF relay was conducted. Battery conditioning is in process. 22 December 1998 Mars Polar Lander: Launch -12 days The T-7 functional checkout of the lander science payload and spacecraft subsystems, both "A" and "B" strings, was completed successfully with zero flags except the expected alarm limit update. For more information on the Mars Surveyor 98 mission, please visit our website at http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msp98 ------------------------------------------------------------------ MARS GLOBAL SURVEYOR PROJECT STATUS REPORT OVERVIEW Prepared by the Mars Surveyor operations project manager NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory 11 December 1998 Mars Global Surveyor aerobraking operations continue in a very satisfactory manner. The orbital period has been reduced to 4 hours and 23 minutes on MGS's 845 orbit of Mars. Propulsive maneuvers have been made during the week to not only adjust the dynamic pressure but also to avoid close passage to the satellite Phobos. Tomorrow morning (12/12/98 at 4:40 am PST) the spacecraft will pass within 200 miles (300 km) of the moon Phobos. It has been determined that the Magnetometer/Electron Reflectometer instrument will be able to remain powered on and acquiring data until at least January 28, 1999, when the spacecraft's periapsis reaches its southern most point. Aerobraking operations will continue until early February when the orbit will be nearly circular and have a period of two hours. ------------------------------------------------------------------ NEW STARDUST PHOTOS By Ron Baalke, Stardust webmaster 23 December 1998 The following new photos have been added to the STARDUST home page: Test Deployment of the Aerogel Grid on the STARDUST Spacecraft http://stardust.jpl.nasa.gov/photo/ksc981207.html Closeout and Encapsulation of the STARDUST Spacecraft http://stardust.jpl.nasa.gov/photo/ksc981221.html Daily Time Lapse Movies http://stardust.jpl.nasa.gov/webcam Scheduled to be launched aboard a Boeing Delta 7426 rocket from Complex 17, Cape Canaveral Air Station, on Feb. 6, 1999, STARDUST will use a unique medium called aerogel to capture comet particles flying off the nucleus of Comet Wild 2 in January 2004, plus collect interstellar dust for later analysis. The collected samples will return to Earth in a re-entry capsule to be jettisoned as it swings by Earth in January 2006. ------------------------------------------------------------------ NEW MARS POLAR LANDER PHOTOS By Ron Baalke, Mars Surveyor 98 webmaster 23 December 1998 The following new photos have been added to the Mars Surveyor 98 home page: Mars Polar Lander, Mating with 3rd Stage Booster Rocket http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msp98/images/mpl981217.html Mars Polar Lander, Mating with the Delta II Rocket http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msp98/images/mpl981221.html Daily Time Lapse Movies: http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msp98/lander/ksc.html Scheduled to be launched on January 3, 1999, the Mars Polar Lander is a solar-powered spacecraft designed to touch down on the Martian surface near the northern-most boundary of the south pole in order to study the water cycle there. The lander also will help scientists learn more about climate change and current resources on Mars, studying such things as frost, dust, water vapor and condensates in the Martian atmosphere. It is the second spacecraft to be launched in a pair of Mars '98 missions. The first is the Mars Climate Orbiter, which was launched aboard a Delta II rocket from Launch Complex 17A on December 11, 1998. ------------------------------------------------------------------ LIFE IN EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS (LExEn) NSF Announcement of Opportunity and Special Competition for FY 1999 DEADLINE DATE: March 5, 1999 NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION Introduction Life flourishes on Earth in an incredibly wide range of environments, from high-salt deserts to volcanoes to polar ice. These environments may be analogous to the harsh conditions that exist now, or have existed, on other planets. The study of microbial life forms and the extreme environments in which they exist here on Earth can provide important new insights into how organisms form and adapt to diverse environments. This knowledge will provide the basis for detecting and understanding the life forms that may exist beyond our own planet, and for developing useful new products and processes. The Directorates for Biological Sciences (BIO), Engineering (ENG), Geosciences (GEO), Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS), and the Office of Polar Programs (OPP) of the National Science Foundation (NSF) announce an opportunity to enhance knowledge about "Life in Extreme Environments" (LExEn) through highly interdisciplinary, integrated research activities. Two new areas of emphasis are added to the fiscal year 1999 competition: a particular focus is placed upon the development of methods and capabilities to facilitate LExEn research. Secondly, a new effort in cooperation with the National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) is described to begin long term studies over decadal time scales at representative examples of significant extreme environments. FY99 Special Competition Proposals in response to the announcement of Opportunity must be received at NSF no later than close of business on March 5, 1999. Review and processing of proposals require approximately 6 months. For the purposes of this announcement "extreme" refers to environments found today on Earth which have attributes that are similar to those that exist now or that may have existed in the past on other planetary bodies, or to those that are postulated to have existed on Earth at the dawn of life. Such environments might include those associated with hydrothermal systems, high radiation fields, sea ice and ice sheets, anoxic habitats, hypersaline lakes, high altitude or polar deserts, or man-made environments such as those created for industrial processes. Because of the importance of the interactions between microbial organisms and the extreme environments within which they exist, studies are particularly encouraged that crossdisciplinary boundaries and foster collaborative investigations. Funds available from both NSF and NASA to support projects under this Special Competition are expected to total approximately $7 million. Approximately 20 awards are anticipated in fiscal year 1999 depending on the quality of the proposals received and the availability of funds. In order to provide specific guidance concerning the content of proposals suitable for submission to this competition, this announcement of opportunity is presented in three separate but closely related sections: • The LExEn Interdisciplinary Research Program • Methods and Capabilities for LExEn Research • LExEn Sites for Long-term Interdisciplinary Studies (LSLIS) However, the three areas that are described in the present Announcement of Opportunity comprise a single Special Competition, and all proposals received in response to this Announcement will be reviewed together. The three components of the fiscal year 1999 competition are described in detail below: •LExEn Interdisciplinary Research Program The LExEn interdisciplinary research program will explore the relationships between microbial 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. The scope of the LExEn Interdisciplinary research program is described in terms of three broad themes below. Strong emphasis will be given to the support of interdisciplinary research proposals. For this component of the LExEn competition, research projects of 2-5 years duration are appropriate. Microbial Systems: 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, preserve, and analyze 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; •the identification of unusual or even unique chemical compounds and their specific roles in survival strategies; 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. Extreme Environments on Earth: Because of the importance of the interactions between living organisms and their habitats, it is necessary to achieve improved understanding of present-day or past extreme environments that support or have supported life. Examples of relevant topics include: •studies designed to discover, explore and fully characterize significant examples of extreme environments; and •field, laboratory, and theoretical studies designed to understand the active physical, chemical, biological, and geological processes that determine the characteristics of present-day or past extreme environments on Earth and which result in their ability to support unusual microbial life. Planetary Environments: In order to provide insights into the possibility of life beyond our own planet, research is also needed to characterize the environments of planets in the solar system and beyond and to understand the commonalities of their formation and evolution. Examples of relevant topics include: •studies of the formation of Earth, other planets and their satellites; •remote sensing of planets and their atmospheres; •studies of interstellar grains and meteorites to establish criteria for the presence of biogenic substances; •studies of interstellar and cometary chemistry, particularly of biologically relevant molecules; •the relationship between interstellar organic molecules and the origin of life; and •research on the biogeochemical effects of microbes on their environments on Earth to better design tests for life on other planets. •Methods and Capabilities for LExEn Research In several areas of LExEn research, progress is limited by lack of effective methods, capabilities, or technologies. To address this issue, this second component of the fiscal year 1999 LExEn program is targeted at the support of research projects to develop or apply one or more of the following: •methods to isolate and culture microbes found in extreme environments; •methods to study these microbes in their natural habitats and to describe their adaptive strategies from the molecular to the ecological level; •technologies for non- contaminating sample recovery; •sensors and sensing techniques to probe extreme environments on Earth or other planets; •methods to study ancient microbial life and paleo- environmental conditions on Earth; and •methods to investigate the potential for habitable environments on other planets (including theory and modeling). For this component of the LExEn competition, research projects of 2-5 years duration are appropriate. Proposals that are predominantly for the purchase of available equipment or instrumentation are not appropriate for this competition. •LExEn Sites for Long-term Interdisciplinary Studies (LSLIS) Because of the dynamic nature of many of the processes that control the interactions of microorganisms with their environments, substantial insights can be gained by programs of sustained observation and sampling targeted at understanding the biological, chemical, and physical variability of these systems. Therefore this component of the LExEn competition, to be supported jointly by NSF and NASA if suitable proposals are received, will establish a small number of research programs targeted at the study of representative examples of extreme environments and the life they support. NASA’s interest in extreme environments is related to the broader study of life in the Universe (see http://astrobiology.arc.nasa.gov/). It is intended that through this competition a small number of diverse study sites will be selected that will be the target of multidisciplinary observation and research for at least a 5-10 year period. The following paragraphs describe desirable characteristics of LSLIS proposals, though not all are necessarily required: •A well-designed program of measurement, observation, and sampling focused upon a site that is representative of a class of extreme environments, with the objective of gaining fundamental new understanding of the biological, chemical, and physical characteristics, variability, and processes. •A research plan that balances exploratory and hypothesis-driven investigative strategies and that is cognizant of the need to modify and shape the data-collection approaches as insight is gained concerning the controlling processes. •An effective research program that combines studies of the natural ecosystem with the development of new technologies and missions for the exploration of extreme environments in our Solar System. •A multidisciplinary team of investigators with an integrated investigative strategy that balances appropriately studies of life with studies of the characteristics of the supporting environment. •An education component that stresses the entrainment of graduate students in highly interdisciplinary research activities. •A demonstrated interest in the application and continued development of improved instrumentation and technology. •An innovative plan for the archiving and broad dissemination of the collected samples and data. Proposals to this component of the LExEn program should be of a 3- 5 year duration, with the understanding that renewal proposals for a second 3-5 year term would be entertained at the appropriate time. It is anticipated that one to three sites will be established in FY99 with additional sites to be added in later LExEn competitions, pending compelling proposals and the availability of funds. The appropriate level of support for each site is expected to range from $0.5 to $2.0M per year. Coordination of Review Process The LExEn special competition for fiscal year 1999 and the NSF special competition "Microbial Observatories" (MO), the announcement for which is being released soon and will be available for review at http://www.nsf.gov/cgi- bin/pubsys/browser/odbrowse.pl, are complementary programs. Investigators may not submit the same proposal, or proposals that are substantially similar, to these competitions. The Microbial Observatories competition is a broad opportunity for investigators to propose activities directed at the discovery and characterization of microbes in any environment on earth. The LExEn competition is focused upon interdisciplinary studies of microbial life-forms in extreme environments, with emphases upon understanding the processes that determine the characteristics of the environments, and upon gaining knowledge to provide the basis for detecting and understanding life forms that may exist beyond our own planet. Given the potential for overlap between proposals submitted to these complementary competitions, NSF plans to coordinate the review processes by scheduling the respective panels to enable joint consideration of appropriate proposals where necessary. The National Science Foundation Directorate for Biological Sciences will host an annual meeting of all LExEn and MO awardees who are engaged in microbial discovery activities. The purpose of this meeting will be to facilitate an exchange of ideas and information, to promote interaction among investigators and sites, and to build links between research programs with related or complementary objectives. Each proposal should include sufficient funds in its budget request to cover the costs of attending this meeting for the Principal Investigator and co-Principal Investigators. Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions Proposals submitted in response to this Announcement of Opportunity will be accepted from colleges, universities, and other non-profit institutions in the United States. Proposals involving collaboration with researchers and facilities of other countries or international groups are welcome, provided support is requested only for the U.S. portion of the collaborative effort. Proposals submitted in response to this program announcement should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the general guidelines contained in the Grant Proposal Guide (GPG), NSF 99-2. For proposals involving field work in Antarctica, guidelines described in the "Antarctic Research Opportunities and Proposal Guide" NSF 96-93 should be followed. These are available electronically on the NSF Web site at: http://www.nsf.gov/. Paper copies may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone 301-947-2722 or by e-mail from pubs@nsf.gov. Proposals will be subjected to initial screening for the requirements in the GPG and will be returned without review or advance notification if deficiencies are found. Proposals will NOT be forwarded to other programs if found to be inappropriate for this competition. Proposals submitted in response to this announcement must be received at NSF no later than close of business on March 5, 1999. The NSF FastLane system is available for electronic preparation and submission of a proposal through the Web at the FastLane Web site at http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov. Submission via Fastlane is strongly encouraged. Group and collaborative proposals involving more than one institution MUST be submitted as a single administrative package from one of the institutions involved. Multiple submissions will not be accepted. (The proposal may be split into separate awards if the project is recommended for support.) Proposers requiring the use of a UNOLS ship or submersible must submit a ship request form to NSF’s Division of Ocean Sciences as well as the UNOLS office and the operator of any requested ship or ships. Proposal Review Information Proposals will be evaluated by ad hoc mail and panel review in accordance with established Foundation procedures and the criteria described below. It is anticipated that each review panel will have expertise in the fields of astronomy, planetary sciences, chemistry, geochemistry, biology, atmospheric sciences, earth sciences, ocean sciences, polar sciences, and engineering. Merit Review Criteria Review of proposals submitted to NSF are solicited from peers with expertise in the substantive area of the proposed research or education project. These reviewers are selected by Program Officers charged with the oversight of the review process. NSF invites the proposer to suggest at the time of submission, the names of appropriate or inappropriate reviewers. Special care is taken to ensure that reviewers have no immediate and obvious conflicts with the proposer. Special efforts are made to recruit reviewers from non-academic institutions, minority serving institutions, adjacent disciplines to that principally addressed in the proposal, first time NSF reviewers, etc. Proposals will be reviewed against the following general merit review criteria established by the National Science Board. Following each criterion are potential considerations that the reviewer may employ in the evaluation. These are suggestions and not all will apply to any given proposal. Each reviewer will be asked to address only those that are relevant to the proposal and for which he/she is qualified to make judgments. What is the intellectual merit of the proposed activity? How important is the proposed activity to advancing knowledge and understanding within its own field or across different fields? How well qualified is the proposer (individual or team) to conduct the project? (If appropriate, the reviewer will comment on the quality of prior work.) To what extent does the proposed activity suggest and explore creative and original concepts? How well conceived and organized is the proposed activity? Is there sufficient access to resources? What are the broader impacts of the proposed activity? How well does the activity advance discovery and understanding while promoting teaching, training, and learning? How well does the proposed activity broaden the participation of underrepresented groups (e.g., gender, ethnicity, disability, geographic, etc.)? To what extent will it enhance the infrastructure for research and education, such as facilities, instrumentation, networks, and partnerships? Will the results be disseminated broadly to enhance scientific and technological understanding? What may be the benefits of the proposed activity to society? For proposals that are responsive to the two interdisciplinary components of this Announcement of Opportunity (i.e. the LExEn Interdisciplinary Research Program and LExEn Sites for Long-term Interdisciplinary Studies) another criterion in the review process will be the potential interdisciplinary synergism among the various research components. Integration of Research and Education One of the principal strategies in support of NSF’s goals is to foster integration of research and education through the programs, projects and activities it supports at academic and research institutions. These institutions provide abundant opportunities where individuals may concurrently assume responsibilities as researchers, educators, and students and where all can engage in joint efforts that infuse education with the excitement of discovery and enrich research through the diversity of learner perspectives. PIs should address this issue in their proposals to provide reviewers with the information necessary to respond fully to both NSF merit review criteria. NSF staff will give it careful consideration in making funding decisions. Integrating Diversity into NSF Program, Projects, and Activities Broadening opportunities and enabling the participation of all citizens – women and men, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities – is essential to the health and vitality of science and engineering. NSF is committed to this principle of diversity and deems it central to the programs, projects, and activities it considers and supports. You should address this issue in your proposals to provide reviewers with the information necessary to respond fully to both NSF merit review criteria. NSF staff will give it careful consideration in making funding decisions. Grant Administration and Conditions Grants awarded as a result of this announcement will be administered in accordance with the terms and conditions of NSF GC-1 (10/98) or FDP-III (7/1/97), Grant General Conditions. Copies of these documents are available from the NSF online document system http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/pubsys/browser/odbrowse.pl. More information is contained in the NSF Grant Policy Manual, (NSF 95-26) available electronically on the NSF Web site or in paper copy by subscription from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. Contacts for Additional Information This announcement, and other LExEn-related information, is available on- line at http://www.nsf.gov/home/crssprgm/lexen/start.htm. If you have questions or require further information, contact: Division of Environmental Biology Douglas Siegel-Causey, (703) 306-1481, dsiegel@nsf.gov Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences Philip Harriman, (703) 306-1439, pharrima@nsf.gov Division of Astronomical Sciences Eileen Friel, (703) 306-1826, efriel@nsf.gov Division of Chemistry George Rubottom, (703) 306-1851, grubotto@nsf.gov Division of Bioengineering and Environmental Systems Frederick Heineken, (703) 306-1319, fheineken@nsf.gov Division of Atmospheric Sciences Jarvis Moyers, (703) 306-1523, jmoyers@nsf.gov Division of Earth Sciences Richard Lane, (703) 306-1551, hlane@nsf.gov Division of Ocean Sciences Phillip Taylor, (703) 306-1587, prtaylor@nsf.gov David Epp, (703) 306-1586, depp@nsf.gov Office of Polar Programs - Antarctic Research Section Polly Penhale, (703) 306-1033, ppenhale@nsf.gov Office of Polar Programs - Arctic Research Section Linda Duguay, (703) 306-1029, lduguay@nsf.gov Office of Space Science, NASA Michael Meyer, (202) 358-0307, mmeyer@hq.nasa.gov ABOUT THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION NSF funds research and education in most fields of science and engineering. Grantees are wholly responsible for conducting their project activities and preparing the results for publication. Thus, the Foundation does not assume responsibility for such findings or their interpretation. NSF welcomes proposals on behalf of all qualified scientists, engineers and educators. The Foundation strongly encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to participate fully in its programs. In accordance with Federal statutes, regulations and NSF policies, no person on grounds of race, color, age, sex, national origin or disability shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving financial assistance from NSF (some programs may have special requirements that limit eligibility). Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities provide funding for special assistance or equipment to enable persons with disabilities to work on NSF-supported projects. (For more information, see Section V.G.) The National Science Foundation has Telephonic Device for the Deaf (TDD) and Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) capabilities that enable individuals with hearing impairments to communicate with the Foundation about NSF programs, employment or general information. TDD may be accessed at (703) 306-0090, FIRS at 1- 800-877-8339. PRIVACY ACT AND PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENTS The information requested on proposal forms and project reports is solicited under the authority of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended. The information on proposal forms will be used in connection with the selection of qualified proposals; and project reports submitted by awardees will be used for program evaluation and reporting within the Executive Branch and to Congress. The information requested may be disclosed to qualified reviewers and staff assistants as part of the proposal review process; to proposer institutions/grantees to provide or obtain data regarding the proposal review process, award decisions, or the administration of awards; to government contractors, experts, volunteers and researchers and educators as necessary to complete assigned work; to other government agencies needing information as part of the review process or in order to coordinate programs; and to another Federal agency, court or party in a court or Federal administrative proceeding if the government is a party. Information about Principal Investigators may be added to the Reviewer file and used to select potential candidates to serve as peer reviewers or advisory committee members. See Systems of Records, NSF-50, "Principal Investigator/Proposal File and Associated Records," 63 Federal Register 267 (January 5, 1998), and NSF-51, "Reviewer/Proposal File and Associated Records," 63 Federal Register 268 (January 5, 1998). Submission of the information is voluntary. Failure to provide full and complete information, however, may reduce the possibility of receiving an award. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 120 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions. Send comments regarding this burden estimate and any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to: Mary Lou Higgs Acting Reports Clearance Officer Information Dissemination Branch Division of Administrative Services National Science Foundation Arlington, VA 22230 ------------------------------------------------------------------ End Marsbugs Vol. 5, No. 27