Geosciences
This program accepts and reviews proposals continuously under the annual Notice of Funding Opportunity entitled, “Continuation of Solicitation for the Office of Science Financial Assistance Program” available on the BES Funding Opportunities page. It is recommended that a full application be submitted before November 30th to facilitate a funding decision by June of the following year. Preproposals (white papers) are strongly encouraged for all new proposals or changes in research direction, and should be submitted through PAMS well in advance of a full application. Please see BES guidance for New Grant Applications from Universities and Other Research Institutions.
The Geosciences program supports basic experimental, theoretical, and computational research in geochemistry and geophysics that has clear connections to energy production or recovery of critical elements. Geochemical research emphasizes fundamental understanding of the reaction mechanisms and rates associated with geochemical processes, focusing on molecular-mesoscale aspects of minerals and interfaces and on the molecular origins of critical element/isotope distributions and their influence on migration/separation/fractionation pathways in the earth, ranging from weathering environments to magmatic/hydrothermal systems. Geophysical research focuses on new approaches to understand subsurface processes that characterize the evolution of fractures in the upper crust, particularly when associated with enhanced geothermal systems and hydrocarbon prospection & recovery.
Applicants should look at the geosciences-aligned priority research directions and opportunities discussed in the BES workshop and roundtable reports. The reports that contain particularly topical geosciences topics include Basic Research Needs for Geosciences: Facilitating 21st Century Energy Systems (2007) and Controlling Subsurface Fractures and Fluid Flow: A Basic Research Agenda (2015).
The inclusion of artificial intelligence or quantum computational methods are particularly desirable. While the work should have a well-defined connection to energy production or critical elements, priority in BES Geosciences funding is given to research that has strong potential for breakthrough science. Applicants must make a strong case for (i) the relevance of the research to energy production or critical elements and (ii) the fundamental science nature of the work (i.e., why the work belongs in BES and not a more applied program). Applications that do not make a strong case for both are discouraged and will be declined. Modeling-focused applications that do not clearly indicate direct engagement with novel and compelling data sets are discouraged. Applications that do not describe subsurface science (e.g. oceanography), will be declined. The Geosciences program does not fund code development, engineering design or scale-up, development of narrowly defined processes or devices, biological research, device fabrication, microfluidics, or sensors; these are all more appropriately supported through other DOE programs. Applications should be hypothesis-based.
To obtain more information about this research area, please see the proceedings of our Principal Investigators' Meetings. To better understand how this research area fits within the Department of Energy's Office of Science, please refer to the Basic Energy Science's organization chart and budget request.
For more information about this research area, please contact Dr. Philip Wilk.
