Introduction

The Simons Foundation's Mathematics and Physical Sciences (MPS) division is inviting applications for a new Solar Radiation Management (SRM) program. The foundation encourages applications from scientists in the global south and investigators with expertise that can bring new perspectives to the field. The Simons Foundation, Inc. reserves the right to refer an application to The Simons Foundation International, Ltd. (SFI) for consideration and funding, in which case SFI's grant policies would apply.

Scope of Work

The Simons Foundation has launched an international collaborative research program to address fundamental scientific knowledge gaps related to Solar Radiation Management (SRM). SRM involves approaches like stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI), marine cloud brightening (MCB), and cirrus cloud thinning (CCT) to modify Earth's radiative balance and cool the planet. While reducing greenhouse gas concentrations is the long-term solution, SRM might mitigate some negative impacts this century. However, SRM poses environmental and societal risks, including stratospheric warming, ozone depletion, and rainfall changes. This call aims to fill key knowledge gaps in SRM science.

Priority areas for this call include:

• Environmentally benign materials discovery for SAI and CCT.

• Laboratory physicochemical characterization of SAI and CCT materials and their interactions with light, clouds, atmospheric trace gases, and aerosols.

• Approaches to minimize cirrus cloud formation, including from aircraft emissions.

• Assessments of near-field (<100 km) atmospheric turbulence and its impact on SAI and CCT interventions.

• Integration of improved representations of aerosols and turbulence into global-scale modeling and characterization of global and regional impacts of novel materials for SAI and CCT.

Social science research and in-situ field experiments involving aerosol release are not within the scope of this program.

Eligibility

Applications can be submitted by established U.S. and foreign public and private educational and nonprofit institutes, research centers, and national laboratories or the equivalent. Any entity must adhere to the 20 percent maximum overhead rate. Principal Investigators (PIs), co-Investigators (co-Is), and other project participants may be from non-U.S. institutions.

• For those at universities: PIs and co-Is must hold a tenured or tenure-track faculty, or equivalent, position at an educational institution in a department with a Ph.D. program at the time of application and for the duration of the award.

• For those at national labs or nonacademic institutions: PIs and co-Is must be Ph.D.-level full-time non-visiting research and/or senior scientist or equivalent staff members.

Current SRM awardees are not eligible to apply.

Budget and Duration

Proposal budgets should not exceed $500,000 per year, including indirect costs (limited to 20 percent modified total direct costs), for a period of three years. The foundation estimates up to six additional SRM awards will be made for awards starting July 1, 2025.

Additional Information

Key Dates

• LOI Deadline: September 30, 2024, at 12 p.m. (noon) EDT

• LOI Notification: December 15, 2024

• Full Proposal Deadline: February 27, 2025, at 12 p.m. (noon) EDT

• Award Notification: December 1, 2025

• Award Start Date: July 1, 2025

Application Process

Applications must be submitted electronically via the Simons Award Manager (SAM) at https://sam.simonsfoundation.org/.

The application process involves two stages:

• Letter of Intent (LOI): A two-page LOI and a two-page biosketch for each senior investigator must be submitted by September 30, 2024. Notifications of the status of the LOI will be sent by December 15, 2024.

• Full Proposal: Selected applicants must submit a full statement of work, budget, and other information by February 27, 2025. Full proposal notifications will be sent by June 1, 2025. Awards will begin July 1, 2025.

Selection Process

Proposals will be judged on scientific quality, the potential for impact, the potential for collaboration, the extent of training graduate students and postdocs, and broadening participation domestically and globally.

Contact Information

• Program or Administrative Questions: Elizabeth Roy, Senior Manager for Programs and Administration, [email protected], 212-524-6966

• Technical Assistance: [email protected]

• Simons Award Manager (SAM) FAQ and Instructional Videos

Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, except designated holidays.

Office Closures: November 27–29, 2024, December 24, 2024–January 1, 2025, and January 20, 2025

For More funding Opportunities, Visit Global Funding Opportunities.