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 
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E-mail subscriptions are free, and may be obtained by contacting 
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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.
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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."
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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.  NASAs 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 NSFs 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 NSFs 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
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End Marsbugs Vol. 5, No. 27





