Opportunity Information: Apply for 26 516
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is offering the Geosciences Core Research solicitation, commonly referred to as GEO Core, to support foundational research that pushes the frontiers of knowledge across the geosciences. The opportunity is aimed at basic, curiosity-driven science and emphasizes work that meaningfully advances understanding of Earth systems rather than projects centered on near-term products, deployment, or commercialization. NSF signals strong interest in proposals that are intellectually ambitious and potentially transformative, including projects that take on fundamental questions, introduce new concepts, or enable major leaps in how geoscience problems are studied.
This funding opportunity is organized across three core NSF geoscience programs: Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences (AGS), Earth Sciences (EAR), and Ocean Sciences (OCE). Through AGS, NSF supports research on Earths atmosphere and the near-Earth space environment, which can include topics such as atmospheric dynamics, chemistry, clouds and aerosols, weather and climate processes, and interactions between the Sun, magnetosphere, ionosphere, and upper atmosphere. Through EAR, the solicitation supports solid Earth sciences and Earth surface processes, covering areas like tectonics, geomorphology, geochemistry, geophysics, volcanology, seismic processes, critical zone science, and the evolution and dynamics of Earth materials and landscapes. Through OCE, NSF supports all fields of ocean science, spanning physical oceanography, marine geology and geophysics, chemical oceanography, biological oceanography, and interdisciplinary studies of ocean systems and their connections to the rest of the planet.
A key feature of GEO Core is that proposals can be tightly focused within a single discipline or can deliberately cross boundaries among atmospheric, terrestrial, and ocean domains. NSF explicitly welcomes multi-disciplinary and cross-cutting efforts when they are grounded in strong foundational questions and can convincingly advance fundamental understanding. In practice, this can include work that links ocean-atmosphere coupling, land-ocean material fluxes, coastal and shelf processes, climate and weather extremes, biogeochemical cycling, or interactions among Earths interior, surface, oceans, and atmosphere. The central expectation is that the research will contribute new knowledge or new capability for discovery, rather than emphasizing late-stage development.
Administratively, this is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. National Science Foundation under CFDA 47.050, categorized as science and technology and other research and development. The eligible applicant pool is listed as unrestricted, indicating broad eligibility rather than a narrowly defined applicant type. NSF anticipates making on the order of 350 awards under this solicitation. The opportunity is identified by Funding Opportunity Number 26 516, with an original closing date of 2076-08-31, which suggests an open or long-running solicitation structure that may operate with recurring internal deadlines or program-specific submission windows rather than a single near-term cutoff. The award ceiling is not specified in the provided listing, so prospective applicants would typically look to the program guidance and NSF norms for the relevant division when estimating budget ranges.
Overall, GEO Core is best understood as NSFs primary vehicle for sustaining and advancing fundamental geoscience research across atmosphere and space environment studies, Earth and surface process science, and the full spectrum of ocean science, with a clear preference for high-impact ideas that deepen understanding of Earth systems without requiring immediate practical deliverables.Apply for 26 516
- The U.S. National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Geosciences Core Research: Atmospheric, Geospace, Earth and Ocean Sciences (GEO Core)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.050.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-08-21.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2076-08-31.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 350 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NSF Geosciences Core Research (GEO Core)
1. What is the NSF Geosciences Core Research (GEO Core) solicitation?
GEO Core is a National Science Foundation (NSF) funding opportunity that supports foundational, curiosity-driven research across the geosciences. It is designed to push the frontiers of knowledge and to meaningfully advance scientific understanding of Earth systems.
2. What kind of research does GEO Core prioritize?
The solicitation emphasizes basic research that advances fundamental understanding rather than projects centered on near-term products, deployment, or commercialization. NSF signals strong interest in proposals that are intellectually ambitious and potentially transformative, including work that tackles fundamental questions, introduces new concepts, or enables major leaps in how geoscience problems are studied.
3. Is GEO Core focused on applied research or commercialization outcomes?
No. Based on the information provided, GEO Core is best suited for basic, curiosity-driven science. It specifically emphasizes advancing understanding of Earth systems and deemphasizes proposals primarily oriented toward near-term deliverables, product development, deployment, or commercialization.
4. Which NSF programs or disciplinary areas does GEO Core cover?
GEO Core is organized across three core NSF geoscience programs: Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences (AGS), Earth Sciences (EAR), and Ocean Sciences (OCE).
5. What topics fit within Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences (AGS) under GEO Core?
AGS supports research on Earths atmosphere and the near-Earth space environment. Examples of topics mentioned include atmospheric dynamics, atmospheric chemistry, clouds and aerosols, weather and climate processes, and interactions between the Sun, magnetosphere, ionosphere, and upper atmosphere.
6. What topics fit within Earth Sciences (EAR) under GEO Core?
EAR supports solid Earth sciences and Earth surface processes. The provided examples include tectonics, geomorphology, geochemistry, geophysics, volcanology, seismic processes, critical zone science, and the evolution and dynamics of Earth materials and landscapes.
7. What topics fit within Ocean Sciences (OCE) under GEO Core?
OCE supports all fields of ocean science. The provided examples include physical oceanography, marine geology and geophysics, chemical oceanography, biological oceanography, and interdisciplinary studies of ocean systems and their connections to the rest of the planet.
8. Can proposals be interdisciplinary or cross-cutting across AGS, EAR, and OCE?
Yes. A key feature of GEO Core is that proposals can be tightly focused within a single discipline or can deliberately cross boundaries among atmospheric, terrestrial, and ocean domains. NSF explicitly welcomes multi-disciplinary and cross-cutting efforts when they are grounded in strong foundational questions and can convincingly advance fundamental understanding.
9. What are examples of cross-domain research themes that GEO Core may support?
The opportunity description notes examples such as ocean-atmosphere coupling, land-ocean material fluxes, coastal and shelf processes, climate and weather extremes, biogeochemical cycling, and interactions among Earths interior, surface, oceans, and atmosphere.
10. What is the central expectation for the research outcomes?
The central expectation is that the research contributes new knowledge or new capability for discovery. The emphasis is on enabling scientific discovery and advancing understanding, rather than on late-stage development.
11. What type of grant opportunity is this administratively?
It is described as a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. National Science Foundation, categorized as science and technology and other research and development.
12. What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 47.050.
13. Who is eligible to apply?
The eligible applicant pool is listed as unrestricted, indicating broad eligibility rather than a narrowly defined applicant type (based on the listing provided).
14. How many awards does NSF expect to make under this solicitation?
NSF anticipates making on the order of 350 awards under this solicitation.
15. What is the Funding Opportunity Number for GEO Core?
The Funding Opportunity Number provided is 26 516.
16. What is the closing date for this opportunity?
The original closing date is listed as 2076-08-31. This suggests an open or long-running solicitation structure that may operate with recurring internal deadlines or program-specific submission windows rather than a single near-term cutoff.
17. Is there an award ceiling (maximum funding amount) listed?
No award ceiling is specified in the provided listing. The description notes that prospective applicants would typically look to program guidance and NSF norms for the relevant division when estimating budget ranges.
18. How should applicants think about fit: single-discipline vs. cross-disciplinary proposals?
Both approaches appear to be in scope. Single-discipline proposals are allowed, and cross-boundary proposals are welcomed when they are anchored in strong foundational scientific questions and clearly advance fundamental understanding.
19. What does NSF mean here by "transformative" or "high-impact" ideas?
Based on the description provided, NSF is looking for proposals that are intellectually ambitious and potentially transformative, such as those that take on fundamental questions, introduce new concepts, or enable major leaps in how geoscience problems are studied.
20. What is the overall purpose of GEO Core in the NSF geosciences portfolio?
GEO Core is described as NSFs primary vehicle for sustaining and advancing fundamental geoscience research across atmospheric and space environment studies, Earth and surface process science, and the full spectrum of ocean science, with a clear preference for ideas that deepen understanding of Earth systems without requiring immediate practical deliverables.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Previous opportunity: Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Essentials for Improved Outcomes
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for 26 516
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (26 516) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Research and Education Program for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU) Equipment/Instrumentation Apply for W911NF26S0105 Funding Number: W911NF26S0105 Agency: Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Conservation and Forestry Program Support (2026-2031) for Environmental Natural Resources Management Division, Directorate of Public Works, Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk, Louisiana Apply for W9126G262RFP9554 Funding Number: W9126G262RFP9554 Agency: Fort Worth District Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $7,593,600 |
| Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute Cooperative Agreement Notice-5 (SSERVI CAN-5) Apply for NNH26ZDA016C Funding Number: NNH26ZDA016C Agency: NASA Headquarters Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Aquatic Fauna and Primary Production in the Florida Everglades Apply for W9126G262SOI9557 Funding Number: W9126G262SOI9557 Agency: Fort Worth District Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $4,984,000 |
| American Crocodile Monitoring as an Indicator of Hydrologic Restoration in the Southern Estuaries for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District. Apply for W9126G262SOI9486 Funding Number: W9126G262SOI9486 Agency: Fort Worth District Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $791,961 |
| Wading Bird Response to Ecosystem Restoration in Southwest Florida Apply for W9126G262SOI9597 Funding Number: W9126G262SOI9597 Agency: Fort Worth District Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $1,960,000 |
| American Alligators as Ecological Indicators of Everglades Restoration Apply for W9126G262SOI9558 Funding Number: W9126G262SOI9558 Agency: Fort Worth District Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $1,546,800 |
| Groundwater and Surficial Water Salinity Changes in Everglades National Park using Aerial Electromagnetic Surveys Apply for W9126G262SOI0520 Funding Number: W9126G262SOI0520 Agency: Fort Worth District Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $1,657,690 |
| Juvenile Sportfish Community and Habitat Suitability in Florida Bay Apply for W9126G262SOI9482 Funding Number: W9126G262SOI9482 Agency: Fort Worth District Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $2,494,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "26 516", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.