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<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">Dear NSF Geosciences Community:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">Staff throughout the GEO Directorate want to express our hope that you, your family, friends, colleagues, and students are well and safe during these unprecedented circumstances. We
understand that you face many complex and stressful situations in trying to navigate the many changes to your personal and professional lives and that there are significant impacts. We are here for you and hope that you will reach out to your Program Officers
and other GEO points of contact for support and guidance. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">Rest assured that the agency is operational, and we are working with our many partners to support the important scientific research conducted by all of you. GEO staff are on duty and
available to communicate with you. We are particularly interested in cataloging any challenges you have experienced related to you NSF-sponsored research, including solutions if appropriate, as a potential guide for other Principal Investigators.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">We appreciate your patience and understanding as we, along with you, transition to this new reality, and work together to address your questions and concerns. We are encouraged by
the efforts of our NSF colleagues and especially appreciative of all of you in the community who will assist with our merit review process, as seamlessly as possible, through virtual review panels, committees of visitors, and other events. Thank you. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">Below you will find resources that NSF and the Geosciences Directorate are providing to help you navigate this very challenging situation. We hope this information proves useful to
you and that you will use it in conjunction with your regular communications with NSF Program Officers. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">Our support to you is unwavering. We are all in this together. We encourage you to take all recommended precautions to protect yourselves and your families against COVID-19. For
public health-related information, please visit <a href="https://www.coronavirus.gov/"><span style="color:#0C72B5">cdc.gov</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">William E. Easterling<br>
Assistant Director for Geosciences<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">Scott Borg<br>
Deputy Assistant Director for Geosciences<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<strong><u><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">COVID-19 Information for the Geosciences Research Community</span></u></strong><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333"><a href="https://nsf.gov/coronavirus"><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0C72B5;text-decoration:none">Website:</span></strong><span style="color:#0C72B5"> </span></a> NSF
has established a central website for information about the novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19): <a href="http://www.nsf.gov/coronavirus"><span style="color:#0C72B5"> nsf.gov/coronavirus</span></a> <em><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Please check
this website and related links below frequently for updates. </span></em>The website includes important links and information on:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<strong><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">Administrative Relief:</span></strong><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333"> For current awardees, NSF has issued <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/issuances/in146.jsp"><span style="color:#0C72B5">Important
Notice No 146 to the Community Regarding COVID-19</span></a> and <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/covid19/covid19_nsfombimplementation.pdf"><span style="color:#0C72B5">Guidance on NSF’s implementation of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Memorandum</span></a> (<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/M-20-17.pdf"><span style="color:#0C72B5">M-20-17</span></a>, <em><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Administrative Relief for Recipients and Applicants of Federal
Financial Assistance Directly Impacted by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) due to Loss of Operations</span></em>). These documents contain extensive descriptions of flexibilities available to you to support your health and safety as well as your work. Questions
about policies described in the guidance should be directed to <a href="mailto:policy@nsf.gov"><span style="color:#0C72B5">policy@nsf.gov</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333"><a href="https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/covid19/covid19_deadlines.pdf"><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0C72B5;text-decoration:none">Program Deadlines:</span></strong></a> NSF
is assessing program deadlines on an ongoing basis, and at present we are focusing on deadlines through the end of April. Our intent is to offer extensions where feasible, while remaining mindful of internal timelines for conducting a full merit review process
prior to award decisions. Please note, that for the many GEO programs that operate without proposal submission deadlines, we do not expect a change in the ability to submit proposals to NSF, but we encourage you to contact your Program Officer should you have
any difficulties or concerns.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333"><a href="https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/covid19/covid19faqs_panelists.pdf"><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0C72B5;text-decoration:none">Review Panels</span></strong><span style="color:#0C72B5">: </span></a> If
you have agreed to serve on a merit review panel, please note that these will be conducted remotely, at least through May, with ongoing reassessment for May and beyond. We greatly appreciate the effort that reviewers and panelists put into this invaluable
assistance to NSF. Please contact the cognizant NSF Program Officer if you have questions about panel plans and logistics.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333"><a href="https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/covid19/covid19faqs_proposerandawardee.pdf"><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0C72B5;text-decoration:none">Other
NSF-Funded Meetings:</span></strong><span style="color:#0C72B5"> </span></a> NSF is encouraging Principal Investigators of upcoming NSF-funded Conferences and other meetings scheduled to take place in the coming weeks to either reschedule these meetings or
to conduct them as all-virtual gatherings.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333"><a href="https://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/coronavirus/NSF%20Guidance%20for%20Major%20Facilities%20and%20Contracts%20Regarding%20COVID-19.pdf"><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0C72B5;text-decoration:none">Major
Facilities and Contracts Regarding COVID-19: </span></strong></a>Many of our GEO-supported facilities and labs have been adversely affected by COVID-19. We are in constant communication with our facilities, and they have assured us that they are putting the
health and safety of their employees, researchers, and visitors first. They are also striving to maintain essential activities and to serve as a community resource. Information regarding NSF-sponsored Arctic and Antarctic field research locations is rapidly
evolving and updates can be found on the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/news/announcements.jsp?org=OPP"><span style="color:#0C72B5">OPP webpage</span></a>. The <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/good-bye?https://www.ucar.edu/alerts"><span style="color:#0C72B5">National
Center for Atmospheric Research</span></a> and the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/good-bye?https://www.unols.org/"><span style="color:#0C72B5">University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System</span></a> have changed their operating status. Please
check the facility websites for updates or contact your cognizant program manager. We will continue to work with our facility partners to optimize capabilities within the bounds of public health parameters, and to ensure a return to full capacity once this
crisis has passed. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<strong><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">Educational Activities and Grants:</span></strong><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333"> Several questions and answers in the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/covid19/covid19faqs_proposerandawardee.pdf"><span style="color:#0C72B5">Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQs) About the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) for NSF Proposers and Awardees</span></a> focus on education-related awards, such as Research Experiences for Teachers and Research Experiences for Undergraduates.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333"><a href="https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2020/nsf20052/nsf20052.pdf"><strong><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0C72B5;text-decoration:none">Rapid Response Research support
related to COVID-19:</span></strong></a> NSF issued a Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) that invites research proposals via NSF’s Rapid Response Research (RAPID) mechanism on topics of specific relevance to COVID-19.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<em><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">The U.S. National Science Foundation propels the nation forward by advancing fundamental research in all fields of science and engineering. NSF supports research and people by providing
facilities, instruments and funding to support their ingenuity and sustain the U.S. as a global leader in research and innovation. With a fiscal year 2020 budget of $8.3 billion, NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities
and institutions. Each year, NSF receives more than 40,000 competitive proposals and makes about 11,000 new awards. Those awards include support for cooperative research with industry, Arctic and Antarctic research and operations, and U.S. participation in
international scientific efforts.</span></em><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333"><img border="0" width="21" height="14" style="width:.2187in;height:.1458in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.gif@01D60743.C5926FC0" alt="mail icon"> <a href="http://service.govdelivery.com/service/subscribe.html?code=USNSF_51" target="_blank" title="Get News Updates by Email"><span style="color:#0C72B5">Get
News Updates by Email </span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:15.0pt;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<strong><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">Useful NSF Web Sites:</span></strong><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333"><br>
NSF Home Page: <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/"><span style="color:#0C72B5">https://www.nsf.gov</span></a><br>
NSF News: <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/news/"><span style="color:#0C72B5">https://www.nsf.gov/news/</span></a><br>
For the News Media: <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/news/newsroom.jsp"><span style="color:#0C72B5">https://www.nsf.gov/news/newsroom.jsp</span></a><br>
Science and Engineering Statistics: <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/"><span style="color:#0C72B5">https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/</span></a><br>
Awards Searches: <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/"><span style="color:#0C72B5">https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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