The NSF Directorate for Geosciences (GEO) supports core research programs across Earth sciences, atmospheric sciences, ocean sciences, and polar research. In contrast to NSF’s large facility–based initiatives, GEO’s core programs fund investigator-driven research that advances fundamental understanding of the Earth as a dynamic, interconnected, and evolving system. These programs are organized into disciplinary clusters such as geobiology, hydrology, geochemistry, paleoclimate, geophysics, geomorphology, marine geology, physical oceanography, mesoscale meteorology, climate dynamics, and atmospheric chemistry. Collectively, they support discovery science that underpins national priorities related to climate, water, natural hazards, ecosystems, and environmental resilience. 

GEO-funded research may include field campaigns, laboratory experimentation, drilling or sampling programs, remote-sensing and satellite data integration, sensor network deployments, advanced geospatial analytics, Earth-system modeling, paleoclimate reconstruction, ocean-observing studies, or atmospheric process investigations. Proposals often bridge multiple disciplines to examine interactions among the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, cryosphere, and lithosphere. Many projects contribute to societal needs such as hazard assessment, climate-risk forecasting, water-resource sustainability, ecosystem monitoring, and natural-resource prediction. 

Eligibility follows standard NSF guidelines. Applicants must be affiliated with a U.S. institution eligible to receive NSF support—such as a university, nonprofit research organization, Tribal organization, or qualified small business. For-profit entities may participate when contributing to basic scientific discovery rather than commercial technology development. International collaborators may engage through subawards or parallel support but cannot be primary awardees. 

Competitive GEO proposals demonstrate strong intellectual merit, clear scientific questions, rigorous methodological design, and well-developed broader impacts. Successful submissions also incorporate robust data-management plans, reproducibility strategies, student training, safety plans for fieldwork, and pathways for disseminating results. GEO’s programs encourage multidisciplinary collaborations, particularly those integrating biological, physical, and human systems. Early-career researchers often compete through dedicated mechanisms such as the NSF CAREER program. 

ScienceDocs Can Help 

ScienceDocs assists GEO investigators with field research planning, modeling frameworks, interdisciplinary integration, data-management structures, and complete proposal preparation. 
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