Requesting Use of Cutting Edge Observational Facilities Supported by NSF for Research & Education in Atmospheric & Related Sciences

Observational science (including field and laboratory-based research) is critical to improving understanding of the multitude of processes in the Earth's atmosphere. Many observations that are essential to unraveling the mysteries of the atmosphere can only be conducted using expensive platforms and/or highly specialized equipment. To facilitate this science, the NSF Division of Atmospheric & Geospace Sciences (AGS) provides access to a variety of specialized instrumentation and facilities that are supported through the Facilities for Atmospheric Research and Education (FARE) program. The suite of instruments and facilities is a combination of major research facilities (known as the Lower Atmosphere Observing Facilities, LAOF) supported through the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and the University of Wyoming, and facilities funded through the Community Instruments and Facilities (CIF).

The FARE program encourages applications for the use of these cutting-edge observational facilities and wants to lower barriers to access for early career PIs and non-R1 institutions. In this session, an overview of the facilities will be provided along with a synopsis of the request process and the NSF review criteria. The objective of the presentation would be increasing community awareness of FARE supported facilities and helping PIs write successful proposals requesting the use of these facilities.