The USGS funds research of a wide variety of ecosystems.
The United States Geological Survey is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior. USGS creates local, regional and national maps, including topographic, natural-resource, land-use and climate-change maps, chiefly for civilian use. USGS also conducts a large number of scientific studies in areas of geologic and geographic interest. The agency offers several grant programs in support of its mission.
Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units
USGS funds the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit Program. CESUs are cooperative agreement grants with universities that support research in a variety of areas, including fish migration studies, ecosystem assessments and mapping activities. For example, USGS funds a university in Florida through a CESU to study the role of mangrove forests as fish habitat in the Everglades. Typical funding during 2011 is approximately $100,000 per project.
Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program
USGS typically funds about 100 grants each year for research in reducing the impacts of earthquakes. Most grants range between $15,000 and $75,000, though larger grants are sometimes made. The grant program is relatively unrestricted; grants can be made to universities, businesses, non-profit groups and others.
Regional Climate Science Centers
The Regional Climate Science Center program provides funding to local centers with scientific capabilities that can host USGS and Department of Interior employees for climate-related research. Funding is available to universities, local and state governments, and non-profit groups with the relevant facilities.
Cooperative Research Units
The USGS Cooperative Research Units Program funds collaborative programs between local and state governments, universities, non-profit organizations and USGS. Other federal agencies, such as the Fish and Wildlife Service, also participate in and fund the program. More than 40 CRUs are funded as of 2011. Grants support a wide variety of projects in areas such as geology, geography and ecology.
Unsolicited Proposals
USGS considers grant funding requests related to its mission, even if the requests are not tied to an active grant solicitation. Most unsolicited grants are awarded to universities, governments and non-profit organizations. USGS also considers grant requests from businesses.
Tags: USGS funds, Climate Science, considers grant, Cooperative Ecosystem, Cooperative Ecosystem Studies, Cooperative Research, Cooperative Research Units
