The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will provide $85 million for new observational, modeling, and simulation studies to improve the accuracy of community-scale climate research and inform equitable climate solutions to minimize adverse impacts caused by climate change.

According to a DOE announcement released March 23, 2022, supported research will focus on three tightly related scientific topics—atmospheric and environmental observations; modeling of climate change and impacts across urban regions; and simulating the climate benefits of deploying climate solutions and technologies in historically underserved communities across the U.S.

• View Announcement: DE-FOA-0002581 (PDF).
• Informational Webinar: Noon ET on Wednesday, March 30: Register here. 
• Deadline for Pre-Applications: Tuesday, April 19, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. ET.
• Deadline for Applications: Thursday, June 16, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

“Urban regions are expected to face some of the most adverse effects of climate change, such as extreme heat and flooding,” said Geraldine Richmond, DOE Under Secretary for Science and Innovation. “Establishing Integrated Field Laboratories (IFLs) in urban regions will enable scientists and local communities to work closely together to better understand the factors that contribute to urban climate impacts and to develop equitable adaptation solutions informed by science.”

Supported research will improve scientific understanding of how climate change affects microclimates and micro-environments across all types of urban communities; how biogeochemical cycling and atmospheric composition vary across urban regions; and how equitable solutions may be identified as a means to minimize impacts, especially on the most disadvantaged urban communities. Teams of scientists will combine experimental, observational, modeling, and simulation research to unravel complex process interactions and improve scientists’ ability to understand urban climate change.  

Urban IFLs will require multidisciplinary teams that bring together the skills and talents of investigators from multiple research institutions. Academic and nonprofit research institutions, national laboratories, other federal agencies, and the private sector are all eligible to apply as Urban IFL team members. The lead organization of each proposed Urban IFL team must be an academic institution or a national laboratory. Locally based team members and minority-serving institutions (MSI) are expected to have significant roles in each Urban IFL.

Funding is to be awarded competitively, based on peer review, and is expected to be in the form of five-year awards. The Department anticipates that $17 million will be available for this program in Fiscal Year 2022, pending the availability of funds. 

The DOE Funding Opportunity Announcement, issued by the Office of Biological and Environmental Research within the Department’s Office of Science, can be found here. An informational webinar will be held on Wednesday, March 30, at 12:00 p.m. ET. Registration for the webinar can be found here.