Through this solicitation, the Antarctic Sciences Section (ANT) of the Office of Polar Programs (OPP) funds cutting-edge research that:
- Improves understanding of interactions among the Antarctic region and global systems.
- Improves understanding of the dynamic linkages among processes operating in the Antarctic and Southern Ocean and linkages to global Earth systems, which helps inform decision making regarding environmental change.
- Advances fundamental understanding of Earth systems and the biological, geochemical, and physical processes in the Antarctic and Southern Ocean as drivers and responders to changes on a global scale.
- Expands fundamental knowledge of Antarctic systems, biota, and processes.
- Utilizes the unique characteristics of the Antarctic region as a science observing platform.
- Builds capacity and enhances the US workforce for polar-related science.
ANT encourages and supports research that combines disciplinary perspectives and approaches from other fields, research that uses existing data and samples, and other research not requiring a physical presence in Antarctica.This may include projects conducted at locations outside Antarctica that serve as analogues of Antarctic sites or systems.
This solicitation does not support projects that would need logistical support from the U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP).Proposers requiring USAP logistical support should consult the
Antarctic Sciences web page for current opportunities. Proposers of projects with logistics needs that would be wholly provided by another Antarctic program or organization should contact an ANT Program Officer for guidance.
*Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following:
-Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies and similar organizations located in the U.S. that are directly associated with educational or research activities.
-Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs): Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Special Instructions for International Branch Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal includes funding to be provided to an international branch campus of a US institution of higher education (including through use of sub-awards and consultant arrangements), the proposer must explain the benefit(s) to the project of performance at the international branch campus, and justify why the project activities cannot be performed at the US campus.
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Tribal Nations: An American Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, or community that the Secretary of the Interior acknowledges as a federally recognized tribe pursuant to the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994, 25 U.S.C. ยงยง 5130-5131.
Most applications submitted through Grants.gov need the following. Registration can take several weeks, so start early. The notice lists the exact requirements.
Totals for assistance listing 47.075 from public USASpending.gov data, as of Aug 30, 2026. Past awards do not predict future funding.