OeAW Earth System Sciences (ESS)
Call for applications 2015
Call for applications: 17 December 2015
Deadline for submission: 11 April 2016
Contents
1. Summary
2. Objectives
3. Areas of Research
3.1 Extreme Events in the Earth System
3.2 Long-term Research into the Earth as a System
3.3 The Extent to Which Changes can be Predicted and Shaped
3.4 Principles
4. Implementation
4.1 Principles
4.2 Application Process
4.3 Selection Process
4.4 Project Support and Evaluation
5. Timetable
1. Summary
The aim of Earth System Sciences (ESS), an initiative of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW), funded by the BMWFW(Austrian Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy), is research into Earth as an integrated system. Supplementing the existing research portfolio, it funds interdisciplinary projects, long-term research projects and projects on as yet barely studied topics, to which a pioneering scientific role can be attributed. Under the general heading "Changes in the Earth as a System", the call for applications for 2015 is focusing on developing profiles and combining resources to research three relevant topics: extreme events in the Earth system; long-term research into the Earth as a system and the extent to which changes can be predicted. Particular attention should be paid to the impact on the functioning and performance of ecosystems and to developing measures for adaptation and mitigation. The research projects must be integrated into interdisciplinary research into mountainous regions (e.g. the macro-regions[1] the Alpine or the Danube region, or other similar areas).It is expected that the projects will deal with the interactions between subsystems, and, as far as possible, will contribute to bilateral agreements, collaborate with existing international research programmes, contribute to the development of Austrian universities and Austria as a research area, and – in the case of long-term research –make use of the existing long-term research facilities and infrastructure.
This call for applications is intended to assist researchers at the start of their career. Submissions will therefore only be accepted from researchers who were awarded a doctorate not more than 8 years prior to the deadline for submissions.[2]
2. Objectives
Safeguarding our natural resources is a central task of social behaviour. In view of current findings about how the Earth is changing, the need to safeguard our natural resources is becoming increasingly urgent. Globalisation, economic development, dramatically increased mobility, global change, demographic and economic changes all have an effect on the Earth system, from a small-scale local level right up to a global scale.
The objective of the Earth System Sciences (ESS) initiative is to research "Earth as an integrated system" with its physical, chemical, hydrological, biological, social, technological and economic processes and the interactions between them. Since some of the aforementioned processes and mechanisms are already being researched within individual disciplines in existing research programmes, the task of the ESS programme, in supplementing the existing research tools, is to fund projects which demonstrate the following features:
- interdisciplinary, or (where practicable) transdisciplinary[3] projects which investigate the interactions between various components of the Earth system, combining methods from a range of disciplines;
- long-term research projects which are capable of investigating the long-term dynamicbehaviour of the various components of the Earth system, and therefore require observation of these over long periods;
- high-risk/high-potential projects which target areas that are receiving little attention at present and can therefore be attributed a pioneering role.
In this way the ESS initiative promotes networking and collaboration between the individual disciplines and research groups. ESS forms an interface between science in Austria and international research and is directly involved in international research programmes and collaborations through its three national committees, "Geo/Hydro-Sciences", "Global Change" and "Man and the Biosphere"[4].
3. Areas of Research
The overarching topic is "Changes in Earth as a System". In terms of the content, the research programme should fit with the Earth Systems Sciences, including all its aspects from geology, through hydrology and meteorology to biology and the human, economic and social sciences, linked by the processes of global change and the challenges which society must face as a result of these. In order to develop profiles and combine resources, the call for applications for 2015 is targeting three particularly relevant topics within this broader, overarching theme:
- Extreme events,
- Long-term research,
- The extent to which changes can be predicted and shaped.
The research areas listed above are based on the general topics "Dynamic Planet", "Global Development" and "Transformations towards Sustainability" from the new "Future Earth" global research programme:
3.1 Extreme Events in the Earth System
The research topic “Extreme Events in the Earth System”encompasses, among other things, the climate, the water cycle, biodiversity and geological and geophysical processes on the Earth's surface and right through to its core, as well as the social, economic and technological processes that we need in order to cope with these extreme events. The system dynamics are usually largely determined by such extreme events, which steer development in various directions. Extreme climatic or geological events (such as floods, land movements, earthquakes, temperature increases, droughts) play a key role in the development of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems as well as in the development of economic and social systems. They cause changes in population, households and living arrangements, and the areas inhabited by humans, which can also be the trigger for subsequent changes in the local ecosystem. Research must be undertaken into the dynamics of extreme events in the Earth system, the processes which contribute to or set them in motion, and/or how they interact with social and economic systems.
Particular importance is accorded to the resilience of natural processes, and also to the vulnerability of technical, social and economic system components to internal or external disruptions caused by extreme events, the scale of which can vary greatly in terms of time and the area affected. This topic includes the concept of ecosystem services, which is of vital importance in evaluating the role of extreme events in the Earth system.
3.2 Long-term Research into the Earth as a System
Long-term research into the Earth as a system encompasses, among other things, the climate, the water cycle, biodiversity, geological and geophysical processes and the economic and social system. These scientifically measurable phenomena interact significantly with social developments, such as globalisation or demographic change. So, for example, eco-physiological phenomena and those relating to population dynamics are closely linked to social, political and economic processes of regional development and land use at the level of the ecosystem and landscape. Long-term developments, as defined by the LTER and LTSER concepts, are historic and future changes which occur over periods ranging from decades through to centuries, or with reference to geological time frames, such as the environmental dynamics during the Holocene era. Short-term process dynamics can significantly impact upon these long-term developments through non-linear effects. The scale of the area over which long-term processes can be observed in the Earth as a system can range from small "outdoor laboratories", via hydrological drainage areas, geoparks, biosphere parks and socio-economic regions through to units defined by the tectonic plates.
A significant component of this topic is the investigation and monitoring of interlinked processes, in particular the relationships between natural and social processes. High quality research methods suited to long-term research and the application of methods from empirical social research are especially important for this topic, in order to be able to draw new conclusions about the long-term dynamics and their interdependencies. The central aspect is the identification and analysis of patterns in attitudes and activities in respect of or within the system components. The actions of local stakeholders and the planning-related effects on these components are a central aspect of long-term research into the Earth as a system. This also affects the question of the extent to which changes can be predicted.
3.3 The Extent to Which Changes can be Predicted and Shaped
The research topic “The Extent to Which Changes can be Predicted and Shaped” not only encompasses the climate, the water cycle, biodiversity and geological and geophysical processes, but also, in particular, the social and economic processes to which they are closely linked. In contrast to the other two research areas included in this call for applications, namely extreme events and long-term research, the focus of attention here is on the extent to which changes can be predicted, that is to say on the quantification, or at least estimation, of future process dynamics, and, closely related to this, how we can shape such developments, or in other words, which, and to what extent, social, political and socio-economic processes are key to these developments and how these can be used in a targeted and efficient manner in order to achieve socially defined goals. In the case of non-linear dynamic systems, identical starting conditions can result in very different developments. Non-linearity is a feature of many subsystems ranging from aquatic ecosystems through to social governance structures.
The decisive factor is how we deal with incomplete, uncertain and contradictory knowledge. The uncertainties associated with processes which are determined by forecasts can be assessed through ensemble spreads or comparisons with data collected from the observation of similar existing system states, comparisons with various hydrological regions or different economic and social conditions. In respect of uncertain social developments we can also adopt transdisciplinary approaches, such as participative scenario processes. As for the other areas covered in this call for applications, the important thing here is a combination of various approaches from individual disciplines, in order to arrive at a better understanding of the interactions between the relevant subsystems within the Earth system. Direct relevance to the other two topics would, for example, result from research into the effects of extreme events or long-term developments on the extent to which trends and processes can be predicted.
3.4 Principles
The research projects must be integrated into interdisciplinary research into mountainous regions (e.g. the Alpine or the Danube macro-regions or other similar areas).
The research projects for which applications are made must
- deal with interactions between subsystems of the Earth system; contribute to bi and multilateral agreements, such as the Memorandum of Understanding to create a Swiss-Austrian alliance for the promotion of research for the sustainable development of Europe's mountainous regions ( or the Letter of Intent Austria – Slovenia – Switzerland – South Tyrol;
- contribute to international research programmes and strategies;
- support the development of Austrian universities and Austria as a research area (inter-institutional collaborations);
- and, in the case of a long-term research projects, make use of existing long-term research facilities and infrastructure (e.g. LTER sites, biospheres, geoparks, national parks, experimental drainage areas).
The projects must take account of the current state of the art in the relevant fields of research, and must also acquire innovative insights; the methodology must meet the currently applicable scientific standards and the project must be geared towards finding solutions to problems.
4. Implementation
4.1 Principles
Earth System Sciences (ESS) is coordinated by the Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW). For this, three national committees for the areas Geo/Hydro-Sciences, Global Change and Man and the Biosphere (MAB) have been established. These national committees monitor the Austrian research landscape, analyse its strengths and areas in which knowledge is deficient and, in collaboration with the ESS Advisory Board (ESS-AB), use the insights acquired from this to determine new areas of focus for research. The ESS-AB advises the NCs, the OeAW and the BMWFW on the development of the initiative, manages the award process, monitors ongoing projects and carries out an evaluation of the closing report. The administration supports the national committees and the ESS-AB in carrying out the administration necessary for each of these tasks. Reviews are provided by independent experts, based on scientific quality criteria included in the objectives of the call for applications.
4.2 Application Process
Project applications are to be drawn up in accordance with the standards for international research. Applications must include a statement as to which of the national committees (Geo/Hydro-Sciences, Global Change and Man and the Biosphere) the application is primarily (and, where appropriate, secondarily) directed to.
Submissions will only be accepted from researchers who were awarded a doctorate (date of award) not more than 8 years prior to the deadline for submissions. In calculating the time that has elapsed since conferral, account shall be taken of time out to raise children (three years for each child); military or civil service; time spent on relevant training, e.g. clinical training for medicine, and prolonged serious illnesses which have necessitated a career break.
The applicant(s) must be employed by an Austrian research institution. Collaboration with international partners is welcomed, but the project leader must be based in Austria. A total of not more than 20% of the funding may be allocated to foreign partners; allocation of funding to foreign project partners must be justified.
The scope of the project must not exceed €300,000.00. The duration shall be a maximum of three years. Where the project is planned as a long-term study that will take more than three years, this anticipated duration must be stated in the project application. As projects can only be approved for a maximum of three years for budgetary reasons, potential long-term studies must be planned in such a way that the project can provide analysable results at the end of a three year period. The maximum sum available for applications for one year pilot projects is €50,000.00. In order to facilitate an international review process, the application must be submitted in English.
In order to submit an application, the application form available from the OeAW homepage must be used. The application must include a detailed description of the scientific issue involved, the potential for innovation, the methodology and a detailed budget. Documentation demonstrating the expertise of the project team which is submitting the application (CV, list of publications) must be provided.
Any enquiries, as well as any criticisms or suggestions for improvement should be directed to the address given below.
Contact and address for submissions: / Dr. Günter KöckAustrian Academy of Sciences
International Programs
Dr. Ignaz Seipel-Platz 2, 1010 Wien
Tel. +43 1 51581-2771
Application form
4.3 Selection Process
All applications submitted will be subjected to a formal evaluation. Applications which do not meet the formal criteria outlined in the call for applications will be excluded from the remainder of the process. All applications which meet the formal criteria will then be submitted to the ESS-AB, based on allocation to the relevant NC programme stated in the application. Reviews will be provided by international experts chosen by the ESS-AB. At least two reviews will be required for each application.
The final selection of those projects which are recommended for funding will be made ina meeting of the ESS-AB. The final decision on the award of funding will be made by the OeAW Presiding Committee in consultation with the BMWFW. Applicants will be informed of the decision as soon as possible. In accordance with standard international procedures, a factual justification will be provided to support the decision. Anonymous excerpts from the reviews will be provided.
4.4 Project Support and Evaluation
Once it is halfway through, the project will be evaluated by the ESS-AB at an annual workshop. If the project is found not to have made sufficient progress, the board can recommend that payment of subsequent instalments be delayed until such time as the quality has been improved. The project participants must submit a closing report not later than three months after the end of the project. The report will be assessed by the ESS-AB and selected expert reviewers. If deficiencies in quality are identified, these must be rectified within three months. Payment of the final instalment of the funding shall only be made following final approval by the ESS-AB and the selected reviewers.
In accordance with international standards, it is expected that the project leader will publish the results of the research in internationally respected journals. These journals must meet the necessary quality standards through use of a peer review system.
5. Timetable
The following timetable (table 2) apples for the 2015 call for applications for the Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW) initiative Earth System Sciences (ESS).
17 December 201511 April 2016 / Call for applications
Deadline for submissions (date of e-mail)
July 2016 / Decision on award of funding
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[1]The macro-regional EU strategies create a new framework for collaboration within Europe.Macro-regional strategies relate to a macro-region, which the European Commission defines in general as "an area covering a number ofadministrative regions but with sufficient issues in common to justify a single strategic approach." (EC COM(2009) 248/3). A macro-region is thus defined by common themes, problems and challenges which cannot be solved by an individual nation or region, but require cross-border collaboration.
[2]The decisive date shall be the date on which the doctorate was conferred.In calculating the time that has elapsed since conferral, account shall be taken of time out to raise children (three years for each child); military or civil service; time spent on relevant training, e.g. clinical training for medicine, and prolonged serious illnesses which have necessitated a career break.