Dear Colleagues,

The Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education – one of six divisions within the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine – works to advance the frontiers of the behavioral and social sciences and education and their applications to public policy. The goal of this work is to provide independent, evidence-based advice to decision-makers on key questions of national importance, such as: 

• What is the best way to measure levels of poverty in the United States? 
• How do parents, teachers, and policymakers know how well students are learning? 
• How can the public participate most effectively in decision-making about the environment?  
• Why does life expectancy differ greatly among high-income countries, and how can the answer to that question help increase the life expectancy of Americans in the future?

To answer questions such as these, NAS gathers experts from many disciplines who volunteer their services on study committees to provide independent, objective advice to federal agencies, Congress, foundations, and others through publicly issued reports.

On Tuesday, December 3^rd, the Board on Environmental Change and Society (BECS) and the Board on Human-Systems Integration (BOHSI) will host a seminar, “Climate Resilient Smart Cities: Human-Technology Integration”.  The seminar will explore smart city technologies and methodologies that are being designed and deployed to enhance urban climate resilience and benefit all members of communities. BECS mobilizes social and behavioral sciences to identify equitable and effective solutions to the challenges at the intersection of environmental change and society. Such solutions must consider drivers of behavior and decision making at all scales, including individuals, communities, businesses and governments. Critical drivers include societal values, norms, socioeconomic factors, markets, and policies. The Board draws on interdisciplinary expertise to address the social, political, economic and equity dimensions of environmental change. BOHSI provides expert advice on scientific issues to advance understanding of the relationship between humans and their technologies and environments. The board provides new perspectives on theoretical and methodological issues concerning the relationship of individuals and organizations to technology and the environment; identifies critical issues in the design, test, evaluation, and use of new human-centered technologies; and advises sponsors on the research needed to expand the scientific and technical bases for designing technology to support the needs of its users.

To review the event's agenda, please visit the following link: https://sites.nationalacademies.org/cs/groups/dbassesite/documents/webpage/dbasse_196891.pdf

To participate remotely via zoom: https://nasem.zoom.us/j/657520913

Or iPhone one-tap:
US: +16465588656,,657520913# or +16699006833,,657520913#

Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location)：
US: +1 646 558 8656 or +1 669 900 6833 or 888 475 4499 (Toll Free) or 877 853 5257 (Toll Free)

Meeting ID: 657 520 913

Thank you.

Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)

Dear Colleagues,

The California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) is pleased to announce funding Round 3 of its Climate Change Research Program (CCR) with the release of a solicitation totaling $4.75 million. This funding, awarded through a competitive process, will support research projects that:

•           Support and protect vulnerable communities from the impacts of climate change,

•           Accelerate and support transitions to climate smart communities, and/or

•           Integrate land use, conservation, and management into California climate change programs.

The Council approved these research goals at its August 2019 meeting. They represent three of the five Research Priority Areas identified in the Research Program's Research Investment Plan.

In addition, the Council approved adding two optional cross-cutting thematic lenses to encourage research proposals that:

•           Integrate climate vulnerability and adaptation needs with climate mitigation efforts, and/or

•           Address and/or integrate social dimensions of change.

Round 3 of funding for the Climate Change Research Program also includes an additional threshold around meaningful engagement, which requires proposed projects to include at least one funded non-academic partner in the budget, iterative engagement, and an outreach and communications strategy.

With this research funding, SGC aims to address critical policy needs without duplicating other agencies' research efforts, maximize benefits and invest in areas with high potential for near-term impact, and respond to feedback received from both the research community and other stakeholders and community representatives in California. To that end, the Round 3 research focus areas and updated threshold requirement reflect feedback SGC staff have received through stakeholder engagement.

Awards will range from $100,000 - $1,000,000. The SGC requires that researchers complete all of project work by March 31, 2023. For additional information, please review the full solicitation:  http://sgc.ca.gov/programs/climate-research/docs/20191115-CCRP_Round_3_Solicitation.pdf

CCR program staff will hold a webinar in December to respond to any questions about proposal requirements or the application process.  

Application are due by February 12, 2020.

Please contact Vanity Campbell, UC ANR Proposal Development Coordinator should you have interest in applying.

Thank you.

Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)

Dear Colleagues,

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) announced the availability of over $80 million for Forest Health and Fire Prevention projects. CAL FIRE is soliciting applications for projects that work to proactively prevent catastrophic wildfires and restore forests to healthy, functioning ecosystems while also sequestering carbon and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Urban and Community Forestry

Through the California Climate Investments (CCI) Urban & Community Forestry Grant Program, CAL FIRE works to optimize the benefits of trees and related vegetation through multiple-objective projects. These projects result in a net greenhouse gas benefit, and provide environmental services and cost-effective solutions to the needs of urban communities and local agencies. Co-benefits of the projects include increased water supply, clean air and water, reduced energy use, flood and storm water management, recreation, urban revitalization, improved public health, and producing useful products such as bio-fuel, clean energy, and high-quality wood.

Concept Proposals are due at 3:00 PM on November 27, 2019. Submit concept proposals here: https://www.fire.ca.gov/grants/urban-and-community-forestry-grant-programs/urban-and-community-forestry-grant-form/

Invited concept proposals will submit phase 2 applications by a specified deadline.

https://www.fire.ca.gov/grants/urban-and-community-forestry-grant-programs/

Fire Prevention

Through the California Climate Investments (CCI) Fire Prevention Grant Program, CAL FIRE provides funding for local projects and activities that address the risk of wildfire and reduce wildfire potential to forested and forest adjacent communities. Funded activities include: hazardous fuel reduction, fire planning, and fire prevention education with an emphasis on improving public health and safety while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Application Deadline is 3:00 PM on December 4, 2019.

https://fire.ca.gov/grants/fire-prevention-grants/

Forest Health

Through the California Climate Investments (CCI) Forest Health Grant Program, CAL FIRE funds projects that increase the carbon stored in living trees and protect forests, fish and wildlife habitats, native plant species and water. This requires preventing epidemic tree mortality, protecting water quality in upper watersheds, and creating forests consisting of optimally spaced trees that are resilient to disturbances such as wildfire and tree mortality. Forests with these attributes will be able to store carbon for long time periods with a lower risk of loss to wildfire or insects and disease. Project activities funded by CAL FIRE's Forest Health Grant Program may include: Forest fuels reduction; Prescribed fire; Pest management; Reforestation; Biomass utilization; Conservation easements and/or land acquisition through the Forest Legacy Program. Through this program, CAL FIRE also provides funding to identify outstanding questions, prioritize needs, and fund sound scientific studies that support forest landowners, resource agencies, and fire management organizations in California, and to further the goals of the California Forest Carbon Plan, CCI, and AB 32 Global Warming Solutions Act. The Research Program operates in conjunction with the Forest Health Program, but draws from a separate source of funds. The program funds “stand-alone research” projects, where research-related activities are the only activities proposed.

Application Deadline is 3:00 PM on December 6, 2019.

https://www.fire.ca.gov/grants/forest-health-grants/forest-health-grant-application/

Thank you.

Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)

Dear Colleagues,

With the personnel and payroll system move to the Systemwide UCPATH, ANR's Composite Benefit rates have also been updated for Non-Federal fund sources.

As of July 1, 2019, the UC Retirement Plan (UCRP) Supplemental Assessment will be charged as a separate assessment the rate of .77% of UCRP covered salaries for FY19/20 on non-federal fund sources.

The UC ANR Budget Calculator has been updated to include different fringe benefit rates for Federal and Non-Federal funds sources that includes the supplemental assessment on Non-Federal sources. In Cell C5, please identify if the project involves Federal or Federal Flow-thru funds and the fringe benefit rates will be adjusted accordingly. Please visit this link for a copy of the budget calculator: https://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/files/194435.xlsx.

If you have any questions on the budget calculator, please contact Kendra Rose at ktrose@ucanr.edu.  If you have questions on the supplemental assessment, please contact me at knolan@ucanr.edu.

Thank you.

Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)