As part of the Presidential initiative on climate and sustainability, the Office of the Vice Provost of Climate and Sustainability has launched a call for proposals from Harvard University ladder faculty for the new Climate Research Clusters Program. A synopsis and information on the consultative proposal process can be found below:

Office of the Vice Provost for Climate & Sustainability Climate Research Clusters Program

Concept Paper Deadline: May 20, 2022

Revised Concept Paper Deadline: July 30, 2022

Full Proposal Deadline: September 15, 2022

Award Amount: Up to $600,000 per research cluster, per year, for a period of up to three years

Eligible Applicants: Proposals are invited from Harvard University ladder faculty

The purpose of the Climate Research Clusters Program is to produce useful and impactful solutions to climate problems. Research clusters are intended to be ambitious, interdisciplinary, cross-School efforts to take on climate problems that are narrow enough to ensure that concrete solutions emerge, but broad enough that the solutions represent significant progress in meeting the world’s climate challenge. Research clusters will comprise Harvard faculty, post-docs, and students, and they may include visiting scholars, practitioners, and external collaborators. Cluster activities should include external engagement, for example, through conferences and/or convenings. The final result should be a concrete proposal or proposals to address an aspect of the climate crisis based on the new knowledge that the research cluster produces.

The Office of the Vice Provost for Climate & Sustainability has created a consultative process to facilitate the development of strong proposals to the program. By engaging in this process, prospective Principal Investigators (PIs) will be able to consult the Office, including its Faculty Advisory Committee, in honing their concept proposals, and to obtain assistance in identifying prospective collaborators. In addition, researchers who are interested in joining a cluster will have the opportunity to learn about proposed projects and to connect with prospective PIs. More information on the consultative process, including Q&A session dates and related events, can be found in the program FAQs. In addition to the consultative process, the OVPCS has created a Slack workspace to enable communication among members of the community who wish to participate in a climate research cluster.

Questions may be directed to climate@harvard.edu.