Dear Colleagues,
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is requesting research concepts to address current research priorities described within the Triennial Research Plan for Fiscal Years 2018-2021. The goal of the Triennial Strategic Research Plan is to guide CARB's research funding to produce timely and credible science to inform key decisions needed to meet air quality, climate goals, environmental justice, and public health goals. Rather than identifying individual research projects, the Plan will identify broad research initiatives that will be the focus of funding for the next three years, resulting in several key advantages:
- Improved communication of CARB's long-term vision to better identify co-funding and leveraging opportunities with other research funding organizations, state and federal agencies, and internationally.
- Greater transparency and stakeholder involvement in the planning process.
- More responsive research proposals from universities and other groups.
- Increased flexibility to adjust to budget changes and opportunities.
Submission Requirements: Concept submissions consist of a title and a brief (300 words or less) description of your research concept. The concept description should articulate significance and relevance to CARB's policies and/or programs. It should include a clearly stated research objective, brief description of methods that could or would be employed, and what the final product or deliverable of the research would be. Information on time and funding needed to conduct the research is helpful but not required. Only concepts that clearly demonstrate policy relevance to CARB will be considered.
Research concepts should address one or more of the following research initiatives:
· Health and Environmental Justice (EJ) Research Initiatives
o Sustainable Communities and Health
o Exposure assessment
o Indoor Exposure
o Exposure Mitigation
o EJ - Short-term health exposure
o EJ - Cumulative impacts
o EJ - Identifying Sources
o EJ - Satellite data, toxics, odors
- Air Quality Research Initiatives
o State Implementation Plans - Long range ozone transport
o State Implementation Plans - Sources of PM2.5 in the San Joaquin Valley
o Light Duty Vehicles - Fleet deterioration and high-emitter tracking
o Light Duty Vehicles - Real-world & lab emission discrepancies
o Heavy Duty, off-road, and freight - Emission reductions from off-road and freight
o Heavy Duty, off-road, and freight - Inspection/maintenance feasibility
o Heavy Duty, off-road, and freight - Real-world & lab emission discrepancies
- Climate Initiatives
o Greenhouse Gas Inventories and Mitigation - Track progress & refine emission estimates
o Greenhouse Gas Inventories and Mitigation - Mitigation options
o Sustainable Communities - Track progress & quantify co-benefits
o Sustainable Communities - Evaluate greenhouse gas emissions reductions
- Cross-cutting Research Initiatives
o Natural and Working Lands - Optimal use of organic waste
o Transportation - Potential of advanced technology
o Economics - Market transformation
Submitted concepts will be reviewed to inform which projects may be funded in the 2019-2020 fiscal year. The nature and scope of proposed research ideas that are funded by CARB vary, as does the size and duration of the projects. While there is no minimum or maximum funding amount that may be suggested for the conduct of the proposed research, suggested budgets are expected to be consistent with our historical levels. The Board's research budget is approximately $5 million dollars per year and typically supports 10-25 projects, with two to three year duration. There is no specified minimum or maximum project budget, but typical budgets range from $50,000-$650,000.
If you are interested in applying, please submit your concept by August 24, 2018 at 5:00 PM PST.
If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Pittiglio at (916) 324-0627.
Thank you.
Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)