The NSF has released a program solicitation for Frontiers in Earth System Dynamics. This program is designed to increase our knowledge of how the Earth and surrounding geospatial environment operates as a system, including components like space weather, mantle geodynamics and marine population dynamics. Program goals include developing an integrated understanding of Earth processes and understanding the resilience of the Earth and its subsystems.

Studying the Earth system is essential for astrobiologists trying to understand the history of life on Earth and the potential for Earth-like planets around distant stars. Preliminary proposals are due on October 1, 2010, with full proposals due by March 15, 2011. More information is available here from the NSF.