Infrastructure Area – Antarctic Research with Comparative Investigations in Arctic Ice Areas (SPP 1158)
In December 2023, the Senate of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) decided to extend the Infrastructure Priority Programme “Antarctic Research with Comparative Investigations in Arctic Ice Areas” (SPP 1158) for a further six years from 2025 to 2030. From autumn 2024 onwards, proposals can be submitted annually as before for a funding period of up to three years.
The polar regions play a key role in the global climate, and interdisciplinary approaches such as those in this Priority Programme make a particular contribution to understanding them. The Priority Programme ensures that German researchers in the natural sciences can participate in international polar research, especially in the early stages of their careers. Above all, however, it gives researchers at German universities access to Antarctica and enables them to use the necessary infrastructure provided by the partner institutions.
In the current programme phase (2025–2030), research work will focus on four overarching Antarctic research topics:
- Dynamics of Climate System Components
- Response to Environmental Change
- Connectivity and Exchange in Polar Systems
- Improved Understanding of Polar Processes and Mechanisms
These overarching research topics are underpinned by over 60 specific research questions and will help to clarify the role of Antarctica in the earth system. Projects with geological questions should focus on the recent history of Antarctica (not older than about 34 million years).
Coordination Workshop
The annual coordination workshop of this Priority Programme is aimed at researchers from German universities, universities of applied sciences and research institutions and will take place from 29 September to 1 October 2024 in Cologne, Germany. The coordination workshop is mandatory for applicants who wish to apply for a new project in the Priority Programme in November 2024 or submit a renewal proposal (oral 5-minute presentation), as well as for those currently funded under the Priority Programme (poster presentation).
The Coordination Office has sent out by e-mail the SPP newsletter with the most important information on the upcoming coordination workshop in Cologne, for which you can still register. All information on registration for the coordination workshop can also be found on the SPP website (see link below). The deadline for registration for the workshop is 10 August 2024.
Formal Requirements and Proposal Submission
Proposals must be written in English and submitted to the DFG by 15 November 2024. Please note that proposals can only be submitted via elan, the DFG’s electronic proposal processing system. To enter a new proposal, go to Proposal Submission – New Project/Draft Proposal – Priority Programmes and select “SPP 1158/23 Infrastructure area – Antarctic Research with comparative investigations in Arctic ice areas” from the current list of calls.
When preparing your proposal, please review the programme guidelines (DFG form 50.05, section B) and follow the proposal preparation instructions (DFG form 54.01, both see links below). Please note that the forms have been recently updated and only proposals based on the current template can be accepted.
Applicants must register in elan prior to submitting a proposal to the DFG. Applicants who are not yet registered must do so by 4 November 2024 to submit a proposal under this call; registration requests received after that date cannot be considered. Successful registration will be automatically confirmed, usually by the next working day. Note that the appropriate Priority Programme call has to be selected both during the registration and the proposal submission process.
The DFG strongly welcomes proposals from researchers of all genders and sexual identities, from different ethnic, cultural, religious, ideological or social backgrounds, from different career stages, types of universities and research institutions, and with disabilities or chronic illness. With regard to the subject-specific focus of this call, the DFG encourages female researchers in particular to submit proposals.
Further Information
Website for information about the SPP Antarctic Research:
The elan system can be accessed at:
DFG forms 50.05 and 54.01 can be downloaded at:
Content issues related to the Priority Programme can be addressed to its coordinators:
- Professor Dr. Ulf Karsten, Universität Rostock, Institut für Biowissenschaften, Lehrstuhl Angewandte Ökologie und Phykologie, Tel. +49 381 498-6090, ulf.karsten@uni-rostock.d
Questions on the DFG proposal process can be directed to:
Programme contact:
- Dr. Ismene Seeberg-Elverfeldt, phone +49 228 885-2825, ismene.seeberg-elverfeldt@dfg.d
Administrative contact:
- Ute Bennerscheid, phone +49 228 885-2455, ute.bennerscheid@dfg.d