Crosscutting Activities in Materials Research

Crosscutting Activities in Materials Research (XC) is a department within the Division of Materials Research (DMR) which focuses on crosscutting activities that stimulate diversity and inclusion, international cooperation, and education with an emphasis on experiential learning at REU/RET Sites. It also supports community engagement events like summer schools, institutes, workshops, and conferences that extend beyond just one or two programs in the DMR.

One of XC's functions is to manage projects that intersect with multiple DMR programs or are co-funded by it, with the aim of increasing the visibility of such projects. XC encourages proposals for projects that do not fit elsewhere at NSF but are relevant for the materials research and education community. Please note that a formal proposal must be prepared according to the Special Guidelines for Conference Proposals listed in the Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG).

Please note that XC does not manage traditional research proposals that are suitable for submission to topical or other programs in DMR. Before preparing a full proposal costing over $50,000, applicants are advised to speak to one of the Program Directors for XC and submit a draft of a one-page NSF summary.

The XC Department replaced the Office of Special Programs in Materials Research (OSP) in 2016. It now handles activities related to diversity and inclusion, including those aimed at broadening participation of underrepresented groups. Supplements and special cases are coordinated by the Director of the original award.

In the international sphere, XC continues to support collaborative projects with Israel since the issuance of a Dear Colleague Letter in 2016. By contrast, the International Material Institutes (IMI) and Materials World Network (MWN) initiatives were discontinued in 2014.

Regarding education, XC welcomes innovative ideas particularly in disciplines involving materials science/engineering, solid-state and materials chemistry, condensed matter physics, or materials data science/analytics. It is particularly interested in outreach programs and materials education proposals targeting underserved populations such as K-12 students in rural communities.

XC also coordinates the REU and RET Sites activities within DMR and manages supplements to research proposals related to research experiences for undergraduates and teachers. For more information on this, you can contact reu.dmr@nsf.gov.