Observational Technologies Grant Program

Observational Technologies Grant Program is sponsored by Arête Glacier Initiative. This program supports early-stage technologies that improve the measurement and monitoring of glaciers and ice sheets linked to sea-level rise.

It funds research and engineering projects developing new technologies to better understand glacier and ice-sheet behavior, with a focus on innovative sensing systems, remote monitoring platforms, and AI-enabled data acquisition systems for difficult polar environments.

Observational Technologies RFP — Arête Glacier Initaitive Observational Technologies: Deadline: August 31, 2026 at 11:59 pm EDT Funding Notification: Late 2026 At Arête Glacier Initiative, our mission is to reduce the risk of catastrophic sea-level rise caused by ice-sheet instability by improving our ability to monitor, forecast, and respond.

This means filling critical gaps in our understanding of glacier dynamics, improving our ability to project future sea-level rise, and investing in technologies and early-stage research that could one day enable responsible, effective interventions to conserve the ice sheets and slow sea-level rise. Observations are foundational to all the work we do.

The ability to observe key physical processes - and translate these observations into usable products that can be assimilated into ice-sheet and climate models - is crucial for accurately projecting sea-level rise. We need to be able to measure the baseline dynamics of glaciers in Antarctica as well as at analogue field sites, such as those in Alaska or the Alps.

New technologies that improve radar, seismic, GPS/GNSS, temperature, and water-pressure measurements, among others, will make it easier, faster, and cheaper to collect the data required to understand how ice sheets behave and how they may respond to future change. Better forecasts require better observations and persistent monitoring, because forecasts are fundamentally data-driven models.

Moreover, any potential interventions will depend on robust baseline observations; continuous monitoring during testing; as well as long-term monitoring, reporting, and verifying (MRV) after deployment. This RFP supports the development and testing of early-stage observational technologies that improve our ability to measure, monitor, and characterize glacier and ice-sheet processes relevant to sea-level rise.

We invite proposals for ambitious research projects that advance their Technology Readiness Level (TRL) for observational methods and instrumentation for glaciological applications. The goal is to enable new modes of observation - through more precise, durable, distributed, or lower-cost sensors - that can feed directly into next-generation modeling and forecasting efforts.

We invite proposals that will explore novel or significantly improved observational approaches relevant to glacier and ice-sheet systems. This includes, but is not limited to: Improved subglacial access and measurement, including enhanced subglacial pressure, temperature, and hydrology sensors capable of long-term autonomous operation under extreme conditions.

This could also include hot-water access drilling, descending melt probes, or laser/microwave drilling penetration.

New sensing and measurement technologies, including: technologies for measuring seismicity, ice deformation, and thermal evolution in glacial and subglacial environments; drone-mounted radar, lidar, or optical systems for rapid mapping of ice surface and sub-ice structures; compact radar and seismic arrays with low size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) to increase deployment frequency and coverage.

Improved coverage and resolutions, including; approaches to improve the spatial and temporal resolution of observations, especially currently inaccessible regions and seasons; methods to enhance signal-to-noise ratios and measurement precision and accuracy in challenging glacier environments.

Observations at the ice-ocean interface, including: stationary, semi-autonomous or uncrewed systems capable of measuring bathymetry and sub-ice-shelf structure and oceanographic conditions; sensors and platforms for capturing melt rates, circulation, and thermodynamics beneath ice shelves. Other areas of focus are welcome. Please reach out to us at info@areteglaciers.

org if you are wondering about the applicability of your idea. We welcome collaborations across disciplines and institutions. Projects funded under this RFP should fall in one of two categories.

1) Lower-TRL technologies that advance 1 or 2 levels through this funding. Projects starting at higher TRLs must demonstrate a clear advance through this funding that will enable new observations that were impossible before. 2) Adaptation and testing of existing technologies (TRL 8+ in another environment) to polar observations.

This RFP is not intended to fund the deployment of existing polar-rated systems. Expected outcomes may include: Prototype sensors, systems, or platforms demonstrating measurable performance improvements. Technical reports or peer-reviewed publications.

Before applying, please review our Budget Guidelines for a full understanding of allowable budget requests. We allow up to 10% in overhead requests and will not support travel, conferences, or fieldwork. Please note that funds can be accepted either through an institution or as an individual, and applicants are not required to be based in the US.

Applicants may request up to $250,000 for their proposed work, to be used over 1-2 years. Applications will need to complete an application form, including the submission of a CV and a budget justification. We expect to see that the proposers have permission and access to the facilities that they will use.

The proposers will need to articulate how long it will take to perform their work, who will perform the work, and the steps required to perform the experiments. Arête Dual-Anonymous Peer Review Please note that Arête Glacier Initiative uses a Dual-Anonymous Peer Review (DAPR) process to evaluate grant proposals.

Under DAPR, applicants do not know the identities of reviewers, and reviewers are not informed of the identities of applicants. This approach is designed to reduce the influence of cognitive bias and to ensure a fair, objective, and merit-focused review process. Please refer to the guidelines on our Grant page or under this RFP before submitting your application.

The proposals will be reviewed according to the following main criteria: Relevance to the Arête scientific mission and the improvement of observational technologies. The novelty of the proposed work. Feasibility of the research plan and budget.

Evidence of the applicant's ability to carry out the proposed work, including past achievements, relevant publications, and successful execution of similar projects. The proposal solicitation window will close on August 31st, 2026 at 11:59 pm ET, and results will be communicated by Late 2026. We only accept applications that are submitted through the online application.

Please do not email your application. If questions arise, please email info@areteglaciers. org with “Observational Technologies RFP” in the subject line.

We recommend reviewing the additional information below before applying for funding. If, after reviewing the information and materials, you have additional questions, please email info@areteglaciers. org .

Make sure to check back for new and upcoming grant opportunities. Dual-Anonymous Peer Review Instructions