NSF  

Interesting post on the Nature News Blog on the first meeting of a Global Science Council - what it may become is unclear, but discussion of merit [peer] review.  A number of principles were identified, as follows:

• Expert Assessment -- Collectively, reviewers should have the appropriate knowledge and expertise to assess the proposal both at the level of the broad context of the research field(s) to which it contributes and with respect to the specific objectives and methodology. Reviewers should be selected according to clear criteria.
• Transparency -- Decisions must be based on clearly described rules, procedures and evaluation criteria that are published a priori. Applicants should receive appropriate feedback on the evaluation of their proposal.
• Impartiality -- Proposals must be assessed fairly and on their merit. Conflicts of interest must be declared and managed according to defined, published processes.
• Appropriateness -- The review process should be consistent with the nature of the call, with the research area addressed, and in proportion to the investment and complexity of the work.
• Confidentiality -- All proposals, including related data, intellectual property and other documents, must be treated in confidence by reviewers and organizations involved in the review process.
• Integrity and Ethical Consideration -- Ethics and integrity are paramount to the review process 

Article in Nature on the launch of NEON in the USA - The National Ecological Observatory Network, funded by NSF. Only just starting, but worth looking at the site and their science strategy.  /....More

Number of Grand Challenges identified:

• Climate Change: Understanding and predicting climate variability, including directional climate change and its impacts on natural and human systems
• Land Use: Understanding and predicting changes in land use and land cover that are critical to biogeochemical cycling, ecosystem functioning and services, and human welfare.Invasive Species: Understanding and forecasting the distribution of biological invasions and their impacts on ecological processes and ecosystem services.
• Biogeochemistry: Understanding and predicting the impacts of human activities on the Earth’s major biogeochemical cycles.
• Biodiversity: Understanding the regulation of biological diversity and its functional consequences for ecosystems.Ecohydrology: Understanding and predicting changes in freshwater resources and the environment.
• Infectious Diseases: Understanding and predicting the ecological and evolutionary aspects of infectious diseases and of the interactions among pathogens, hosts/receptors, and ecosystems.

Graham has pointed to the NSF Dimensions of Biodiversity campaign - 14 new grants looking at ecosystems with an interesting emphasis on micro elements - evolution, services and diversity.