The National Science Foundation has invested over $20 million in 25 projects seeking to develop and implement advanced artificial intelligence technologies in geosciences.
Awarded through the Collaborations in Artificial Intelligence and Geosciences—or CAIG—program, the grants are meant to expand access to education and training opportunities for using AI capabilities in geosciences research, the NSF said on Friday.
According to Wendy Graham, the director of the research, innovation, synergies and education division at NSF, the selected CAIG projects will provide cross-training for AI and geoscience knowledge and bolster the United States’ capacity to study and analyze extreme weather, solar activity and earthquake hazards.
The program will enable the 25 research teams to unlock geoscience questions and promote collaborations between geoscientists and AI experts, Graham added.
Under the initiative, researchers will employ AI techniques, such as generative AI and surrogate models, to better understand complex Earth systems.
The research teams will work to enhance the use of geoscience models, improve forecasting and mitigation of natural hazards, increase understanding of earthquake dynamics, and improve natural resource management and decision-making to address climate change, NSF noted.
The selected projects aim to achieve needed advancements in AI, cyberinfrastructure and advanced computing, which the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 identifies as critical technology areas for the United States.