Special Projects

The Science Program explores additional areas where we can drive significant scientific advances beyond our major core investments described above.

Approximately 15 percent of our portfolio is dedicated to grants that support unique and promising research opportunities in a broad range of scientific disciplines. Examples of projects and portfolios that the Program has supported through this funding include:

• The first international expedition to assess the impact of radiation released into the Pacific Ocean after the 2011 tsunami in Japan
• Development of a remote sensing system that can accurately identify the chemical, structural and taxonomic composition of tropical forests at previously unprecedented scale and detail
• A portfolio of grants to support the creation of an Earthquake Early Warning System (EEW) capable of providing robust advance warning—ranging from tens of seconds to minutes—of the size, extent, and timing of imminent earthquakes. These EEW grants will generate fundamental scientific knowledge about the physics of earthquake rupture, which can then be integrated into a prototype system to assess the location and magnitude of earthquake sources, rapidly predict rupture dynamics, fault segmentation pathways, and subsequent shaking, tens of seconds to minutes before damaging shaking actually begins. Learn more about the research and plans for this system prototype. 
• Development of new methods to better recover ancient DNA for research that will lead to a deeper understanding of evolutionary history
• A portfolio of grants to build an understanding around what enables and sustains scientific curiosity and problem solving in children to cultivate a lifelong interest in science. We want to improve society’s understanding of the inherent value of science and contribute to a more informed public that appreciates science. These efforts synergize with our investments in science and technology museums in the San Francisco Bay Area.