I'm thrilled to be in Hawaii -- land of welcome – aloha– and natural beauty. Also, a land with a "dynamic" history. The milestones of history are often associated with change and upheaval. Science and engineering may be the agents of change, the problem solvers, and the insurance that fortunes will rise, rather than fall, in changing times. In today's rapidly evolving environment, America’s well-being depends more than ever on a robust science and engineering enterprise. Every state and territory is needed to participate in that enterprise. EPSCOR was designed to raise the S&E research capacity in underrepresented parts of the nation and, a testament to the program’s success, the competition is heating up. So the fiery volcano pictured here is a good analog.
NSF core values
Visionary
Dedicated to excellence
Broadly inclusive
Accountable
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A nation's grounding in fundamental research and education is critical to the success of its science and engineering enterprise. This is the realm in which the National Science Foundation operates. The President’s American Competitiveness Initiative emphasized that the nation's ability to compete depend on a strong foundation of discovery and innovation, and a workforce that excels in a global-oriented, tech-focused economy. NSF is a lead agency in carrying out ACI. Our strategic plan provides guideposts. The plan emphasizes NSF's core values: visionary, dedicated to excellence, broadly inclusive, and accountable. These values are all centrally reflected in EPSCoR. The third core value is especially a cornerstone of EPSCOR—Broadening participation in the science and engineering enterprise to include every state, territory, and region, and the diversity of talent diffused throughout our population.
The EPSCoR equation
Vision: 2020 workshop
5 arc minPictured: Individual rods and cones, artificially colored
to indicate the color of light sensitivity.
Adaptive Optics: Looking into the Eye
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The EPSCoR equation begins with vision. Our common vision is to build science and engineering capacity among the research and educational institutions of every region. The EPSCoR 2020 workshop (June 2006) identified several recommendations for sharpening our vision for the program. NSF and the EPSCoR jurisdictions are carrying them out.
Strategic S&T plans
Goals
Timelines
Commitments
+ Metrics
__________________
Catalyst for progress
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The 2020 workshop identified S&T strategic plans as a fundamental tool for focusing in on how a state or region will transform itself. What will drive the economy? How can everyone win? By working with governors, EPSCoR serves as a catalyst for identifying research and education goals that support economic objectives. Strategic plans need specific goals, timelines, commitments, and metrics for measuring progress. Kentucky's strategic plan was launched in 1998. During the next four years (1999-2003), federal R&D obligations to the state rose 84%.[1] More on metrics later. � --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] As reported in "EPSCoR Helps Boost Federal R&D Obligations and Expenditures for Kentucky Universities and Colleges," article dated July 17, 2007. See http://www.kynsfepscor.org/success.html#fedRD
Infrastructure & instrumentation
Expertise + facilities + instruments = capacity
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The vision for building science and engineering capacity includes a robust infrastructure of research institutions, educational programs, facilities, and instrumentation. This requires substantial investment of fiscal and human resources by federal, state, and territorial governments. The Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII) awards are the cornerstone of EPSCoR. West Virginia received its first RII award from NSF in 2002. Last year, I joined Governor Joe Manchin to announce a second RII award, and matching state funds, to support the state's growing industry in biometrics and identification technology. The 2020 workshop identified the need for more flexible RII awards, and award duration of 5 years. NSF expects to award the first 5-year RII grants in 2008. Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) grants are also important for building capacity. This year, NSF MRI grants have funded many research and educational tools in EPSCoR states and territories -- from a superconducting magnet coil for the University of Mississippi, to upgrades for a high-performance computer at Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico.
Integration across NSF & the nation
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The second variable in the EPSCoR equation is integration. The ultimate goal of programs like EPSCoR is to integrate institutions in all regions into mainstream U.S. science and engineering. We encourage NSF staff to reach out to all regions, and incorporate the principle of broad-based participation and access into all programs. To strengthen these activities throughout the agency, we moved EPSCoR into the NSF Director's office. The 2020 workshop identified access to cyberinfrastructure as an area that NSF will be especially vigilant. We also moved the cyberinfrastructure effort to the director's office, because it has become integral to every NSF program, including EPSCoR, and every field of science and engineering.
EPSCoR
Cyberinfrastructure
Polymers
Genomics
Nanotechnology
Engineering
Oceans
Education
Biometrics
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EPSCoR provides seed money intended to help institutions/regions build capacity in new areas of research, strengthening their ability to compete for federal support, jobs, and prosperity. This is consistent with the original intent of EPSCoR as an experimental program and test bed for new strategies. NSF's bottoms-up process creates opportunities for getting into new and emerging fields that provide a highly competitive research capacity. We encourage those eligible for EPSCoR to participate in a variety of NSF workshops and pursue a variety of opportunities for partnering with NSF. A few weeks ago (October 2007), a cyberinfrastructure workshop was held in Kentucky, a state which has led the way in partnering with industry to build e-communities for research and education. More than 25 EPSCoR states and territories gave presentations about their diverse programs and capabilities -- a wealth of information and models. This is an excellent example of helping each other grow and flourish -- by sharing information on how to identify and participate in frontier research and infrastructure.
Partnerships: resources and networks
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The third ingredient in the equation for an EPSCoR region’s success is partnerships. Networking and partnering leverage intellectual, financial, and physical resources. Co-funding by federal and state government compounds the return on both investments. Research and education centers foster multi-disciplinary partnerships and sharing of expensive equipment. EPSCoR grants have launched several centers; however, EPSCoR-eligible institutions also pursue other funding. A brand new Center for Nanobiotechnology Research is being funded by HRD’s CREST program at Alabama State University, in partnership with four other universities. Partnerships with business and industry help transform the results of research into benefits for manufacturers, producers, and consumers. Ten years ago, EPSCoR support allowed scientists in Wyoming to develop new computational tools for detecting natural gas deposits. Through partnerships with industry, the technology was refined and has enjoyed phenomenal success. A region where only trace amounts of natural gas had been detected previously has proved to be a rich deposit, where 1,000 wells are operating. When partners collectively apply their resources to a common goal, they all win -- because the results benefit all segments of society.
Measuring progress
Broader participation
Expertise in emerging fields
Virtual partnerships
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With a strong foundation of Vision, Integration, and Partnerships, solving the EPSCoR equation should be a simple mathematical exercise. But measuring progress is never easy. The 2020 Workshop helped define metrics, or benchmarks, against which EPSCoR jurisdictions can measure progress in building broad-based science and engineering capacity. I'll discuss three of these benchmarks.
Broadening participation
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Benchmark for progress: Broadening participation across regions, institutions, and diversity of population. We have all come to recognize the economic value of partnerships that employ a diversity of perspectives. In Hawaii, the government -- working with industry and academic leaders -- is actively working to integrate the traditional wisdom and cultures of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders into science and engineering research and education. EPSCoR collaborations with tribal and community colleges serve as catalysts.
Expertise in emerging fields
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Benchmark for progress: Building expertise in emerging fields, where it is easiest to develop a competitive edge. The Center for Semiconductor Physics in Nanostructures, at the University of Arkansas and University of Oklahoma, successfully re-competed in 2005 for another 6 years of NSF funding. The center is participating in the global race to shape the next generation of electronics through the control of materials at the nano-scale. Materials science at this scale is in its infancy -- but developing rapidly.
Virtual communities
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Benchmark for progress: Using cyberinfrastructure to build virtual partnerships and gain remote access to facilities and instrumentation. The Internet allows sharing of data, pooling of expertise, and access to big science equipment located in other areas. Louisiana's new RII award will help develop the state's cyberinfrastructure for conducting science and engineering, using the latest optical networking technologies. The RII award, part of a larger statewide initiative to build IT resources, will serve as a test bed for closing the gap in information technology between EPSCoR jurisdictions and non-EPSCoR areas.
It all adds up to…competitiveness!
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All of these ingredients add up to a record of successes that have built capacity, created jobs, and generated a competitive edge for institutions and regions. Here in Hawaii we have all seen your state’s EPSCoR successes and the tremendous potential for growth and development in your universities and research labs. In my talk, I've mentioned examples of EPSCoR activities from eleven other EPSCoR states and territories – activities and accomplishments that you may not find quite as familiar. I could easily describe dozens of accomplishments, drawn from every jurisdiction! But I would be here all day and you would have to look at dozens of slides, because there are so many success stories.
PRIORITIES--STRATEGY--PROGRAMS
MEETINGSACADEMIA, INDUSTRY
CONCEPTS IDEAS
WORK- SHOPS
NSF “bottoms-up” process
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Instead, I would like to hear from you. NSF is committed to a bottoms-up process -- inviting the community to tell us what's new and exciting and how NSF can serve the community, through discussions and meetings such as this one. The EPSCoR 2020 workshop and cyberinfrastructure workshop were examples of how you, as a community, can direct NSF's future activities. Now, you have a chance to give us additional feedback. I invite you to share your successes and your visions for the future.
Enhancing the Support of Transformative Research at the National Science
Foundation
Change to the Intellectual Merit Review Criterion
1) What is the intellectual merit of the proposed activity?• How important is the proposed activity to advancing
knowledge and understanding within its own field or across different fields? How well qualified is the proposer (individual or team) to conduct the project? (If appropriate, the reviewer will comment on the quality of prior work.) To what extent does the proposed activity suggest and explore creative, original, or potentially transformative concepts? How well conceived and organized is the proposed activity? Is there sufficient access to resources?
= new language
NSF Working Group on Transformative and Interdisciplinary Research
• Charge
– Develop “TiGUR” and “EAGER”
– Recommend policies/practices that promote support of PTR NSF-wide
– Recommend policies/practices that promote support of interdisciplinary research
– Report to Director/Deputy Director
• Membership
– NSF-wide Representation***
New Program Award Initiative (3-Year Trial)1. Replace SGER by
• One mechanism exclusively for funding proposals requiring rapid response
– TIGUR (Timely Grants for Urgent Research)
2. Establish a two-tiered “early-concept” award mechanism
– EAGER: (EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research)
– Tier II: Larger grants requiring additional level of review
– Working group established to recommend implementation details
– Monitor and track for impact and lessons-learned
– Advertise new approach to the community at large
Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program
• $4 million in a single instrument
• America Competes Act establishes minimum and maximum awards for MRI program.
• Requires a 30 % cost share from non-Federal sources.– COST SHARE DOES NOT APPLY TO NON-PHD Granting
INSTITUTIONS!
2020 workshop: strategic priorities1. Provide more flexible RII awards: up to 5 years, $3-5 million/year;
emphasize state/institutional partnerships, cyberinfrastructure, and access to MRI
2. Emphasize geographic dispersion of funding and participation: infuse EPSCoR goals into all NSF programs and initiatives; move EPSCoR to OIA
3. Revitalize and extend components of EPSCoR: co-funding, planning grants that support state S&T plans, outreach, and SBIR
4. Restore “experimental” nature: test bed for new strategies; RII grants that support transformative research
5. Develop state S&T business plans: convene workshop on best practices; encourage industry funding for infrastructure
6. Create shared understanding and definition of success: discuss goals and metrics with stakeholders
PRIORITIES--STRATEGY--PROGRAMS
MEETINGSACADEMIA, INDUSTRY
CONCEPTS IDEAS
WORK- SHOPS
NSF “bottoms-up” process
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Instead, I would like to hear from you. NSF is committed to a bottoms-up process -- inviting the community to tell us what's new and exciting and how NSF can serve the community, through discussions and meetings such as this one. The EPSCoR 2020 workshop and cyberinfrastructure workshop were examples of how you, as a community, can direct NSF's future activities. Now, you have a chance to give us additional feedback. I invite you to share your successes and your visions for the future.
"There is a single light of science, and to brighten it anywhere
is to brighten it everywhere.“
-- Isaac Asimov
•• Write proposals & directly interact with program Write proposals & directly interact with program officersofficers
•• Review proposalsReview proposals•• Serve on panelsServe on panels•• Serve as rotator, IPAServe as rotator, IPA•• Participate in workshops and meetingsParticipate in workshops and meetings•• Attend NSF DaysAttend NSF Days•• Attend NSF Regional Grants ConferencesAttend NSF Regional Grants Conferences•• Sign up for the NSF newsletter & send stories Sign up for the NSF newsletter & send stories
about NSFabout NSF--funded activities funded activities www.nsf.gov/currentwww.nsf.gov/current
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Presentation Notes
How can you participate and learn more about NSF? Every year, hundreds of people come together at workshops, coordinating meetings, and proposal review panels at NSF, to help us identify new goals for innovative research and improvements in STEM education. [CLICK IN LIST OF ACTIVITIES AND EXPLAIN] Thank you. And, I look forward to seeing you as a participant in one of these activities!
OPTIONAL SLIDES
Integration throughout NSF
• 18% of the nation’s total population
• 16% of its African-Americans
• 26% of its American Indians and Alaskan Natives
• 20% of its Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders
