cccesd university of ottawa november 5, 2010 dave bowen team leader environmental sciences discovery...
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CCCESDUniversity of OttawaNovember 5, 2010
Dave Bowen Team LeaderEnvironmental Sciences
Discovery GrantsNSERC
Outline
2010 Federal Budget & NSERC news 2010 Discovery Grants Competition & Results Questions and Discussion
Federal Budget 2010
New prestigious PDF program –
Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships
$45M over 5 years
NSERC Discovery Research $8M permanent increase
NSERC Strategy for Partnerships and Innovation
$5M permanent increase
College and Community Innovation Program
$15M permanent increase
Indirect Costs Program $8M/yr
NSERC Frontiers
Initiative includes two elements: – Discovery Frontiers, focused on discovery
research– Innovation Frontiers, focused on research
partnerships with industry
All funded projects will include an international partnership component that taps into global expertise
Discovery Frontiers
First call for proposals $4 million over a four-year period to support research in Northern Earth Systems
Researchers will work collaboratively to tackle broad problems defined with the input of the northern community
Deadline for Letter of Intent December 10
NSERC Strategy for Partnerships and Innovation
- Launched in November 2009- Builds on the base of Discovery research- Connects academia and industry- Aims to double the number of companies partnering
with NSERC-funded researchers by 2014- Regional offices are now focused on facilitating
partnerships
Discovery Grants 2010 Competition
Full implementation of Conference Model 12 Evaluation Groups instead of 28 GSCs
Flexible composition of sections to provide optimal review for applications
A more dynamic system
Raising the bar of excellence
Applicants, new and established, with superior contributions more easily identified and awarded funding at appropriate level
Discovery Grants 2010 Competition
While the overall DGP budget was unchanged this year, the 2010 competition budget was lower than in 2009– differences in cohort make-up
– fewer grant-holders choosing not to re-apply this year
– a greater number of applicants who were not previously funded (Returning Unfunded: 2009 = 14.8%; 2010 = 20.7%; 2011 = 28.7%) *
This led to reduced success rate and a slightly smaller average grant for successful applicants
* statistics for Geosciences EG
Evaluation principles
Two-step process separating merit review and funding recommendations
Merit assessment based on the same criteria as in the past (EoR, MoP, and HQP)
Funding recommendations ─ comparable funding for those with similar overall ratings within a committee
Greater consistency in process from committee to committee and competition to competition
Enhanced two-step review process
Exc
eptio
nal
Out
stan
ding
Ver
y S
tron
g
Str
ong
Mod
erat
e
Insu
ffic
ient
Fund
ing
"Bin
s"
A (L, N, H) B (L, N, H)
C (L. N. H) D (L, N, H).
.
.
N O P
Exc
eptio
nal
Out
stan
ding
Ver
y S
tron
g
Str
ong
Mod
erat
e
Insu
ffic
ient
Fund
ing
"Bin
s"
Excellence of researcher
Merit of proposal
Contribution to training of HQP
Cost of research High Normal Low
Conference Model - Definition
Similar to a scientific conference, where several sessions are occurring in parallel streams in different rooms.
The conference model had been implemented by several Grant Selection Committees (GSCs) – four years for one GSC – with two streams running in parallel.
This concept expanded the model to 3, or 4, or 5 streams. Evaluation Group members meet in various combinations
to assess applications in specific research topics. Each stream involves six to ten EG members, as required.
Geosciences (1506)Research Topics (F180s received in 2011)
GS01 Petrology & Mineralogy (8)
GS02 Sedimentology & Stratigraphy (16)
GS03 Paleontology & Paleobiology (7)
GS04 Geophysics (19)
GS05 Economic Geology (10)
GS06 Tectonics & Structural Geology (6)
GS07 Geochemistry & Geochronology (20)
GS08 Volcanology (2)
GS09 Planetary sciences (4)GS10 Surface Processes (12)GS11 Paleo-environmental
Sciences (15)GS12 Biogeosciences (20)GS13 Global Geological
Processes (2)GS14 Atmospheric Sciences (35)GS15 Hydrology (21)GS16 Oceanography (19)GS17 Soil Sciences (13)GS18 Geomatics & Earth
Systems Observations (18)GS19 Cryology (4)
How does the Conference Model work?GROUP A Group Chair
~ 30 members4 Section Chairs
GROUP BGroup Chair
~35 members4 Section Chairs
GROUP CGroup Chair
~25 members3 Section Chairs
Sec
tion
A1-
2R
esea
rch
Top
ics
A2
and
A4
Sec
tion
A2
Res
earc
h T
opic
A3
Sec
tion
A1-
1R
esea
rch
Top
ic A
1
Sec
tion
A3-
1R
esea
rch
Top
ic A
5S
ectio
n A
3-2
Res
earc
h T
opic
A6
Sec
tion
A4-
1R
esea
rch
Top
ics
A7
and
A8
Sec
tion
A4-
2R
esea
rch
Top
ics
A9
and
B5
Sec
tion
B1-
2R
esea
rch
Top
ics
B2
and
A10
Sec
tion
B1-
1R
esea
rch
Top
ic B
1
Sec
tion
B2
Res
earc
h T
opic
B3
Sec
tion
B3-
1R
esea
rch
Top
ic B
4S
ectio
n B
3-2
Res
earc
h T
opic
s B
1 an
d B
5
Sec
tion
B4-
2R
esea
rch
Top
ics
B7
and
C6
Sec
tion
B4-
1R
esea
rch
Top
ics
B2
and
B6
Sec
tion
C1-
2R
esea
rch
Top
ic C
2S
ectio
n C
1-1
Res
earc
h T
opic
s C
1 an
d B
5
Sec
tion
C2
Res
earc
h T
opic
C3
Sec
tion
C3-
1R
esea
rch
Top
ic C
4S
ectio
n C
3-2
Res
earc
h T
opic
s C
5 an
d A
5
Advantages of Conference Model Provides a system with increased flexibility to ensure
that applications have the best possible review; Eliminates the need for consultation process between
two GSCs – such applications are reviewed by a joint section and benefit from a larger pool of expertise than in the current system;
Proposals would be discussed by smaller numbers of members
reduction of the number of readers and, therefore, a reduction in workload; and
Enables "traditional" disciplines or well-defined areas to remain together.
Overall Statistics – 2010 Discovery Grants Competition
Number of Applications
Number of Awards
AmountAwarded
Success rate (%)
AverageGrant
Early-Career researchers (ECR)
532 310 $7,418,449 58 $23,930
Established researcher (ER)applicants who held a grant
1,902 1,360 $49,412,777 72 $36,333
Applicant not previously holding a grant1
921 270 $7,439,050 29 $27,552
Overall2 3,355 1,940 $64,270,276 58 $33,129
Overall3 3,374 1,959 $68,724,276 58 $35,143
1. Includes returning unfunded applicants and experienced researchers submitting a first application.2. Includes Discovery and Subatomic Physics (Individual and Team) Grants.3. Also includes Subatomic Physics Projects.
2010 Discovery Grants Competition
Evaluation GroupSuccess
RateAverage
Grant
Genes, Cells & Molecules (1501) 52.2% $33,610
Biological Systems and Functions (1502) 51.4% $38,985
Evolution & Ecology (1503) 60.2% $32,798
Chemistry (1504) 53.8% $55,092
Physics including SAP (1505) 62.3% $40,828
Geosciences (1506) 54.3% $30,245
Computer Science (1507) 64.2% $27,044
Mathematics & Statistics (1508) 62.1% $19,656
Civil, Industrial & Systems Engineering (1509) 52.5% $30,131
Electrical and Computer Engineering (1510) 63.3% $30,401
Materials and Chemical Engineering (1511) 66.5% $32,271
Mechanical Engineering (1512) 63.7% $27,199
Change in Grant Level for 1st Renewal – 2010 Competition
-
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
- 20,000 40,000 60,000 80,000 100,000 120,000
Previous Amount ($)
New
Am
ou
nt
($) No Change
Change in Grant Level for All Established Researchers – 2010 Competition
-
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
140,000
160,000
180,000
- 20,000 40,000 60,000 80,000 100,000 120,000 140,000 160,000 180,000
Previous Amount ($)
New
Am
ou
nt
($)
No Change
Change in Grant Level for All Established Researchers – 2008 Competition
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
140,000
160,000
180,000
200,000
0 20,000 40,000 60,000 80,000 100,000 120,000 140,000 160,000 180,000 200,000
Previous Amount (in $)
New
Am
ount
(in
$)
Success Rate by University Size – Competitions 2000 to 2010
Success Rate by University Size - Competitions 2000 to 2010
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Competition Year
Su
cces
s R
ate
(%)
L M S
Average Grant Awarded by University Size – Competitions 2000 to 2010
Average Grant Awarded by University Size - Competitions 2000 to 2010
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
40,000
45,000
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Competition Year
Ave
rag
e G
ran
t in
$
L M S
DG Competition Results 20102010
Geosciences (EG 1506)
Early Career Researchers
EROverall
Renewals Others
# of Applications
31 113 64 208
# of Awards 15 83 15 113
$ Awarded $300K $2,746K $388K $3,434K
Success Rate 48.4% 73.5% 23.4% 54.3%
Average Grant $20,000 $33,093 $25,867 $30,396
Geosciences DG Results 2010
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
A-C D E F G H I J K L M N-P
Quality Bin
Fra
cti
on
of
Ap
pli
ca
tio
ns
$-
$20
$40
$60
$80
$100
$120
$140
$160
Gra
nt V
alu
e ($
10
00
)
Funded ER Funded ECRUnsuccessful ER Unsuccessful ECRGrant Value
RTI Results by Evaluation GroupEvaluation Group Total Received Success
RateGenes, Cells & Molecules (1501) 165 30.91%Biological Systems and Functions (1502) 246 32.11%Evolution & Ecology (1503) 114 34.21%Chemistry (1504) 230 28.70%Physics (1505) 133 27.07%Geosciences (1506) 109 26.61%Computer Science (1507) 59 28.81%Mathematics & Statistics (1508) 11 54.55%Civil, Industrial & Systems Engineering (1509) 119 26.05%Electrical and Computer Engineering (1510) 136 23.53%Materials and Chemical Engineering (1511) 177 24.86%Mechanical Engineering (1512) 170 27.06%
* Funding rate for all EGs was ~27%
Discovery Accelerator Supplements (DAS) results 100 DAS were awarded among all EGs Geosciences EG reviewed all applications and
recommended 13 applicants for a DAS supplement list provided to Executive Committee of EG, who
conducted final analysis of DAS nominees to reduce to the given quota of 7 awards
nominees who best met the objectives of the program recommended to NSERC President for a DAS award
The Geosciences Evaluation Group recommended its full quota of seven applicants
Ship Time Allocation Committee (STAC) Results 20102010
# of Applications
# of Awards
$ Requested
$ Awarded DFO Awarded
Non-DFO Awarded
13 9(69.2% S/R)
$1,295k $833k(64.3% F/R)
3
(60%)
6
(75%)
Northern Research Supplements (NRS) Results 20102010
# of Applications
# of Awards
$ Requested
$ Awarded($10k each)
Success Rate
23 10 $240k $100k 43.5%
EGs requesting NRS support: 1503-11, 1504-1, 1506-10, and 1509-1
EGs requesting STAC support: 1502-1, 1503-4, and 1506-8
Questions?
Program Officers
– Geosciences – Tiffany Lancaster
– Geosciences – Kenn Rankine