Outline

• What are RII awards?• What is the application process?• What’s the timeline?

NSF EPSCoR

• Jurisdictions eligible to participate if NSF research support < 0.75% total NSF research funding

• Based on partnerships with government, higher education, and industry

• Designed to effect sustainable improvements in research infrastructure and R&D capacity throughout the state

RII Track 1 awards

• Up to $4 million/year for up to 5 years• Designed to support physical, human, and

cyber infrastructure improvements in research areas having the best potential to improve future R&D competitiveness with NSF

• Aligned with Wyoming’s Science and Technology Plan, University Plan (UP4), and leveraging existing high performance computation facilities.

RII Track 2 awards

• Must be in collaboration with at least one other EPSCoR jurisdiction

• 2 jurisdictions: up to $1 million/year • 3+ jurisdictions: up to $1.5 million/year • Up to 4 years funding• Designed to support physical, human, and cyber

infrastructure improvements in research areas having the best potential to improve future R&D competitiveness

Currently eligible jurisdictions

Alabama Kansas Nebraska Rhode Island

Alaska Kentucky Nevada South Carolina

Arkansas Louisiana New Hampshire South Dakota

Delaware Maine New Mexico Vermont

Guam Mississippi North Dakota US Virgin Islands

Hawaii Missouri Oklahoma West Virginia

Idaho Montana Puerto Rico Wyoming

Track 1 Themes• NSF priority: Innovations at the Nexus of Food,

Energy, and Water Systems (INFEWS)• Cross-disciplinary• Heavy computational use/development

Track 2 Themes• Same as Track 1• Plus, the human brain

INFEWSInnovations at the Nexus of Food, Energy,

and Water Systems

• Water Energy-Food– 40-50% of water withdrawals in the US are for thermoelectric

plant cooling– 30-40% of water withdrawals in the US are for watering crops

• Energy Water-Food– 3-20% of US Energy budget is used to pump, treat, transport,

and heat water– Up to 90% of energy use on farms is associated with water

(pumping, irrigation)– 10% of the US energy budget is associated with food

production, processing, distribution, etc.

Food, Energy, and Water Trilemma

• The water security, food security and energy security trilemma creates a multidimensional web that is a structurally complex network with dynamic links among resources that vary…

• …finding solutions to our global water, food, and energy security problems will require significant action, either through institutional and behavioral paths or technological and infrastructural paths. –Perrone and Hornberger, 2014

Food, Water, and Energy in 2050Over 2 billion increase in world population which will become increasingly urban

Food production will need to increase ~60% Energy production will

need to increase ~50%

Water demand will increase ~60%

NSF INFEWSFY16 – Planned ~75M allocation

• Understanding the complex nature of the FEW system through integrated modeling

• Methodologies for effective data integration/cyber elements at multiple temporal and spatial scales of terrestrial systems

• Fundamental science and engineering to solve FEW challenges

• Technology advances• Education and workforce development

Components of RII Awards

• Research Program• Diversity Plan• Workforce Development Plan• Cyberinfrastructure Plan• External Engagement Plan• Evaluation and Assessment Plan• Sustainability Plan• Management Plan

Research

Physical Infrastructure

EducationOutreach and

Diversity

Examples of RII Activities

• Research: comprehensive and integrative approach to a grand challenge

• Faculty acquisition and enhancement• Small business alliances• Expansion of diversity in STEM fields• Support for community college projects

Track 1 Timeline

Nov. 20 Concept Papers DueDec. 5 Moderated RetreatJan. 29 Pre-proposals DueJuly 2016 Letter of Intent DueAugust 2016 Full proposal DueEarly 2017 NSF Announces Awards

Track 2 Timeline

Nov. 20 Pre-proposals DueFeb. 2016 Full Proposal DueSummer 2016 NSF Announces Awards