Research and Leadership in the Modern Age

Eamon Kelly, Ph.D.

Background• Tulane University – President Emeritus/Professor

• Association of American Research Universities (AAU) – Board Chair

• National Science Foundation (NSF), USA – Board Chair

• National Center for Research on Advanced Digital and Information Technologies (Digital Promise) – Board Chair

• Global Center for Research on Advanced Digital and Information Technologies (Digital Promise – Global) – Board Chair

• National Science Commissions • Rwanda• Korea• Others

Basic Concepts

• Rationale of conference-• driving social forces

• Role of leadership

• Guiding research principles

• Setting research priorities

• Research management

Rationale

• Demographic forces

• Resource constrained

• Develop infrastructure• Human• Physical• Financial

• Allocate research funds

• Research management efficiency• Government- Political• Funding ministries and donors• Principle investigators

World Population

~ 3,000 in 75,000 BCE

1 billion in 18042  billion in 1927 (123 years later)3  billion in 1960 (33 years later)4  billion in 1974 (14 years later)5  billion in 1987 (13 years later)6  billion in 1999 (12 years later)7 billion in 2012 (13 years later) 

Leadership

Leadership

Institutions• Habits of thought• Ways of doing things

Education• Science• Diplomacy• War• Corruption• Information Technology

Leadership

• Challenges• Equilibrium• Projecting needs and priorities• Challenge to leadership

Guiding Research Principles

Guiding Principles

• Development/ Applied Sciences Focus

• Interdisciplinary

• International

• Information technology

Information Technology

• Nanotechnology

• Moore’s Law

• Web-based research

• Closing digital divide• Silver bullet

Information Technology

• Collaboration 1) Local

2) Regional

3) Global

• Creation of “Labor Pools”

• Database• Investigators• Panelists/researchers• Visiting committees• M&E staff

Setting Research Priorities

Setting Priorities

• Government – national goals

• Funding agency – selects fields of investigation

• Institutional goals – areas of comparative advantage

• Principle investigator (PI) – project selection

Collaboration

• Continuing dialogue on priorities • Boards• Advisory Boards• Visiting Committees• Peer review panels• Program managers• Workshops• International contacts• Other

Criteria for Success in Priority Setting

• Autonomy of funding agency

• Academic freedom for the PI

• Collaborative approach

• Transparency

• Trust across the spectrum

NSF Priorities 1998-2002

• Health of the Sciences

• STEM education

• Environment

• Nanotechnology

• Information technology

• International science and technology

Research Management

• Allocation of Resources

Funding Agency

• Autonomous and independent

• Strategic planning

• Program design capabilities

• Careful development• Programs take time

• Systematic and comprehensive program evaluation

Principle Investigators

• Merit review process: 1) Well funded

2) Flexibility

3) Monitoring and evaluation

• High-level research objectives• International collaboration

Principle Investigators

• Principles for merit review:• Expert Assessment• Impartiality• Transparency in process• Integrity and Ethics

Strategic Planning

Strategic Planning Funding Agency

• Mission• National need• Comparative advantage

• Goals and objectives

• Resource development and allocation

• Overcoming constraints

• Role of Leadership

Strategic Planning Principle Investigator

• Your own strategic plan• Mission and Goals • Comparative advantage• Overcome constraints • Time• Financing• Other

Future Research

• Critical Role• Era of Science and Development• Era of huge population growth• Shortage of scientists• Overcome constraints • Era of global scientist