Transcript Document 7238144

PROJECT DIRECTORS
&
PROJECT ADMINISTRATORS
MEETING
May 10, 2006
1:00-5:00 pm
DoubleTree Hotel
Nashville, Tennessee
Dr. Sherry O. Farwell
Head of NSF EPSCoR Office
AGENDA FOR PD/PA MEETING
I.
Welcome (1:00 pm)
II.
ACI & NSF (1:05-1:15 pm)
A. EPSCoR 2020
III. New NSF Funding Opportunities (1:15-1:35 pm)
A. EPSCoR Responses
1. Proactive Outreach
2. Collaborations
IV. NSF & Evaluation (1:35-1:45 pm)
A. Agency Perspective
B. EPSCoR Evaluation Steering Committee Report
V. COV Recommendation (1:45-2:00 pm)
A. Project Monitoring via Reverse Site Visits
AGENDA (continued)
VI. EPSCoR News (2:00-2:30 pm)
A.
B.
C.
D.
RII Solicitation
PIO Workshops
PA Meeting Plan
National Conference Plan
VII. Break (2:30-2:45 pm)
VIII. PD Session (2:45-4:30 pm)
IX. PD Report To NSF (4:30-4:45 pm)
X. Discussion & Wrap-Up (4:45-5:00 pm)
XI. Adjourn (5:00 pm)
INTRODUCTION
“Don’t Look Back, Something
Might Be Gaining On You.”
Leroy “Satchel” Paige
(June 1948)
RECENT STIMULI FOR CHANGES
IN NATIONAL S&E ENTERPRISE
American Competitiveness Initiative (ACI)
& Protecting America’s Competitive Edge (PACE)
 GOALS
 Increase Federal investment in
critical research
 Ensure that the U.S. continues to
lead the world in opportunity and
innovation
 Provide U.S. children with a
strong STEM foundation
 FY 2007 FUNDING = + $910 million
(9.3% above FY 2006) for:
 NSF, DoE/OS, NIST
 ACI/PACE plan to double
investments in innovation-enabling
S&E research
INVITATION FOR EPSCoR
PARTICIPATION
National Academies Convocation
 "Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing
& Employing Regions, States, & Cities for a
Brighter Economic Future”
 National Academies Building
 Washington, DC on Sept. 12, 2006
Focus: Research, STEM Education, & Innovation Environments
Purpose: Convene Leaders Of Academic, Industry, Research, &
Government From All States To Discuss National
Proposals For Responding To Competitiveness
Challenges & Their Implications For States & Regions.
HOUSE SCIENCE COMMITTEE CHAIR’S
ADVICE TO DIRECTOR BEMENT
 Think big and different
 New ideas that DO NOT simply make a minor
change or difference in R&D
 Transformative for NSF as well as its S&E
funding programs
 What completely new investment programs
would you build?
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Dr. Kathie Olsen
Deputy Director
Chief Operating Officer
National Science Foundation
EPSCoR 2020
PLANNING PROCESS
 Concept Developed In Partnership With Dr. Kathie Olsen
 Employ One Or More Community-Based Workshops During CY
2006 To Obtain Input On EPSCoR 2020 Vision Plan
 Workshop Participants Should Include Diversity Of
Representatives From EPSCoR & non-EPSCoR Jurisdictions
 Pending Proposal from USC-RF To Organize Initial Workshop In
Washington, DC On June 15/16, 2006
 For Further Information About Plans For June 15/16 Workshop,
Contact Either Dr. Jerry Odom (USC) or Dr. Nat Pitts (NSF-OIA)
NSF’s ROLE IN ACI:
FUNDING SCIENCE ACROSS BOUNDARIES
“Discovery increasingly requires the
expertise of individuals from different
disciplines and with diverse perspectives,
working together, to accommodate the
extraordinary complexity of today’s science
and engineering challenges. Cooperation is
often essential to meeting the grand
scientific challenges of our era.”
Dr. Arden Bement, 2006
EPSCoR OPPORTUNITY REPORT
Dr. Jim Gosz - Senior Program Director &
Reporter
NSF Funding Priorities & Programs In FY 2007
Related Opportunities For EPSCoR
Collaborations
Proposed Partnership Plan For Proactive
Outreach Program
Jim Collins, Biological Sciences AD
“the key (to understanding biological
problems) is an integrative
approach…intersection of biology and the
social sciences…of biology and physics,…of
biology and mathematics…of biology and the
geological sciences…of biology and
education, biology and engineering, biology
and humanities. We need to push forward on
the edges in some of these interdisciplinary
areas.”
BioScience 56:108
BIO Budget Request by Division
($ in Millions)
FY 2006
Current
Plan
FY 2007
Change
Request Amount Percent
Molecular and Cellular Biosciences
108.27
111.22
2.95
2.7%
Integrative Organismal Biology
100.39
100.74
0.35
0.3%
Environmental Biology
106.71
109.61
2.90
2.7%
Biological Infrastructure
81.80
85.90
4.10
5.0%
Emerging Frontiers
80.80
99.16
18.36
22.7%
Plant Genome Research
98.72
101.22
2.50
2.5%
$607.85 $31.16
5.4%
Total, BIO
Note: Totals may not add due to rounding
$576.69
BIO FY 2007 Budget Priorities
• Advancing the Frontier
 Frontiers in Integrative Biological Research
program (FIBR) (+$5.0 million)
 Plant Genome Research Program (+$2.5 million)
 Long-Term Ecological Research program (+$1.2
million)
 New Theoretical Biology program ($3.6 million)
 New Biology and Society program ($0.5 million)
The goal of the FIBR Program is to support research that:
• Identifies a major, unanswered or understudied question in
biology
• Engages integrative researchers utilizing an effective range of
concepts and tools from all areas of science and engineering
• Is not limited by conceptual, disciplinary or organizational
boundaries
• Integrates education and research, providing young scientists
with training in a strong, interdisciplinary environment
• Involves effective partnering with minority serving and primarily
undergraduate institutions
• Awards Up to 5 million over 5 years
•New FIBR solicitation in 2008
Ecology of Infectious
Diseases (EID)
 Joint NSF and NIH initiative
 How large-scale environmental events
alter the risks of emergence of viral,
parasitic, or bacterial diseases
 Any environment (marine, terrestrial, freshwater,
organismal)
2008 NSF/NIH Neurobiology effort
Environmental Observing Systems
(EOS)
Proposed new large infrastructure support
and tools for the environmental sciences in
various development stages

NEON
 EarthScope
 CLEANER, CUAHSI
Margaret Leinen, Geosciences AD
“Major NSF programs (e.g., observing
systems) create a vastly enriched
context for individual scientists, teams,
and multi-institutional science efforts.
They serve as ‘attractors’ for other
scientific and education efforts”
(including other agency efforts).
National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON)
NEON is designed as a research platform to
advance ecological theory and provide a
fundamental understanding of the earth’s life
support system on which we all depend.
EPSCoR Jurisdictions
overlaid with NEON Climate Domains
WATERS Network A bold initiative in NSF’s
MISSION STATEMENT: Engineering and Geosciences
Directorates
To transform understanding of the Earth’s water and related
cycles across spatial and temporal scales to enable forecasting
of critical water-related processes that affect and are affected
by human activities…
and develop scientific and engineering tools to enable more
effective adaptive management of large-scale, human-impacted
environments.
The Idea:
The WATERS Network will:
1. Consist of
(a) teams of investigators studying human-stressed landscapes, with an
emphasis on water problems and questions;
(b) a national network of interacting field sites;
(c) specialized support personnel, facilities, and technology; and
(d) integrative cyberinfrastructure to provide a shared-use network
as the framework for collaborative analysis
2. Transform environmental engineering and hydrologic science research
and education by:
(i) providing advanced sensor systems for data collection and state-ofthe-art informatics tools for data mining, analysis, visualization, and
modeling of large-scale environmental issues; and
(ii) engaging academics and others in collaborative, interdisciplinary
studies of real-world problems
3. Enable more effective adaptive management of human-dominated,
environments based on observation, experimentation, modeling,
engineering analysis, and design
OVERARCHING QUESTION
How do changes in human populations and
their behavior, climate variation, altered
biogeochemical cycles, and biotic structure
interact to affect ecosystem structure and
function and their services to society?
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Changes in human population density
Redistribution of population nationally and locally
Increased availability and distribution of limiting resources
Altered biotic composition and structure
Increased variability in environmental drivers (e.g. climate, sea
level rise)
Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems
(CNH)
This topical area focuses on the complex interactions
among human and natural systems at diverse spatial,
temporal, and organizational scales. To be
competitive for support, teams of investigators drawn
from natural, social, and mathematical sciences,
engineering, and education must examine the
dynamics of appropriate natural and human systems
as well as the interactions that link those human and
natural systems.
Directorate for Geosciences
Carbon and Water in Earth Systems
This solicitation invites proposals aimed at
closing significant gaps in our
understanding of the complex relationships
between and within the global water and
carbon cycles. In particular, we seek
proposals that cross the interfaces of land,
atmosphere and oceans. Proposals should
span traditional interdisciplinary
boundaries…
•Estimated Number of Awards: 14 to 25
•Anticipated Funding Amount: $32,000,000 pending
availability of funds.
Coupled Biogeochemical Cycles (CBC)
Intersections of the hydrological and ecological sciences, for
example, climate alteration by terrestrial vegetation, ecosystem
and hydrological functions of riparian zones, hydrological
controls on aquatic ecosystems, and ecosystem vulnerability
and resilience to extreme hydrological events.
·
The effect of soil physical and chemical properties on
rhizosphere functioning, alteration of the rhizosphere by
changes in land use, and the responses of soil processes to
global change.
·
Innovative investigations into the coupling of chemical and
physical processes or the kinetics and mechanisms of complex
chemical reaction pathways important to achieving a
quantitative, mechanistic understanding of a biogeochemical
system.
Proposals may be submitted by single investigators or
by teams, but must be highly interdisciplinary.
Proposals may be submitted for projects up to 5-year
duration. No project will be supported for more than
$2 million.
New 2008 program focused on integrative modeling efforts
among researchers in:
water cycle science
hydrologic science
watershed science
~ 8 million
Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation (EFRI)
•Biology in Engineering
•Complexity in Engineered and Natural systems
•Critical Infrastructure Systems
•Manufacturing Frontiers
•New Frontiers in Nanotechnology
programs coming with the 2007 funding request
Math and Physical Sciences Funding
Increase ($M)
Astronomical Sciences
Chemistry
Materials Research
Mathematical Sciences
Physics
Multidisciplinary Activities
15.46
10.32
14.54
6.44
15.37
2.72
7.7%
5.7%
6.0%
3.2%
6.6%
9.2%
Cyberinfrastructure is ever-increasing
(Bement, Apr. 2006)
•Data mining
•Big iron
•Networking
•Large sensor arrays
•Observing systems
$600 M for CI NSF-wide in 2007 request; $180 M (43.5%
increase) in the new Office of Cyberinfrastructure (OCI)
NSF EPSCoR PROGRAM
NSF/EPSCoR In-Outreach efforts;
•Increase NSF staff member visits to jurisdictions to inform
administrators, scientists, jurisdiction leaders, students and the
general public about NSF programs, priorities, policies, and
procedures, and educate NSF about successes in EPSCoR
•Internal efforts to educate NSF staff about the resources,
capabilities and potential in EPSCoR jurisdictions (in-reach!)
•Work with coordinators in each of the NSF Directorates and
Programs in identifying and initiating contacts with NSF staff
who can best respond to specific requests related to NSF
programs
•Cooperate with OLPA in NSF Day events held in EPSCoR
jurisdictions
•Work with jurisdictions on potential workshops of relevance to
regions and the nation, including other NSF Directorate
support
EPSCoR Workshops Discussion Topic
•Increase communication and opportunities between
and among jurisdictions and the NSF EPSCoR Office
on S&E strengths and needs. These topics can be
the basis for funded workshops.
•Develop leadership in jurisdictions to identify and
organize S&E workshops of value to jurisdictions,
regions, and the nation. These workshops can range
from S&E issues to management needs for large or
complex programs. Proposals requesting workshop
funding can come from the jurisdictions
COLLABORATION DISCUSSION TOPIC
ADDING CAPABILITY THROUGH INCREASED FUNDING,
DEMONSTRATING THE ROLE EPSCoR CAN PLAY IN ACI AND IN
MULTIDISCIPLINARY PROGRAMS BEING DEVELOPED AT NSF

Focused Scientific Themes of Regional Relevance & National
Importance

Utilizes Entire Gamut of Jurisdiction’s Talent & Infrastructure for
Thematic Research in Areas of Physical Sciences and Engineering

Catalyze Formation Of Quality Research
Collaborations/Collaboratories
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Expands Talent & Infrastructure Base Via Intra/Inter-Jurisdiction
Partnerships
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Uses Cyber-Infrastructure
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Integrates R&E and Diversity
AMERICAN COMPETITIVENESS INITIATIVE (ACI)
Four major elements:
 Double the Federal investment in basic research
programs in the physical sciences and engineering at
NSF, Energy and NIST over 10 years
 Make the Research and Development tax credit
permanent
 Invest $380 million in new Federal support for K-12
programs to improve the quality of math, science, and
technological education at the Department of Education
 Evaluate STEM programs across Federal Agencies
to determine which are effective in meeting their
stated goals
EPSCoR & CE-PART
Purpose
Identify Program's Strengths/Weaknesses & Inform OMB Funding Decision &
NSF Priorities
CE Elements (Ideas)
EPSCoR, SBIR/STTR, CREST, I/UCRC, RUI/ROA
Format
Answers to 30 Questions (Purpose, Planning, Management, Results) + Propose
Metrics For Future Reporting
Schedule
Dec-Mar:
April:
May:
June:
Sept:
Team Meetings and Prepare Draft Document
Meet with BFA & OMB Examiner to Review Responses
Final Draft to NSF SMART For Review
Official Document to OMB for Review/Rating
Rating Used In OMB/NSF FY-08 Budget Request
FURTHER EVALUATION
EMPHASIS AT NSF
ONGOING GPRA & PART WITH NEW INITIATIVE VIA NSF
FY-2007 BUDGET REQUEST THAT STATES AGENCY
WILL:
 "RELIABLY EVALUATE RETURNS RECEIVED FROM
PAST R&D INVESTMENTS AND FORECAST LIKELY
RETURNS FROM FUTURE INVESTMENTS.”
AS NOTED IN SCIENCE (APRIL 21, 2006, P. 347) ARTICLE
ENTITLED: "NSF BEGINS A PUSH TO MEASURE
SOCIETAL IMPACTS OF RESEARCH":
 “THE WHITE HOUSE IS ALSO FORMING AN
INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE TO OVERSEE THE
EVALUATION INITIATIVE.”
“Doubling the budget will be based on
yearly evidence of improving each year.
Next year’s money depends on showing
that or how we have done more than last
year.”
Dr. Arden Bement
EHRAC Meeting, May 2006
EPSCoR
Evaluation Steering Committee
 Paul Hill (Chair)
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Steve Borleske
Fred Choobineh
Barbara Kimball
Jean’ne Shreeve
Brad Weiner
 Doug MacTaggart
 Rose Shaw
 Norman Webb
2005 COV RECOMMENDATIONS
& OFFICE RESPONSES
 ASSESSMENT OF LARGE RII-TYPE PROPOSAL WILL BE MORE RIGEROUS
VIA COMBINATION OF AD HOC & PANEL REVIEWS.
 USE OF REVERSE SITE VISITS DURING MIDDLE YEAR OF RII
AWARDS AS PROJECT MANAGEMENT TOOL.
 OFFICE WILL WORK WITH JURISDICTIONS TO INCREASE OVERALL
CAPACITY FOR PROGRAM/PROJECT EVALUATION USING EVIDENCEBASED OUTPUTS & OUTCOMES.
 OFFICE WILL INITIATE NEW PROGRAMMATIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR
CAPABILITY ENHANCEMENT & RELATED JURSIDICTIONAL
COMPETITIVENESS.
EPSCOR 2006 REVERSE SITE
VISIT STRATEGY
Concept and Implementation Plan
PD discussion requested on need,
process for implementation, and
scheduling of proposed efforts.
CONCEPT
 A component of EPSCoR’s oversight,
management, assistance to awardees, and
EPSCoR funding promotion strategy
consisting of presentations to a panel at
NSF’s headquarters.
 This was a strong recommendation of the
EPSCoR COV review
PURPOSE
 To assess programmatic accomplishments and
progress made by EPSCoR jurisdictions at or
near the midpoint of their current three-year
grant.
 To develop additional evidence of the value of
the EPSCoR programs and suitability of these
programs for increased funding under the ACI
directives
2006 PARTICIPATING JURISDICTIONS
 Louisiana, Alabama, Alaska, Montana,
Delaware, New Mexico, Wyoming, North
Dakota, Oklahoma, Idaho, South Carolina,
Kentucky, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Nevada
 Based on mid-term funding status of current
RII awards (i.e., 2nd-3rd yr of award)
PROCESS
 A group of up to five representatives from each
jurisdiction, including PI/PD will visit NSF and make a
presentation to a panel (time available is two hours).
 The presentation will be followed by a discussion period
of approximately one hour. This will allow 2 jurisdictions
to present per day (morning and afternoon).
 The panel will include outside experts representing the
broad spectrum of the jurisdictions’ research focus areas,
NSF Program Directors, and EPSCoR staff.
PROCESS (CONTINUED)
 The panel will submit a written report to the EPSCoR
Office, including areas of strength, aspects to improve,
and recommendations.
 The EPSCoR Office will share the panel report and
schedule a meeting with the PI and appropriate local
leadership to discuss findings and recommendations for
program as well as values to be promoted.
 Benefits of the programs will be communicated to NSF
Directorates, Director’s Office, and other agencies.
PRESENTATIONS
 Focus on major project accomplishments
according to the specified goals and objectives
of the current award, in addition to the overall
goals of the jurisdiction.
PRESENTATION TEMPLATE
 Overview: Project’s goals & objectives, current
management structure, evaluation plan, and
demonstrations of successes
 Progress: Scientific research, education & outreach, and
broadening participation
 Mid-Point Corrections: Barriers and challenges faced by
the project, identification of mid-course corrections
 Action Plan: Strategic plan to ensure accomplishment of
project’s goals during remaining duration time, technical
assistance needed, anticipated successes relative to
goals of jurisdiction
PROPOSED SCHEDULE
FOR GROUPS OF 4 OR 5??
 Group 1:
 Group 2:
 Group 3:
Each group of 4 or 5 jurisdictions would present material
during a one-week period (e.g., Tuesday-Thursday). The
PDs are requested to identify potential weeks for these
future efforts.
AGENDA (continued)
VI. EPSCoR News (2:00-2:30 pm)
A.
B.
C.
D.
RII Solicitation
PIO Workshops
PA Meeting Plan
National Conference Plan
VII. Break (2:30-2:45 pm)
VIII. PD Session (2:45-4:30 pm)
IX. PD Report To NSF (4:30-4:45 pm)
X. Discussion & Wrap-Up (4:45-5:00 pm)
XI. Adjourn (5:00 pm)
FY 2006 RII SOLICITATION
 Very Similar to FY 2005 RII Solicitation
 Currently Under Administrative Review For Pending
Approval/Release
 Proposals Will Be Due Sept. 28, 2006
 Expecting Eight Proposal Submissions
 Combination of Ad Hoc & Panel Reviews
OTHER EPSCoR EVENTS COMING
THIS SUMMER/FALL
 EPSCoR/OLPA PIO WORKSHOPS
 PROJECT ADMINISTRATORS MEETING
 NAT'L EPSCoR CONFERENCE