INSTAAR CU Boulder Feb. 1, 2010
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Transcript of INSTAAR CU Boulder Feb. 1, 2010
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Support for research in environmental biology by NSF, and other sabbatical
musings…
Henry Gholz
Program Director
BIO/Division of Environmental Biology
(LTER, NCEAS, Ecosystem Studies)
[email protected], www.nsf.gov
INSTAARCU BoulderFeb. 1, 2010
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TOPICS
• NSF in the context of Federal R&D support• NSF as an agency• Proposals and panels• Looking ahead: The expanding scope of science
(examples)• New and developing initiatives• How to think, prepare and respond• Some nitty gritty• Discussion, Q/A
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NASA EPASmithsonian
InstitutionNuclear
Regulatory Commission
NIST, etc.
Commerce
Science Advisor
Other boards, councils, etc.
Independent Agencies
Major Departments
Science AdvisorOSTP
Office of Management and Budget
Agriculture Health and Human Services
Interior Transportation Defense Energy
President
NSF, NASA, NIST, OSTP Appropriations sub-Committees – House: Science, State, Justice and Commerce; Senate: Commerce, Justice and Science [HR3288]
NSF is an independent government agency, with 1700
total employees (ca 1/3 “rotators”) and a $7B annual
budget
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NSF is…- unique among Federal agencies in supporting research not
necessarily tied to resolving specific societal issues or restricted to falling within the purview of agency-specific
missions.
- the primary sponsor of competitively awarded “basic research” in the U.S.*
* FY10 budget is 6.7% > FY09 base, second year of authorized doubling
* FY 11 Budget rollout today; August 09 WH memo omits any mention of “basic research” and emphasizes linking research to “practical challenges”
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** NSF funds no in-house research
NSF is small, in terms of R&D budgets across Federal agencies
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NSF65%
Other federal
spending35%
- supplies most of the Federal support for basic research in "non-medical and non-defence biological
sciences" at U.S. academic institutions (same for "environmental biology")
However, NSF…
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Typical NSF Funding Profile($6.9B in FY 10)
Education & Training
18%
Research Projects58% (grants)
MRE/FC - 19% (ships, accelerators, telescopes,
NEON, OOI)
Administration & Management
5%
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National Science Board
Research Directorates
• Biological Sciences• Computer & Info. Science & Eng.• Education & Human Resources• Engineering• Geosciences• Mathematical & Physical Sciences• Social, Behaviorial & Econ. Sciences
Offices• Integrative Activities (STCs)• Polar Programs (ARC/ANT)• International Science and Engineering• CyberInfrastructure
National Science Foundation Arden Bement, Director
*** All now have some role in supporting “environment/global change research”
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Annual NSF-level proposal statistics
• 44,000 Proposals processed• 200,000 Reviews • 50,000 Reviewers (incl. panelists)• 10,400 Awards • 21% Average funding rate (30% in
’99; incl. all actions; see example)• 2.9 Average duration (yr; LTER are
longest grants at 6 yrs)
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Typical Core Panel Math(e.g., Ecosystem Studies Program)
• 135 projects/panel x 2 panels/yr
• Average request = $650,000/3 yrs (wide range)
• Panel recommendation = “fund 25%”
• Funding available = $7 M/panel
• Fraction funded = ca 10% (by $ or #)
additional considerations enable a greater rate: buy-ins (cofunding from other core or special programs, EPSCoR, etc.); year-end $; mortgage manipulations = 15% perhaps?
[We ask 1620 people for 810 reviews each year, or 3/proposal]
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FY 09 – ARRA (“Stimulus $”)• 50% one-time increase in budget for NSF ($3B) and most core programs (e.g., Ecosystem Studies +15 projects = 30% rate)• Enabled $6M/5 yr grant to LTER Network Office (NIS)• Provided funds for NEON airborne platform
• Supported MRI, minority fellowships• Supported 3 new CZOs
• Used only for proposals considered by FY09 panels (except for MRI and fellowships)• Non-recurring• No more left (legacy effect?)• Didn’t make up for all the cuts elsewhere in research support• Contributed to 30% increase in first term FY 10 proposals submitted and extra panels (a one-time event?)
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The expanding scope of “ecological science”
• Integrating ecology and social sciences
– LTER ISSE– ULTRA-Ex (Urban)– New “Climate Change” initiatives
• Synthesis: NCEAS and new ESC AO
• How to think, prepare and respond
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• Since 1980• 26 sites• 5 core research areas• Network Office• NSF, external partners • 6 NEON core sites • ILTER• $30M budget in FY10
www.lternet.edu
LTER at 30
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“ISSE” (LTER 2007), product of decadal strategic planning process:
• Integrating social and ecological sciences• Integrating education and research• Multi-site science• Synthesis
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External driversHuman
Cognition, Behavior,
and Institutions
Q1
Ecosystem servicesQ4
Long-term pressShort-term pulse
Q3
Human Outcomes
Q5
Q2
Biotic structure
Ecosystemfunctioning
Integrative Science for Society and the Environment
ISSE: LTER 2007
[LTER historic]
Q6
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External driversHuman
Cognition, Behavior,
and Institutions
Q1
Ecosystem servicesQ4
Long-term pressShort-term pulse
Q3
Human Outcomes
Q6 Q2
Biotic structure
Ecosystemfunctioning
Integrative Science for Society and the Environment
ISSE: LTER 2007
[LTER current]
Q5
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External driversHuman
Cognition, Behavior,
and Institutions
Q1
Ecosystem servicesQ4
Long-term pressShort-term pulse
Q3
Human Outcomes
Q6 Q2
Biotic structure
Ecosystemfunctioning
Integrative Science for Society and the Environment
ISSE: LTER 2007
[LTER future?]
Q5
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GCE
FCE
VCR
PIE
2.6 mm y-1
3.9 mm y-1
2.9 mm y-1
2.2 mm y-1
e.g., Opportunities to synthesize the effects of relative sea level rise on coastal zones across sites
M. Alber, Ecotrends
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50 km
50 km
Venice lagoon, Italy
Eastern Shore, Virginia
Lagoons at VCR are similar to the Venice lagoon, with identical distributions of barrier islands, tidal flats, and salt marshes, but 2000 yrs of human history (K. McGlathery, VCR)
Also provides opportunities fordata & model intercomparisons
and expanded assessment of human impacts through
international collaborations [also GLEON]
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GOAL: To develop and test theory and conduct fundamental research on human-natural interactions in an urban context, and to generate
excitement and raise general levels of awareness, interest and experience across U.S.
• Not pre-proposals• Not ULTRA • No connection to any eventual ULTRA • But conceived as precursor to an ULTRA competition for
4-6 new urban LTERs in FY11/12• 73 proposals submitted• 18 awards, $300,000/2 yrs (split USFS, NSF/BIO-SBE)
Expanding urban focus: Urban Long-Term Research Areas – Exploratory Awards (ULTRA-Ex, FY09-10)
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LTER80-04
Decadal Strategic Plan
(04-07)
Multi-site(08-09)
• 4 prospecti09*
• NISARRA 09
ISSE(07)
Agency response11+
LTER20+?
A vision for LTER at 40?
[Site-based]
[ISSE: Multi-site, integrated, expanded]
*4 prospecti for synthesis and integration:
• Coastal Zone and Climate Change• The Disappearing Cryosphere• Future Scenarios• Inland Climate Change
ULTRA-Ex
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Synthesis – support by NSF• National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS, UCSB) • National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent,
Duke)• Center for Plant CyberInfrastructure (“iPlant”, U AZ)• NIMBioS - Math-Bio Synthesis Center (U TN)• Individual Awards (OPUS, DEB only)
• Other NSF centers (SBE? GEO?)
• Other agencies (USGS Powell Center)
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SocialSciences
Ecology
Data
Engineering
EnvironmentalKnowledge
Models
Theory
ComputationalSciences
GeologicalSciences
New AO (2011):
“Environmental Synthesis Center” -expanding the scope
of NCEAS?
Realm of NCEAS (thru 2011)
after Carpenter et al. (2009)
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Synthesis
Decision support for management,
policy? [some in SBE, but still “research” and not integrated across NSF]
Stakeholderfeedback
StakeholderInput? Research
Should NSF support “boundary activities”? If so, how? Or is this “Mission Drift”?
Environmental knowledge
[NSF mission now]
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New “Climate Change” Initiatives
• Water, Sustainability and Climate (WSC) - AO just released (annual, 5 yrs)
• Ocean Acidification - AO just released
• Biodiversity - ?
• Macroecology at Regional to Continental Scales (MERCS) - ?
• Modeling - ? (MSM [DCL] “will be folded into a new multi-scale modeling effort focusing on climate issues. We anticipate the related solicitation will be available on the NSF website in early 2010.”)
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A shifting and complex context for “ecological” research…
• LTER/ISSE (plus CNH, etc.) - integrating disciplines• Environmental observatories - a new paradigm• Synthesis centers and informatics • Changes in core programs - depend on proposals• New initiatives - larger scale, increasing complexity• Many players, agencies• Applying results of science - leave to other agencies?
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LTER80-04Strategic Plan
(04-07)Synthesis
(08-09)
• 4 prospecti09
• NISARRA 09
ISSE(07)
Agency response11
LTER20-?
ULTRA-EX09
(USFS)ULTRA11?
NEON10 OOI10
AON09
NCEAS95-11
Ecosystems70-, CNH08-, other core programs
MERCS10?
NESCentiPlantNIMBS
ESC11
Synthesis (and
application?)
Powell Ctr (USGS)other agencies? USGCRP
other NSF centers &programs (soc, inf)?
Climate change10
BIOD10?
DCLs09
Assembling the pieces…
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How to think, prepare and respond(institutionally)
Actively seek opportunitiesTeach more “synthetic thinking”
Define “interdisciplinary” Optimize individuals vs teams
Group PhDs?More data-based degrees
Adapting reward structures
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Be proactive; things to watch for at NSF (PIs, students)
• Use website, including award search engine, and explore• Program announcements change:
– CNH became a core program; HSD ended– MO/MIP disappeared, so where did microbe $ go?
• DCLs appear (or disappear):– MSM– ETBC , Life in Transition (LiT), MSB, ESE, etc. – same fate?
• Special/new competitions:– Ultra-Ex (and LTAP/USDA)– Environmental Synthesis Center– Climate change– Biodiversity?
• Special reports (e.g., AC-ERE “greenbook”, GEO-AC)
• Important new reviews, workshop reports, or society position papers (e.g., Carpenter 2009)
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The nitty gritty: tips for a better NSF proposal Lead with ideas (not location, ecosystem, species, tools, policy
context, methods, or end application) Generate excitement NOTE SWITCH FROM TARGET DATES TO DEADLINES (DEB) Address AO, but don’t limit yourself by it (co-reviews are common) Know and express the context of your work (literature, other grants) Respond explicitly, but concisely, to previous reviews Emphasize readability and completeness; but avoid verbiage Browse new PAPPG; use it Address both review criteria Follow formatting requirements carefully (font, margins, cpi) Compliance check before submitting Suggest reviewers Include all conflicts of interest in CV; keep updated Be available by email to fix compliance problems (test your spam filters) Talk to your program officer
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Program Offic
ers
Ad hoc Reviewers Advisory
Paneli
sts
DDs and ADs
And remember: NSF Needs You!• 44,000 proposals• 10,000 awards• 200,000 reviews• 50,000 reviewers
www.nsf.gov
Fun!High impact!Rewarding!Well paying!Great city!
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Thank you
Questions? Discussion?
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Thank you!
Questions? Discussion?
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Questions for universities? • How can “synthetic thinking” be best taught?• Are reward structures adequate and appropriate?
• credit for group, interdisciplinary projects• credit for facilitating advances (e.g., LTER PIs)
• Can a PhD be a group project/degree?• Conversely, is disciplinarity being diluted or subverted by “big science”• How do you strike a balance between individual efforts and more complex
project structures, or is balance needed?• How can you avoid the “NIH effect”?• How can you be more involved in the funding process?
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Reminder: Criterion 1: Intellectual Merit
• Potential to advance knowledge and understanding within and across fields
• Qualifications of investigators• Creativity and originality• Conceptualization and organization• Access to resources
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Reminder: Criterion 2: Broader Impacts
• Advance science, while promoting teaching, training and learning
• Target under-represented groups • Enhance infrastructure for R & E • Disseminate results to enhance public understanding• Provide other benefits to society (e.g., in management,
policy)• No formula or template
proposals that do NOT address Broader Impacts in the Project Summary are RWR
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LTER at 40? LTER is central to an international environmental science and education network, with
results informing critical societal decision making
• Led by today’s graduate students• Still focused on the 5 common core research areas • LTER NIS integral to the data system• socio-ecological science is the norm (with SBE)• Geosciences and engineering are full partners• major urban focus (via ULTRA competition with USFS; other agencies)• geographic holes filled (N. Rockies, S. Central, Gulf coast)• agricultural/energy focus expanded (with USDA, DOE)• functionally linked with NEON, AON, OOI• International component to every project in context of ILTER• predictive modeling is a central tool, validated with increasing long-term data• first set of integrated synthesis projects completed; second generation themes
underway
<“DO NOT QUOTE”, “NOT ENDORSED BY NSF”, etc. etc.>
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Systematic Biol. &Biodiversity
Inventory
EvolutionaryProcesses
Neural Systems
Developmental Systems
Behavioral Systems
HumanResources/Training
Research Resources FS/ML, ABI
BiomolecularSystems
CellularSystems
Genes and GenomeSystemsPlant Genome
Environmental Biology
Integrative Organismal
Systems
Biological Infrastructure
Molecular and Cellular
Biosciences
Population and Community Ecology
Ecosystem Science, (Ecos. Studies, LTER)
BIO: 5 Divisions with Clusters & Programs
Physiologicaland Structural
Systems
Emerging Frontiers: NEON; CNH; Ecology of Infectious Diseases; RCN; AToL; Life in Transition; Biodiversity Initiative; Multi-Scale Modeling; ETBC; Advancing Theory in Biology
BIO Centers (coming)
Note: microbes spread around
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Alternate proposal paths at NSF• Submitted to a core program, reviewed by that program: ad hoc, panel, program
officer – or some combination of these review approaches
• Submitted to a core program, transferred with agreement to another program – see above [or RWR as “unresponsive to the solicitation]
• Submitted to a core program, co-reviewed with agreement by another program (ranges from ad hoc suggestions, to formal full panel co-review)
• Submitted to two programs: governed by the identified lead program
• Submitted to a special competition with multiple programs and/or directorates with formal inter-program review (e.g., ETBC, IGERT, IPY)
* Talk with Program Director, if confused…
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Examples of education and early career programs
• Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) - supplements for undergrads (note ESA/SEEDS involvement)• Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grants (DDIG)• Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in BioInformatics• CAREER - Res & Educ integration; $500,000 for 5 years in BIO; pre-tenure PIs• Research Opportunity Award (ROA) – supplements for faculty from undergrad institutions• Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) – supplements for high
school teachers • IGERT – PhD Fellowships