Mapping New Strategies: National Science Foundation

J. Hicks New York Academy of Sciences 4 April 2006

Examples from our daily life at NSF

Vision

Opportunities for funding at NSF

The Alchemy of GrowthBaghai, Coley and White

Revitalize today

Invest toaccelerate

Incubate and create future areas

23%

20%

22%

13%

10%

4%8%

Electrochemistry

Atomic and Molecular Spec.

Surface Science

Separations

Mass Spec.

Kinetic Methods and Analysis

Other

1984-85 avg. 1994

22%

12%

39%

8%

12%

5%2%

Electrochemistry

Atomic and Molecular Spec.

Surface Chem

Separations

Mass Spec.

Sensors

Other

10%

10%

44%

10%

17%9%

Electrochemistry

Atomic and Molecular Spec.

Surface and Interface

Separations

Mass Spec.

Sensors

2004-5 avg.

Analytical and Surface Chemistry Programrevitalizing

DFG-NSF Partnership

Invest to accelerate

incubate and create new areas

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Pimentel report 1985

Mapping and Visualizing KnowledgeStudents • overview of a particular knowledge domain• identify major research areas, experts, institutions, grants,

publications, patents, citations, and journals as well as their interconnections

• see the influence of certain theories. Researchers• monitor and access research results, relevant funding opportunities,

potential collaborators inside and outside the fields of inquiry• Understand the dynamics (speed of growth, diversification) of

scientific fields, and complementary capabilities. Campus• Develop departments, interdisciplinary areasGrant agencies/R&D managers • identify research frontiers and needed technologies• compare agency coverage of S&T research and nations. • study risk, innovation and impact• select reviewers• monitor (long-term) money flow and research developments• evaluate funding strategies for different programs (e.g. team vs.

individual investigator)• make decisions on project durationsThe general public• gain global knowledge of the structure of S&E.

Katy Boerner, U. Indiana

Small Grants for Exploratory Research (SGER)

• High risk, high payoff

• Up to $200K for 1 year

• Internal review

• Contact us first

incubate and create new areas

We also fund workshops.

Integrative Graduate and Education Research Traineeship (IGERT) Program NSF 06-525

• Interdisciplinary theme plus disciplinary depth• Emerging research area• Innovative models for graduate education• Broaden participation• Catalyze a cultural change in graduate education

– For graduate students– For faculty– For institutions

incubate and create new areas

•5-year duration

•~ $3 M total funding

•~12 trainees/year/award

•($30K/yr fellowship)

•Responsible conduct of research

•Learning about other disciplines

•Working across disciplines

•Collaboration and teamwork

•Communications inside and outside own field

•Communication with the general public

IGERT Students are Better Prepared For:

Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Transfer Programs NSF 06-553

• stimulate technological innovation in the private sector, by strengthening the role of small business concerns in meeting Federal research and development needs, and increasing the commercial application of federally supported research results

• difference between the SBIR and STTR programs - STTR requires researchers at universities and other research institutions to play a significant intellectual role in the conduct of each STTR project. These university-based researchers, by joining forces with a small company, can spin-off their commercially promising ideas while they remain primarily employed at the research institution.

incubate and create new areas

•Topics: Advanced Materials (AM)

•Emerging Opportunities (EO)

•Information Technology (IT)

•Manufacturing Innovation (MI).

Successful proposers will conduct Research and Development (R&D) on projects that:

1.Provide evidence of a commercially viable product, process, device, or system; and 2.Meet an important social or economic need.

Projects should have the following:•High potential commercial payback; •High-risk efforts; •Research tools which meet significant commercial market needs; and, •Applications that result in multipurpose commercially viable functions.

As part of the Division's efforts to maintain ongoing quality in its surveys and data products, SRS supports efforts by the research community to develop improved survey methodologies, create and improve indicators of S&T activities and resources, and strengthen methodologies to analyze and disseminate S&T statistical data. To that end, SRS invites proposals for survey research, workshops, and analytical studies. under its program for. Division of Science Resource Statistics, Lawrence Rausch, 703-292-7812

The President's Fiscal Year 2007 budget request for NSF includes the following language [taken from the section describing the Social, Behavioral and Economic (SBE) Sciences Directorate's activities (p. 154)]:

"Science Metrics"

Within the FY 2007 Request, $6.80 million is allocated for Science Metrics. The goal is to reach a point where the Nations' public and private sectors are able to reliably evaluate returns received from past R&D investments and to forecast likely returns from future investments. SBE is beginning this initiative in FY 2006 by allocating $2.60 million to develop the data, tools, and knowledge needed to foster a new science of science policy.“

We don’t yet know if this will be funded.