ONR Global: Cooperative Scientific Research Efforts with Africa

Monique Beaudoin, PhD Associate Director, Office of Naval Research Global

For: Global Science Collaboration: Science Capacity Building & the Implications for the Development Process

Addis Ababa, June 27, 2013

Office of Naval Research (Public Law 588, 1946) “…plan, foster, and encourage scientific research in recognition of its paramount importance as related to the maintenance of future of naval power, and the preservation of national security…”

Transitioning S&T (Defense Authorization Act, 2001) “…manage the Navy’s basic, applied, and advanced research to foster transition from science and technology to higher levels of research, development, test, and evaluation.”

Naval Research Laboratory (Appropriations Act, 1916) “[Conduct] exploratory and research work…necessary …for the benefit of Government service, including the construction, equipment, and operation of a laboratory….”

Thomas Edison

Josephus Daniels

The Office of Naval Research

Harry S. Truman

Vannevar Bush

Office of Naval Research - London Office (1946) “…reporting on the latest developments and to assist visiting American scientists to make contact with their colleagues in Europe…”

Distribution Statement A: Approved for Public Release

Research & Research Support Grants • ONR & ONR Global work together to synergize

international science activities when possible • Grants fund foreign partners from academia, industry,

and non-governmental organizations • Grants do not fund US institutions/individuals, or foreign

military/governmental entities • If US performers collaborate/want to collaborate with international

researchers, ONRG can help fund them/add them to an existing project.

• Grants are for Basic Science and early phase Applied Science Research

Distribution A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited

ONR Global Science Program Tools

Collaborative Science Program (CSP) – Support non-US engagements of Naval interest – In 2012, 152 conferences were held in 44 countries

for a total of $1.8M

Visiting Scientist Program (VSP) grants – Support travel of non-US scientists to US to socialize

new S&T ideas or findings with NRE – In 2012, 68 grants were awarded to 27 countries for

a total of $194k

Naval International Cooperative Opportunities Programs (NICOP)

– Support insertion of innovative, international S&T into core ONR, NRE, & DoD S&T Programs

– In 2012, 120 new NICOPs were started in 32 countries for a total of $9.3M

Liaison Visits (Not a Grant) – ONRG technical staff visit international institutions to

develop access and discover cutting edge S&T

ONRG provides initial (seedling) funding for innovative research

CSP

Liaison Visit

VSP NICOP

Proposal

NICOP

Distribution A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited

ONR Objectives: Ghana • Projects led by

Associate Director Augustus Vogel, PhD (ONRG Santiago, Chile)

• Aims – Stimulate published

research on tropical deltas and coastlines

– Develop new contributors to the coastal geoscience community

– Collaborate with existing US Navy outreach activities in the region

Distribution Statement A: Approved for Public Release

First Projects

• Remote Sensing • Modeling • Beach Surveys • Ocean Data

Distribution Statement A: Approved for Public Release

Initial Outreach • West and Central

Africa: – Identified

promising university departments in the region

– Awarded 3 Visiting Scientist Program (VSP) grants for attendance at relevant conferences

• Researchers also proposed initial workshops to discuss science more in detail

• April 2008- Collaborative Program in Ghana Distribution Statement A:

Approved for Public Release

Meteorological Research • Modeling workshops

– Senegal – Nigeria

• APS classroom programs – Marine Meteorology – Hub countries – Senegal Navy program

• Ship-based data collection – Aerosol data for US Naval Research Lab

APS met training, 2009

APS met training, 2010

Modeling workshops

Distribution Statement A: Approved for Public Release

Oceanography Work • National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration (NOAA) and Academia collaboration

• Data analysis training programs with Nigeria

• Intensive training – Africans associated with courses – At US and EU institutions – Joint research cruises

• Buoy deployments – Argo floats and global drifters – West and East

Buoy deployments, 2008/9

Buoy deployments, 2010

Training, 2008/9

Training, 2010

Distribution Statement A: Approved for Public Release

Unique Challenges with Research Buoys

• The Wave Buoy: Purchased from DataWell

• Deployed August 2010 for 2 days … cut free by local fishermen

• Saved at Togo border

• Sensitization campaign to educate

• Deployed November 2011 for 2 weeks … cut free by local fishermen

• Found in the house of a fisherman at Elimina

Distribution Statement A: Approved for Public Release

Collaborations and Ghanaian Objectives

• National Planning for Coastal Zone Management

• Elizabeth City State University

• Undergraduate Research Experience in Ocean, Marine, and Polar Science;

• Continued Participation in IGARRS

• http://code.google.com/p/icode-mda/wiki/Home

Distribution Statement A: Approved for Public Release

Computers & Infrastructure • Establishment of

Scientific Computer Lab with 6 quadcore computers

• Working to improve internet speed (currently 96M/s for entire university)

• In 2013: US Navy reservist program to train users in basic coding

Distribution Statement A: Approved for Public Release

Visiting Scientist Program • South African researcher to NRL Stennis

(Nov 2010) • South African oceanographers to MRU

Oceans conference (May 2011)

Distribution Statement A: Approved for Public Release

Collaborative Science Program • DOS/Joint Services/CSIR S&T Workshop (Pretoria,

South Africa: September 2011) • Chapman Conference on the Agulhas Current

(Stellenbosch, South Africa: October 2012) • Space Weather (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: November

2012) • Water Research (Tanzania: January 2013) • Plasma Physics (Gabarone, Botswana: March

2013) • Evolutionary Equations (Cape Town, South Africa:

July 2013) • Africon (Mauritius: September 2013) • Global Virtual Conference on MDA Tech (TBD)

Distribution Statement A: Approved for Public Release

Middle East/North Africa

Distribution Statement A: Approved for Public Release

http://www.onr.navy.mil/en/Science-Technology/ONR-Global/funding-opportunities/NICOP.aspx

Example topics for Basic Science research projects for MENA: Agricultural science, Environmental Science, Information Technology

Tips for non-US proposals

• Step 1: Email the relevant Associate Director at ONRG – Brief description of project – Why it’s novel (Know the state of the art and why your approach is

new/superior) • Step 2: White Paper

– One to two page proposal summary • Background (including relevant references) • Statement of work • Project duration and approximate funding needed

• Step 3: Liaison visit by ONRG or VSP for researcher • Step 4: Full Proposal Proposals meant to minimize time spent on preparation Successful proposals complement/enhance existing ONR programs

Distribution A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Thank you Monique E. Beaudoin, PhD Associate Director – Middle East/North Africa Office of Naval Research Global London, UK monique.e.beaudoin.civ@mail.mil www.onr.navy.mil/Science-Technology/ONR-Global.aspx