Where is the ?

1. Where is the ? Perspectives on the National Research Enterprise Kelvin K. DroegemeierOffice of the Vice President for ResearchUniversity of OklahomaOSRHE 2010 Summer Grant Writing Institute27 July 2010

2. The Importance of Research • “The solution of virtually all the problems with which the government is concerned – health, education, environment, energy, urban development, international relations, space, economic competitiveness, and defense and national security – all depend on creating new knowledge.” Eric Bloch, Director National Science Foundation 1986

3. The Importance of Research • “The organization known as Microsoft Research exists – and research itself must be done – so we can be prepared for the unknown.” Rick Rashid, President Microsoft Research 2007

4. What Has Research Facilitated During the Past 100 Years? • Internal combustion engine • Air travel • The laser • Computers • Nuclear energy • Carbon dating • DNA sequencing • Vaccines and penicillin • Disease-resistant plants • And on and on…..

5. Original Mode of Scholarship Raphael (1509-1510)

6. Industrial Revolution and World War II Lead to Contemporary Structure of Academia: Specialized and Separated Engineering Sociology Chemistry Political Science Physics

7. Hurricane Katrina What Went Wrong??? Right?

8. Problems at the Boundaries Social and Behavioral Sciences Physical Science Technology and Engineering Policy Economics

9. The Research Spectrum Transdisciplinary Interdisciplinary Multi-Disciplinary Disciplinary D. Lightfoot NSF

10. The 21st Century Will Require Different Structures and Approaches • Stovepipes Facilitated Great Things + New Disciplines and Industries • Some of the great intellectual challenges of the future do not lend themselves to a mostly single-discipline approach • Traditional education will need to transform into active learning and engagement • Transferring knowledge and technology into practical applications – and building wealth – will be the primary driver…not prestige

11. Where are WeToday?

13. A Sea Change in 2007 • America COMPETES (Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education and Science) Act • Signed by President Bush on 9 August 2007 • Authorized $33.6B (FY08-10) • Highlights • Doubling the NSF budget (5 yrs) • Doubling DOE OS budget (10 yrs) • Increases to NIST budget • Permanent R&D tax credit • Special programs for young researchers • Created ARPA-E • New education program

15. Challenges (Opportunities) • War effort and deficit continue to squeeze the non-defense discretionary budget • Rise of China: major energy consumer, huge investments in infrastructure • Rise of India and China major competitors for talent and high-tech jobs • Stronger position of European Union (e.g., ITER) • US recruitment of prospective graduate students and visa/immigration issues • STEM talent pool

16. R&D Investment, 1981-2008

17. Total R&D Share of GDP, 1993-2006

30. RPG = Research Project Grants

31. RPG = Research Project Grants

32. RPG = Research Project Grants

33. What Policy OrganizationsControl all this Stuff???

34. “Public” Policy • Is a process that draws out the collective wisdom of a diverse group to reach a common public goal • Does not involve the generation of knowledge, but the (wise) use of it

35. Development of Science Policy • Scientists discover and communicate facts and uncertainties • Policy analysts consider the above in light of values held by various sectors and frame the problems as well as propose courses of action • Decision makers (company leaders, legislators) make the final decision • Communicators (media) facilitate understanding by the public • Policymakers assess the significance by making value judgments to determine how research outcomes will be applied

36. So Who Advises the Government? FORMALLY • Office of Science and Technology Policy (in the Office of the White House – President’s Science Advisor) (OSTP) • President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) • National Academies (via the National Research Council, the NAS operating arm) • National Science Board (NSB) • National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) • Professionals (via formal Congressional hearings) • Others (e.g., Council on Environmental Quality)

37. So Who Advises the Government? INFORMALLY • Lobbying firms • Professional societies, trade organizations • Political action committees • Civic organizations, Chambers of Commerce • Non-profits and think tanks • For-profit companies • Individual citizens

38. The National Science Board

39. Origin of the National Science Foundation: The Manhattan Project • Intensive 2-year, $2B (in 1940 dollars) effort to build a fission weapon to end World War II • Involved hundreds of academic scientists and technicians – universities were raided • Los Alamos was created to bring everyone together in a secure location • At end of war, scientists were heroes (penicillin, radar, the bomb) • Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD) was created to fund research projects in university and industrial laboratories – precursor to the NSF

40. Key Individual • Vannevar Bush – President Roosevelt’s science advisor • Directed the OSRD • Convinced President Roosevelt that the best way to continue using US researchers was to keep them on their campuses and fund them with Federal dollars • This was a bold new idea • $20 M in research at universities in 1930s • $90 M by mid 1940s

41. Manifesto that Created NSF V. Bush (1945) Available at http://www.nsf.gov

42. The NSF Act of 1950 • So-called “Organic Act” that established the NSF • Signed into law by President Truman on May 10, 1950 • Mission: To promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense; and for other purposes. • “The NSF Shall Consist of a National Science Board … and a Director” • Unlike ALL other agencies that have science components (NASA, NOAA, DOE, DOD, EPA, USGS, etc), the NSF does not reside within a Cabinet Department – it is completely independent • NSF thus is not a traditional “mission agency” though it has a clear mission! • One of the best run agencies in Government

44. The NSF Today • Annual budget of $7+B • The NSF is unique – it funds all areas of science and engineering (exclusive of clinical medicine)

46. National Science Board Roles and Responsibilities • The NSB is part of the NSF • The NSB • Establishes Policies of the National Science Foundation • Oversees and guides the activities of the National Science Foundation • Serves as an independent national science policy body that provides advice to the President and the Congress on matters of national science and engineering policy

47. National Science Board Membership 24 members with the NSF Director an ex-officio • Every 2 years, 8 people are nominated by the President, confirmed by the Senate for 6-year terms • Nomination based upon distinguished service and preeminence in research, education, or public service • Represent academia, industry, and a range of science and engineering disciplines and geographic areas Meet 5-6 times per year in person including a retreat, supplemented with teleconferences Most work done in committees

48. National Science Board ExecutiveCommittee A. Bement Programs and Plans K. Droegemeier Audit and Oversight D. Arvizu Office of the Inspector General C. Boesz Education & Human Resources J. Bruer Strategy and Budget A. Reilly Honorary Awards Nominations ChairS. Beering NSB Office C. Robinson Task Forces - Polar Issues- Sustainable Energy Science & Engineering Indicators Task Forces - Cost Sharing

49. National Science Board Review and Oversight Activities • Review Major Proposals • > 1% of Directorate Budget • Review Major New Programs • > 3% of Directorate Budget • Oversee NSF Project Planning • MREFC • Office of Inspector General

50. National Science BoardPublications