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Directorate Update

Directorate Update. David W. Lightfoot Assistant Director National Science Foundation. Human & Social Dynamics. Increase budgets of core programs Complexity science Infrastructure Large-scale interdisciplinary awards Decision Making Under Uncertainty Cross-Directorate Activities

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Directorate Update

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  1. Directorate Update David W. Lightfoot Assistant Director National Science Foundation

  2. Human & Social Dynamics • Increase budgets of core programs • Complexity science • Infrastructure • Large-scale interdisciplinary awards • Decision Making Under Uncertainty • Cross-Directorate Activities • Human factors in environmental change

  3. Dear Colleague Letter Complexity science • complex systems incorporating simpler systems • dynamics of complex systems: tipping points and emergent phenomena of phase transitions Large-scale interdisciplinary research Infrastructure

  4. The IDEAS Factory A potentially transformational method to foster the process of discovery

  5. The IDEAS Factory • Program initiated in 2004 by UK EPSRC to explore mechanisms of generating innovative high risk research projects on selected topics (problem-based or paradigm-shift) • Central feature: “Sandpit” • Intensive, interactive, 5-day event involving a diverse group of 20-30 people in order to uncover innovative ideas

  6. Sandpit Concept Inputs: Grand Challenge Topic, Creative People, Money Creative Environment: “Sandpit” Outputs: Ideas, Research projects, Feasibility studies, Networking

  7. Who is Involved? • Director and Mentors, focus on the topic • Not eligible for funding • Provide real-time peer review • Facilitators, focus on the process • Help design the sandpit • Facilitate interactions to develop creative environment • Participants • Recruited through open call

  8. Sandpit Selection Process • Sandpit Director selects 4-5 Mentors (similar to an NSF review panel or site-visit team) • Open, widely-advertised, call for participants • 2-page application (analogous to pre-proposal) • Knowledge and expertise • Personal attributes (communication skills, collaborative behavior, level of creativity) • Review panel, with occupational psychologist, selects workshop participants • Diversity is key: Variety of disciplines, diverse backgrounds, mix of personal attributes increases group’s willingness to take risks and encourages creativity

  9. Sandpit Process: What it is • Intensive and interactive • Interdisciplinary • Facilitated to promote creative thinking • Based on real-time peer review (analogous to MREFC PDR process)

  10. Sandpit Process: What it isn’t • Technical presentations • Committee-style meetings • Limited to single disciplines • Disconnected from funding plans

  11. Features and Outcomes • Features: • Real-time peer review • Real-time decisions about projects and funding • Outcomes: • Complementary research projects that vary in scale and scope, provide a more holistic approach to addressing the grand challenge.

  12. What Happens After? • Groups submit full proposals within eight weeks • Reviewed by Director and mentors for intellectual merit and degree of novelty and complementarity to the other projects

  13. Proposed Joint NSF-EPSRC Sandpit • Topic: Synthetic Biology • Sandpit Director: NSF Program Director • Mentors: Selected by NSF and EPSRC • Open call for workshop participants issued by EPSRC, open to US and UK • Applications reviewed by Sandpit Director and Mentors • Sandpit to be held in US • NSF proposed contribution of $4M

  14. Social and Behavioral Dimensions of National Security, Conflict, and Cooperation (NSCC)

  15. Goals NSF and DoD intend: • to develop the DoD’s social and human science intellectual capital in order to enhance its ability to address future challenges; • to enhance the DoD’s engagement with the social science community; and • to deepen the understanding of the social and behavioral dimensions of national security issues.

  16. Four Topical Areas • New Approaches to Understanding Dimensions of National Security, Conflict, and Cooperation • Studies of Terrorist Organization and Ideologies • Studies of the Strategic Impact of Religious and Cultural Change • Studies of Political, Cultural, and Social Dynamics Under Authoritarian Regimes

  17. Types of Support • Workshops: Up to an all inclusive total of $50,000 to $150,000 • Small Award Grants: Up to an all inclusive total of $500,000, over a duration of two to three years. • Large Award Grants: Up to an all inclusive total of $2 million per year for a duration of three to five years.

  18. Response 169 projects representing 201 proposals: • 24 workshop projects • 119 small award projects • 26 large award projects Six panels for topical areas plus 1 workshop panel. Commence December 1.

  19. Science of Learning Centers • LIFE Center: Learning in Informal and Formal Environments - PI Pat Kuhl, University of Washington. • CELEST: Center for Learning in Education, Science, and Technology- PI Stephen Grossberg, Boston University. • PSLC: Pittsburgh Science of Learning Center – PI Ken Koedinger, Carnegie Mellon University.

  20. SLC’s • SILC: Spatial Intelligence and Learning Center - PI Nora Newcombe, Temple University. • VL2: Visual Language and Visual Learning Center – PI Thomas Allen, Gallaudet University. • TDLC: Temporal Dynamics of Learning Center – PI Garrison Cottrell, University of California-San Diego.

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