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DoD Basic Science Office Strategic Plan. Dr. Robin Staffin Director for Basic Science Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Department of Defense Atlanta, GA March 22, 2010. Basic Research is Critical to DoD. Basic research discovers new knowledge
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DoD Basic Science Office Strategic Plan Dr. Robin Staffin Director for Basic Science Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Department of Defense Atlanta, GA March 22, 2010
Basic Research is Critical to DoD • Basic research discovers new knowledge • Investigative and fundamental vs. developmental and structured in character • Creates new foundations for new disruptive technologies and solving formerly unsolvable problems • BR discoveries are predictable in neither time nor direction • President Barack Obama and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates have placed high priority on increasing basic research • Basic research has historically been recognized as being of key importance to DoD • Vannevar Bush in “Science: The Endless Frontier”
Basic Research Enables Progress 40s 50s 60s 70s 80s 90s 00s • Nuclear weapons • Radar • Proximity fuse • Sonar • Jet engine • LORAN • Digital computer • ICBM • Transistor • Laser technology • Nuclear propulsion • Digital comm. • Satellite comm. • Integrated circuits • Phased-array radar • Defense networks • Airborne surv. • MIRV • Airborne GMTI/SAR • Stealth • Strategic CMs • IR search and track • Space track network • C2 networks • GPS • UAVs • Night vision • Personal computing • Counter-stealth • BMD hit-to-kill • Wideband networks • Web protocols • Precision munitions • Solid state radar • Advanced robotics • Speech recognition • GIG • Armed UAVs • Optical SATCOM • Data mining • Advanced seekers • Decision support
Five Eigenvectors for Defense Basic Research Goal: Create conditions for basic research investments capable of creating high-payoff, transformative scientific breakthroughs for DoD Provide Scientific Leadership Ensure Coherence and Balance Foster DoDConnections DefenseBasicResearch Attract the Nation’sScientists & Engineers Maximize the Discovery Potential Programs andProgram Policy
Attract the Nation’s S&Esto contribute to and lead DoD research • Action 4.1 Outreach to the Nation’s universities highlighting DoD’s need for and interest in university 6.1 research • Task 4.1.1 Establish liaisons in research universities with very high research activity • Task 4.1.2 Rotating Town-Hall Meetings with DoD senior scientists at threeprofessional society meetings per year • Task 4.1.3 Organize an annual DoD-University Leadership Dialog • Action 4.2 Increase pool of new DoD researchers • Task 4.2.1 Utilize HBCU/MI program to broaden talent pool of DoD researchers • Task 4.2.2 NDSEG, PECASE, NSSEFF, SMART through research collaborations • Action 4.3 Raise awareness of defense basic research • Task 4.3.1 Publish an annual DoD Report on Basic Research, highlighting some of the most productive or high-growth scientific areas of research funded by DoD and including profiles of leading DoD researchers
Maximize the Discovery Potential of the Defense Research Business Environment “On average, faculty are spending 42% of their federally funded time on administrative matters that do not include proposal writing.” • COGR/AAU found that total number of DoD restrictions at 20 select universities increased from 138 in 2004 to 180 in 2007 due to new types of restrictions being added to grants
High Interest Basic Science Areas Modeling of Human Behavior Synthetic Biology Engineered Materials Cognitive Neuroscience QuantumSystems Nano Science and Engineering
High Interest Basic Science Areas • Synthetic biology • Convergence of life sciences and the physical sciences • Engineered design and transport of energy / information in new materials • Metamaterials, plasmonics, spintronics, optoelectronics, atomtronics • The 2nd Quantum revolution • Taking Heisenberg to the next level: entangled states and new capabilities in communication, sensing, imaging, simulation & computing • Computational modeling of human behavior • Individual decision-making and social networks • Cognitive neuroscience • Neuro-cognitive performance, plasticity, brain-electronics interfaces • Nano-science and nano-engineering • New structures / devices / manufacturing /nano-basis of reproduction
Summary • Future operations capabilities depend on the basic research achievements of today • The strategic plan provides the foundation for DoD’s basic research program: • Provide scientific leadership for the DoD research enterprise • Attract the Nation’s scientists and engineers to contribute to and lead DoD research • Ensure the coherence and balance of the DoD basic research portfolio • Foster connections between DoD performers and the DoD community • Maximize the discovery potential of the defense research business environment • Achieving these goals results in a coherent, forward-thinking basic research program supported by the Nation’s top researchers and paving the way for tomorrow’s revolutionary breakthroughs