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Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR)

November 6-9, 2007

20th NSF National ConferenceEPSCoR Leadership for Scientific Innovation, Collaboration, and

Enculturation

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EPSCoR’s Purpose

To build the capacity of educational institutions to participate more fully in NSF research activities.

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EPSCoR Objectives

• To catalyze key research themes

• To activate effective collaborations

• To broaden participation in S&E

• To use EPSCoR as a programmatic test bed

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NSF EPSCoR CohortsFY 1980

ArkansasMaineMontanaSouth CarolinaWest Virginia

FY 1985

FY 1987

FY 1992

FY 2002

FY 2000

FY 2003

FY 2001

FY 2004

AlabamaKentuckyNevadaNorth DakotaOklahomaPuerto RicoVermontWyoming

IdahoLouisianaMississippiSouth Dakota

KansasNebraska

Alaska

HawaiiNew Mexico

New HampshireRhode IslandTennessee

U.S. Virgin Islands

Delaware

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Strategic Investment Tools

• Research Infrastructure Improvement Grants (RII)

• Co-funding

• Outreach

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Strategic Investment Tools

Research Infrastructure Improvement Grants (RII):

Up to 5 years and $15M to improve physical and human infrastructure critical to R&D competitiveness in priority research areas.

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Recent Changes in RII

• Maximum duration: 48 mos => 60 mos

• Maximum award: $9 million => 15 million

• Project Description now requires:

Cyberinfrastructure plan

Diversity plan

Outreach and Communication plan

Succession plan for project leadership

• New requirements reflected in review criteria

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Strategic Investment Tools

Co-Funding:Joint support of research proposals submitted by EPSCoR researchers to non-EPSCoR NSF programs.

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1992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007

EPSCoR Investments Leveraged with Funds from NSF Disciplinary Directorates ($M)

NSF Directorate Co-funding

EPSCoR Co-funding

Infrastructure and Related Funding

Workshops, Outreach, etc.

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$0

$5

$10

$15

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$25

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BIO CISE EHR ENG GEO MPS SBE OCI OISE OPP0

5

10

15

20

25EPSCoR Co-funding ($M) # Jurisdiction Focus Areas

EPSCoR Co-funding (FY03-07) and Jurisdiction Primary Research Focus Areas

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All BIO Programs Support EPSCoR Researchers

• Small RNAs: Small Molecules with a Big Responsibility• Small RNAs are new powerful research tools in genomics. Support from a MOLECULAR PROGRAM led to the discovery of over 77,000 new small RNAs and the creation of a public web database for them so they can be used in comparative genomic studies. (P. Green, University of Delaware)

• Architecture of neurons for brain function• Using the nematode, researchers supported by a NEUROSCIENCE PROGRAM established a link between genetic factors associated with control of the cellular cytoskeleton and deficits in neuronal activity. (Guy Caldwell, University of Alabama Tuscaloosa)

• From Picking Peppers to Peeking into Peppers

• Undergraduate students who are children of migrant workers learned how research is conducted and how to communicate their results to their families and the larger community through a REU SITE award to the Chile Pepper Institute at New Mexico State University (P. Bosland, New Mexico State Univ.)

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DynaCode: A General DDDAS Framework with Coast and Environment Modeling Applications

Louisiana Coastal Area Hurricane ensemble modelingIntegrating data from regional observing systems for real-time coastal forecasts

Ecological restoration and controlCoupled models control diversion; sensors/wind fields inject real time data to coupled models.

Infrastructure & algorithms

to couple models dynamic data driven by external inputs from sensors, wind & databases, to optimize execution of complex workflows on grids, invoking appropriate models, meshes, and algorithms, depending on current conditions.

Katrina

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Integration Within a StateHawaii

The Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR) currently supports 23 active awards:

• 5 awards in graduate education• 8 awards in undergraduate education• 5 awards in formal and informal learning

education• 5 awards in human resources

development

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Simulating and Watching the Growth of Cancer Cells

PI: Karen J. Burg, Clemson University. “Emerging Frontiers in 3-D Breast Cancer Tissue Test Systems” (grant #0736007).

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Kar

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urg,

Cle

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rsity

EPSCoR Research

FY 2007 EFRI (Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation) Award Advance our fundamental understanding of the formation of cancer cells.Build an engineered tissue structure that can duplicate the behavior of the normal and cancerous cells and that can be manipulated to test environmental parameters and cause-and-effect models. Use this information for computational simulation of the growth of cancer cells.

Directorate for Engineering

Shown are stem cells (red) that are differentiating in the presence of, and presumably in response to signals from, breast cancer cells. The differentiating cells have migrated to form a layer on top of/integrated with the cancer cells.

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Center for Analysis and Prediction of Storms (CAPS)

• Located at the University of Oklahoma

• “Graduated” STC center; started in 1989

• Basic and applied research on numerical analysis and prediction of severe weather

• Development of low power Doppler radars

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ICECUBE

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CNH: Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems

Biodiversity Dynamics and Land-Use Changes in the Amazon: Multi-Scale Interactions Between Ecological Systems and Resource- Use Decisions by Indigenous Peoples.

P.I.: Jose Fragoso,University of Hawaii

Tropical rainforest Maraca, Brazil

Analysis of the multiple social, economic, and biological factors that affect the sustainability of resource use.

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Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets

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Strategic Investment Tools

Outreach:Support of outreach activities by NSF disciplinary and professional staff; Support of strategic planning and capacity-building workshops.

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EPSCoR Funding by Activity ($M)

Activity FY 2006 FY 2007 FY 2008

RII 61.21 65.31 65.00

Co- Funding 36.09 35.94 40.00

Outreach 0.52 0.25 2.00

Total 97.82 101.50 107.00

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EPSCoR In Transition

• Attendant to EPSCoR move to OD is heightened visibility and the need for

Sharper research focus

Stronger integration across Foundation

• Increase EPSCoR competitiveness through

Increased co-funding

EPSCoR participation in NSF initiatives

Alignment of RII-supported S&E with discovery frontiers in Directorates/Offices

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A More Effective EPSCoR

EPSCoR Science & Engineering Group

• Strategic input from Directorates and Offices to shape the Foundation’s vision for EPSCoR and to help implement that vision

• Strong disciplinary expertise and guidance

• Raise level/broaden scope of interactions

• Ensure excellence and breadth of impact of EPSCoR science and engineering activities

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Challenges at the Frontier

• Cyber-Enabled Research and Innovation (CDI)

• Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL)

• National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON)

• Alaska Region Research Vessel (ARRV)

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Cyber-Enabled Discovery and Innovation (CDI)

Multidisciplinary research based on innovation in, or innovative use of computational thinking – Concepts, Methods, Models, Algorithms, Tools....

• Five year, $750M initiative

• Emphasis on bold, multidisciplinary activities

• Create revolutionary S&E research outcomes

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NEON: National Ecological Observatory Network

NEON will:• Consist of geographically distributed

sensor networks, instrumentation, experimental infrastructure and remote sensing tools linked via cyberinfrastructure.

• Facilitate ultidisciplinary research on a virtual platform enabling a predictive understanding of the environment

• Support education and citizen science

• Enable resource mnanagement• 8 of the 20 NEON Core Sites are in EPSCoR States

A continental scale research platform to advance ecological research at regional to continental scales in order to understand the impacts of climate and land-use change and invasive species on the ecosystems of the US

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Alaska Region Research Vessel

• New ship scheduled for completion in 2012

• Able to operate year round in seasonal ice in many challenging seas

• Investigate climate change, ocean circulation, ecosystems and fisheries, including ice thinning

• Legacy project of IPY• $123M MREFC project

This image is an artist’s rendition of the ARRV, proposed to replace the R/V Alpha Helix, which, at 39 years is the oldest ship in the national academic research fleet.

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Wyoming Wyoming -- CyberinfrastructureCyberinfrastructure EPSCoREPSCoR

October 15, 2007October 15, 2007

State of Delaware State of Delaware CyberITCyberIT Status ReportStatus Report

Karl V. SteinerUniversity of

DelawareMarwan Rasamny

Delaware State University

October 15, 2007

New Hampshire Cyber Infrastructure Assessment

Scott A. Valcourt Director, Project Management & Consulting Services

University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH

The Power of Partnerships

Wyoming Wyoming -- CyberinfrastructureCyberinfrastructure EPSCoREPSCoR

October 15, 2007October 15, 2007

EPSCoR Cyberinfrastructure Assessment Workshop

Overview:Current EPSCoR RII Grant (NSF $4.5 million) – to enhance the research capability in the USVI on the Biocomplexity of Caribean Coral Reefs (BCCR)Created two new graduate programs -- MS in Marine & Environmental Science and MA in Teaching MathematicsEstablished an incubator grants program to stimulate research ($700k investment => $3m plus new funding)EPSCoR is investing in research and technology infrastructure at the University of the Virgin Islands and in the USVI TerritorySecond RII Proposal -- in Jan ‘08.

Kentucky’s Cyberinfrastructure

Allen Lind, Vice President, Information and

Technology

Council on Postsecondary Education

October 15, 2007

BETTER LIVES FOR KENTUCKY’S PEOPLE

CyberInfrastructure (CI)In Louisiana

B. Ramu Ramachandran

State-wide IT initiative: $25M – Gov. Mike Foster, 2001 - present

LONI - $40M, Gov. Kathleen Blanco, 2004 - 2008

LONI - $10M, Gov. Kathleen Blanco, 2006

LONI Institute - $15M, BoR + Institutions, 2007

CyberTools RII - $12M (NSF), 2007

North Dakota Jurisdictional Assessment

October 15, 2007

Bonnie NeasVP for IT

North Dakota State University

Cyber Infrastructure in

Rhode IslandDavid Porter

University of Rhode Island

South Dakota Cyberinfrastructure

EPSCoR Cyberinfrastructure Assessment Workshop

Lexington, KentuckyOctober 15-16th, 2007

KansasKansas

CyberinfrastructureCyberinfrastructure

Joseph B. EvansJoseph B. Evans

Deane E. Ackers Distinguished Professor of EECS

Deane E. Ackers Distinguished Professor of EECS

Director of Research Information Technology

Director of Research Information Technology

University of Kansas

University of Kansas

Cyberin

frastru

cture!

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EPSCoR CI Workshops

• CI Planning – UTSI – May 2006

• CI for Integrated Earth Observing Systems – HI – November 2006

• EPSCoR CI Assessment – KY – October 2007

• CI for Integrated Earth Observing Systems (II) – HI – November 2007

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EPSCoR Cyberinfrastructure Assessment Workshop;

Lexington Oct. 15-16, 2007John Connolly, Barbara Kucera

and Jeff Mossey,

KY NSF EPSCoR

Gary Crane, SURA; Gwen Jacobs, Montana State; Greg Monaco, Great Plains; Karl Steiner,

Delaware

http://www.kynsfepscor.org/cyber07/cyberppts/

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Recommendations:

1) Target NSF ( including EPSCoR & OCI) funding for narrowing the CI gap

2) Apply SBRC funds (or its equivalent) in FY08 budget

3) Build on regional partnerships (like Lariat or Great Plains)

4) Form partnerships with other Federal agencies (like NIH/IDEA)

5) International Partnerships (like CANARIE)

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The EPSCoR – OCI Interface

• Shared goals – capacity building

• Common commitments to LWD

• Very strong commitments to broadening participation

• Synergistic alignment with Discovery Science across NSF

• Partnerships with the EPSCoR community and with other stakeholders to address CI issues

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EPSCoR States in Context

In EPSCoR States:• 18% of the nation’s total population• 16% of its African-Americans• 26% of its American Indians and

Alaskan Natives• 20% of its Native Hawaiians and

Pacific Islanders• 13% of its Hispanics

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EPSCoR States in Context (+)

And in EPSCoR States there are:

• 51 of the nation’s 103 HBCUs (50%)

• 48 of the nation’s 139 HSIs (35%)

• 22 of the nation’s 32 TCUs (69%)

A great opportunity toleverage for leadership!

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EPSCoR -Excellent Progress

Significant Challenges

Outstanding Opportunities

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The Greatest Threat to American Science and Engineering

The Face of American S&E

Is Not the Face of America

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Mahalo nui loa