STEM to STEAM NSF Engagement RISD 2010
Babette Allina, Peter Simon
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STEM to STEAM NSF Engagement
Contents: 3/ 4/ 5/ 6/ 12/ 13/ 14/ 23/ 33/
RISD and NSF NSF Organization Overview Money at NSF NSF Division Descriptions NSF Award Criteria Our Selection Process NSF Funding Opportunities: Soft NSF Funding Opportunities: Hard NSF Funding Opportunities: FYI
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RISD and NSF Comparing Institutional Missions: RISD MISSION:
The mission of the Rhode Island School of Design, through its college and museum, is to educate its students and the public in the creation and appreciation of works of art and design, to discover and transmit knowledge and to make lasting contributions to a global society through critical thinking, scholarship and innovation.
NSF MISSION:
...to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense… Each Division at NSF has its own pointed mission that has developed through its programs and engagements.
NSF TO: UNDERSTAND SYSTEMS TO:
LIFE EARTH SOCIAL/ ECONOMIC HUMAN / EARTH INTERACTIONS EARTH RESOURCES
EXPLORE UNKNOWN
TO: DEVELOP BY:
RISD TO: EDUCATE DISCOVER: FOR:
STUDENTS PUBLIC IN: ART DESIGN KNOWLEDGE GLOBAL SOCIETY
COMPUTING COMMUNICATIONS INFORMATION SYSTEMS MATERIAL KNOWLEDGE INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS CROSS DISCIPLINE COLLABORATION USING CYBER INFRASTRUCTURE
OF EDUCATION AND FOR: EXCELLENCE IDEAS/ TOOLS, NATIONS CAPACITY TO PERFORM
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NSF Organization Overview NSF is divided up into Divisions, Directorates and offices that award grants relating to their respective subject areas. Administration and Leadership Director/ Deputy Director
Cross Disciplinary Programs
National Science Board
Office of Inspector General
Departments / Directorates
(OIA) Integrative Activities
(MPS) Mathematical & Physical Sciences
(OCI) Cyberinfrastructure
(GEO) Geosciences
(OISE) International Science & Engineering
(EHR) Education & Human Resources
(OPP) Polar Programs
(ENG) Engineering (BIO) Biological Sciences (CISE) Computer & Information Science and Engineering (SBE) Social Behavioral & Economic Sciences
General Counsel
Budget Finance & Award Management
Legislative & Public Affairs
Information & Resource Management
Equal Employment Opportunities Administrative Support Page 4
Money at NSF The NSF manages 7,424 billion dollars from the federal government. This breakdown shows how much money is spent per research area. WHERE IS THE MONEY?
*ALL NUMBERS IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
BIO - 767.81 CISE - 684.51 ENG - 825.67 SBE - 268.79 MPS -1,409.90 EHR - 892.00 GEO - 955.29
577 52 123 14
RESEARCH EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE STEWARDSHIP
535 38 30 COMPUTER & INFORMATION SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 13
RESEARCH EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE STEWARDSHIP
703 73 33 14
RESEARCH EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE STEWARDSHIP
201 15 46 5
RESEARCH EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE STEWARDSHIP
972 65 349 23
RESEARCH EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE STEWARDSHIP
191 688 15 16
RESEARCH EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE STEWARDSHIP
505 44 387 17
RESEARCH EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE STEWARDSHIP
BIOLOGY, UNDERSTANDING LIFE AND SYSTEMS
ENGINEERING, TO STRENGTHEN NATIONAL INNOVATION
SOCIAL, BEHAVIORAL & ECONOMIC SCIENCES
MATHEMATICAL & PHYSICAL SCIENCES
EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES
GEOSCIENCES, HUMAN SIGNIFICANCE IN EARTH SCIENCES
OFFICES UNDER THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
OCI - 228 OISE - 53 OPP - 527 295 IA OFFICE OF CYBER INFRASTRUCTURE
OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
OFFICE OF POLAR PROGRAMS
OFFICE OF INTEGRATIVE ACTIVITIES
FY 2011 Agency Estimates: Research Activities:
$6,028.83
Education, Human Resources Development: Equipment / Facilities Development: Admin: Total:
$892
$165.19
-----
$7424
Source: FY 2011 Budget Request to Congress, Feb 1 2010
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Division / Directorate / Office Descriptions
BIO - 767.81
BIOLOGY, UNDERSTANDING LIFE AND SYSTEMS MISSION:
577 52 123 14
RESEARCH EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE STEWARDSHIP
To enable discoveries for understanding life. BIO supported research advances the frontiers of biological knowledge, increases our understanding of complex systems, and provides a theoretical basis for original research in many other scientific disciplines.
Joann P. Roskoski, Assistant Director (703) 292-8400 (MCB) Molecular & Cellular Biosciences (DBI) Biological Infrastructure (IOS) Integrative Organismal Systems (DEB) Environmental Biology (EF) Emerging Frontiers
CISE - 684.51
535 38 30 COMPUTER & INFORMATION SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 13
MISSION:
133.69 226.70 155.59 145.63 106.20 RESEARCH EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE STEWARDSHIP
-To enable the U.S. to uphold a position of world leadership in computing, communications, and information science and engineering -To promote understanding of the principles and uses of advanced computing, communications and information systems in service to society -To contribute to universal, transparent and affordable participation in an information-based society.
Jeannette M. Wing, Assistant Director (703) 292-8900 (CCF) Computing and Communication Foundations (CNS) Computer and Network Systems (IIS) Information and Intelligent Systems (ITR) Information Technology Research
186.95 227.08 189.74 80.74 Page 6
Division / Directorate / Office Descriptions
EHR - 892
EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES
191 688 15 16
RESEARCH EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE STEWARDSHIP
MISSION:
...To achieve excellence in U.S. science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education at all levels and in all settings... ...Access to the ideas and tools of science and engineering. The purpose of these activities is to enhance the quality of life of all citizens and the health, prosperity, welfare and security of the nation. Joan Ferrini-Mundy, Assistant Director (703) 292-4682
168.91 185.26 247.85
(HRD) Division of Human Resource Development (DGE) Division of Graduate Education (DRL) Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings
289.98
(DUE) Division of Undergraduate Education
ENG - 825.67
ENGINEERING, TO STRENGTHEN NATIONAL INNOVATION MISSION:
703 73 33 14
RESEARCH EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE STEWARDSHIP
...Promotes the progress of engineering in the United States in order to enable the Nation's capacity to perform. ...strengthen a national capacity for innovation that can lead over time to the creation of new shared wealth and a better quality of life...
Thomas W. Peterson, Assistant Director (703) 292-8300 (CBET) Chemical, Bioengineering, and Transport Systems (CMMI) Civil, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Innovation (ECCS) Electrical, Communications, and Cyber Systems (EEC) Engineering Education and Centers (IIP) Industrial Innovation and Partnerships (EFRI) Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation
169.07 206.50 103.00 138.40 177.70 31.00 Page 7
Division / Directorate / Office Descriptions
GEO - 955.29
505 44 387 17
GEOSCIENCES, HUMAN SIGNIFICANCE IN EARTH SCIENCES MISSION:
RESEARCH EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE STEWARDSHIP
...to support research in the atmospheric, earth, and ocean sciences... ...need to understand, predict, and respond to environmental events and changes to use Earth's resources wisely... ...to predict natural phenomena of economic and human significance...
Timothy L. Killeen, Assistant Director (703) 292-8500
280.80 199.00 97.60 377.89
(AGS) Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences (EAR) Earth Sciences (ICER) Integrative and Collaborative Education & Research (OCE) Ocean Sciences
MPS - 1,409.9
MATHEMATICAL & PHYSICAL SCIENCES
972 65 349 23
RESEARCH EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE STEWARDSHIP
To make discoveries about the Universe and the laws that govern it; to create new knowledge, materials, and instruments which promote progress across science and engineering; to prepare the next generation of scientists through research, and to share the excitement of exploring the unknown with the nation. Edward Seidel, Assistant Director (703) 292-8801
MISSION:
(AST) Astronomical Sciences (CHE) Chemistry (DMR) Materials Research (DMS) Mathematical Sciences (PHY) Physics (OMA) Office of Multidisciplinary Activities
251.77 247.56 319.37 253.46 298.19 39.56 Page 8
Division / Directorate / Office Descriptions
SBE - 268.79
SOCIAL, BEHAVORIAL & ECONOMIC SCIENCES
201 15 46 5
RESEARCH EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE STEWARDSHIP
MISSION:
...Builds fundamental knowledge of human behavior, interaction, and social and economic systems, organizations and institutions.... Myron Gutmann, Assistant Director (703) 292-8700 (BCS) Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences
(SES) Social and Economic Sciences (SRS) Science Resource Statistics (OMA) Office of Multidisciplinary Activities
99.21 104.12 36.72 28.74
Offices under the Office of the Director
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Division / Directorate / Office Descriptions
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Division / Directorate / Office Descriptions
IA - 295
OFFICE OF INTEGRATIVE ACTIVITIES MISSION:
...OIA develops, oversees and leads cross-cutting activities, working across organizational boundaries and developing partnerships to promote the NSF mission... ....EPSCoR-the Experimental Program for Stimulation of Competitive Research education goals, etc....
(703) 292-8040 EPSCoR Science and Technology Centers Major Research Instrumentation Communicating Science Broadly Graduate Research Fellowships Science and Technology Policy Institute STAR METRICS
154.36 26.30 90.00 4.00 17.83 3.04 0.40
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Proposal Criteria for NSF Funding
Transformative! NATIONAL ADVANCEMENT Overarching Evaluation Criteria: */ Intellectual Merit */ Broader Impact top mentioned criteria 1/ Science Technology Engineering Math 2/ Public / Community Development 3/ Competence & Track Record 4/ Integration of Research and Education 5/ Diversity -/ -/ -/ -/
High Risk Paradigm Challenging Transformative Research Marketable Ideas
QUESTIONS: / Is this proposal relevant to the / NSF’s mission or vision? / / Can this project come to fruition? / / How cool is it?
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Our Selection Process
STEM to STEAM Future Prestige
Criteria 1/ 2/ -/ -/ -/
STEM to STEAM focus Can we do it? What is the deadline? What is the funding range? Do we have the intellectual capital to do it? -/ Do we have the human resources to do it? -/ Do we have the network to make it a success?
Categories: Soft - RISD is positioned to meet criteria Hard - Appropriate but requires investment FYI - Deadline has expired, soft and hard targets.
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NSF Funding Opportunities: Soft (NUE) Nanotechnology Undergraduate Education in Engineering Soft Lives Under: EHR Rationale:
:Deadline :Funding Range :Intellectual Capitol :Human Resources :Network
RISD’s myriad aptitudes for concept development / illustration and artistic interpretation relate directly to the opportunities for development in Nanotechnology in Undergraduate education in engineering. In addition to furthering the STEM to STEAM agenda, this opportunity could further develop the RISD / Brown Dual Degree Program by introducing a new set of collaborative opportunities. Description:
This solicitation aims at introducing nanoscale science, engineering, and technology through a variety of interdisciplinary approaches into undergraduate engineering education. The focus of this year’s competition is on nanoscale engineering education with relevance to devices and systems and/or on the societal, ethical, economic and/or environmental issues relevant to nanotechnology. Due Date: May 7, 2010 Annual? Yes
Awards: 10-15 of $5,000,000
Antarctic Artists and Writers Program SOFT Lives Under: OPP Rationale:
:Deadline :Funding Range :Intellectual Capitol :Human Resources :Network
This program is unique at the NSF; it is the only program that explicitly funds artistic exploration. It makes sense to apply for this opportunity in order to expose more RISD artists and designers to the scientific community as well as to fulfill our own artistic development goals. Description:
The Antarctic Artists and Writers Program provides opportunities for professional artists and writers to travel to Antarctica --- at research stations, field camps, and aboard ships --- to make the observations necessary to complete their proposed projects. While the majority of award recipients are established artists and writers, the program also seeks to support early career artists and writers in an effort to broaden participation. Due Date:Postponed, 2011 Awards: Small Scale Annual? Yes
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NSF Funding Opportunities: Soft Arctic Social Sciences SOFT Lives Under: OPP Rationale:
:Deadline :Funding Range :Intellectual Capitol :Human Resources :Network
The social sciences inherently mesh well with traditional art making approaches; the cultural and social components of this RFP would accommodate RISD research well. Although this RFP incorporates many disciplines in a comprehensive way, RISD could contribute by integrating discrete fields within the larger systems. The STEM component of this RFP also provides opportunities for RISD to bring STEAM to the investigation. Description:
The goal of the NSF Division of Arctic Sciences is to gain a better understanding of the Arctic’s physical, biological, geological, chemical, social and cultural processes, and the interactions of ocean, land, atmosphere, biological, and human systems in the Arctic. The Division of Arctic Sciences and other NSF programs support projects that contribute to the development of the next generation of researchers and scientific literacy for all ages through education, outreach, and broadening participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Due Date: January 14, 2010 Annual? Yes
Awards: 40 of $16,000,000
(ATOL) Assembling the Tree of Life Soft Lives Under: BIO Rationale:
:Deadline :Funding Range :Intellectual Capitol :Human Resources :Network
This RFP is a recurring opportunity for RISD to engage the scientific community by contributing our considerable illustration and system skills to a very daunting task. To assemble a “tree of life” researchers will need interdisciplinary expertise and use technology to aid in the research process. This is essentially a gigantic mapping project where RISD can help build, and show a new understanding of the “tree of life.” Description:
Currently, single investigators or small teams of researchers are studying the evolutionary pathways of heredity usually concentrating on taxonomic groups of modest size. Assembly of a framework phylogeny, or Tree of Life, for all major lineages of life requires a greatly magnified effort, often involving large teams working across institutions and disciplines to broaden participation. Due Date: March 22, 2010 Annual? Yes
Awards: 3-6 @ $12,000,000
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NSF Funding Opportunities: Soft CISE Cross-Cutting Programs: FY 2011 Soft Lives Under: CISE Rationale:
:Deadline :Funding Range :Intellectual Capitol :Human Resources :Network
The CISE Division at NSF develops a suite of yearly interdisciplinary awards that respond to an immediate need or new interest of the department. This year they will offer awards for research that RISD could help advance such as “Smart Health and Wellbeing” and “Network Science.” These large awards would require significant collaboration. Description:
This solicitation seeks proposals in areas that are scientifically timely, and that benefit from the intellectual contributions of researchers with expertise in a number of computing fields and/or sub-fields. The cross-cutting programs for FY 2011 are: Network Science and Engineering; Smart Health and Wellbeing; and Trustworthy Computing. Due Date: Dec 17, 2010 Annual? No
Awards: 130 / $100,000,000
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NSF Funding Opportunities: Soft CreativeIT Soft Lives Under: CISE Rationale:
:Deadline :Funding Range :Intellectual Capitol :Human Resources :Network
We have previously identified CreativeIT at NSF as a bridge for RISD to engage with the NSF. When the scientists want to get creative, RISD should step in and help. Description:
The CreativeIT Program solicits proposals for projects that explore synergistic cross disciplinary research in creativity and computer science and information technology. Information technology is playing an increasing role in extending the capability of human creative thinking and problem solving. The study of creativity and computing as a way to advance computer science and information technology, cognitive science, engineering, education, or science can lead to new models of creativity and creative computational processes, innovative approaches to education that encourage creativity, innovative modes of research that include creative professionals, and new technology to support human creativity. Due Date: Oct 13, 2009 Annual? No
Awards: 15-20 / $7,000,000
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NSF Funding Opportunities: Soft (EDI) Engineering Design and Innovation Soft Lives Under: ENG Rationale:
:Deadline :Funding Range :Intellectual Capitol :Human Resources :Network
This opportunity would allow and enable RISD art/design expertise to flow into and fundamentally change the way engineers work. By being involved in the development of the next stages of design theory and working out the particulars, RISD could position itself as a premiere engineering / design collaborator. Description:
The EDI program supports research leading to design theory and to tools and methods that enable implementation of the principles of design theory in the practice of design across the full spectrum of engineered products. The program focus is on gaining an understanding of the basic processes and phenomena underlying a holistic, life-cycle view of design where the total system life-cycle context recognizes the need for advanced understanding of the identification and definition of preferences, analysis of alternatives, effective accommodation of uncertainty in decision-making, and the relationship between data and knowledge in a digitallysupported process. The program funds advances in basic design theory, tools, and software to implement design theory and new design methods that span multiple domains, such as design for the environment and for manufacturability. Due Date: Feb 15, 2011 Annual? Yes
Awards:
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NSF Funding Opportunities: Soft Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research: Workshop Soft Lives Under: IA Rationale:
:Deadline :Funding Range :Intellectual Capitol :Human Resources :Network
These workshops provide RISD with a great opportunity to become the regional nexus of STEM to STEAM and continue to help our local and regional networks of science and art to flourish. Description:
Through this program, NSF establishes partnerships with government, higher education and industry that are designed to effect lasting improvements in a region/ jurisdiction’s research infrastructure, R&D capacity and hence, its national R&D competitiveness......These workshops will explore innovative ways to address multijurisdictional efforts on themes of regional to national importance with relevance to EPSCoR’s goals/objectives and NSF’s mission. Due Date: Anytime Annual? Yes
Awards: 5 @ $500,000
(HCC) Human Centered Computing Soft Lives Under: CISE Rationale:
:Deadline :Funding Range :Intellectual Capitol :Human Resources :Network
This combination of human computing effects as well as how computing technologies evolve in the human environment would fit well within the skill sets that RISD can currently offer. Artists often consider the relationship between humans and external factors, by combining that with research, we could make a solid case for research at RISD. Description:
Human beings, whether as individuals, teams, organizations, or societies, play an integral role in all stages of the creation and use of computational systems. Moreover, computing technologies and human societies co-evolve, transforming each other in the process. Human Centered Computing (HCC) research explores creative ideas, novel theories, and innovative technologies that advance our understanding of the complex and increasingly coupled relationships between people and computing. Due Date: Annual? Yes
Awards:
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NSF Funding Opportunities: Soft (ISE) Informal Science Education Soft Lives Under: EHR Rationale:
:Deadline :Funding Range :Intellectual Capitol :Human Resources :Network
This RFP would throw RISD into the middle of developing STEM education at multiple levels. We are uniquely suited to this kind of espionage because the arts have traditionally been seen as “informal.� Think of this RFP as the front door to STEM. Description:
The ISE program invests in projects that promote lifelong learning of STEM in a wide variety of informal settings. Funding is provided for projects that advance understanding of informal STEM learning, that develop and implement innovative strategies and resources for informal STEM education, and that build the national professional capacity for research, development, and practice in the field. There are five categories of ISE program grants: Research; Pathways; Full-Scale Development; Broad Implementation; and Communicating Research to Public Audiences. Due Date:Dec 7, 2010 Annual? No
Awards: 46 of $25,000,000
(IOS) Innovation and Organizational Sciences Soft Lives Under: SBE Rationale:
:Deadline :Funding Range :Intellectual Capitol :Human Resources :Network
This RFP looks to understand innovation in organizations. RISD could perform this kind of analysis and map out how innovation happens at creative institutions. Description:
The Innovation and Organizational Sciences (IOS) program supports scientific research directed at advancing understanding of innovation and organizational phenomena. Levels of analysis may include (but are not limited to) individuals, groups and/or institutional arrangements. Disciplinary perspectives may include (but are not limited to) organization theory, organizational behavior, organizational sociology, social and industrial psychology, public administration, computer and information sciences, complexity sciences, decision and management sciences. Due Date:Sept 3, 2010 Annual? Yes
Awards:
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NSF Funding Opportunities: Soft Research to Aid Persons with Disabilities Soft Lives Under: ENG Rationale:
:Deadline :Funding Range :Intellectual Capitol :Human Resources :Network
This RFP would fit perfectly with existing resources and strengths at RISD. By combining research with the design and development of prosthetics, this opportunity could help establish a new level of fruitful collaboration between RISD and engineering departments at other schools. Description:
The Research to Aid Persons with Disabilities (RAPD) program supports research that will lead to the development of new technologies, devices, or software for persons with disabilities. Research may be supported that is directed to the characterization, restoration, and/or substitution of human functional ability or cognition, or to the interaction of persons with disabilities and their environment. Areas of particular recent interest are disability-related research in neuroscience/ neuroengineering and rehabilitation robotics. Emphasis is placed on significant advancement of fundamental engineering and scientific knowledge and not on incremental improvements. Proposals should advance discovery or innovation beyond the frontiers of current knowledge in disability-related research. Applicants are encouraged to contact the Program Director prior to submitting a proposal. Undergraduate Engineering Design Projects are also supported, especially those that provide prototype “custom-designed� devices or software for persons with disabilities. Due Date:Sept 23, 2010 Annual? No
Awards:
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NSF Funding Opportunities: Soft Energy for Sustainability Soft Lives Under: ENG Rationale:
:Deadline :Funding Range :Intellectual Capitol :Human Resources :Network
This RFP, through the Engineering Department at NSF seeks to develop sustainable materials and manufacturing capability in the United States. RISD could add to this kind of research by lending our previous sustainability work toward the implementation of our design process in engineering. Description:
The Energy for Sustainability program supports fundamental research and education that will enable innovative processes for the sustainable production of electricity and transportation fuels. Processes for sustainable energy production must be environmentally benign, reduce greenhouse gas production, and utilize renewable or bio-based resources that are abundant in the United States. Due Date:Sept 23, 2010 Annual? No
Awards:
Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation 2010, SEED In Progress Lives Under: ENG Rationale:
:Deadline :Funding Range :Intellectual Capitol :Human Resources :Network
RISD has submitted a proposal to this funding opportunity earlier in the year. This RFP positions work at the forefront of practical building and energy storage material science. Description:
The EFRI Office is launching a new funding opportunity for interdisciplinary teams of researchers to embark on rapidly advancing frontiers of fundamental engineering research. For this solicitation, proposals will be considered that aim to investigate emerging frontiers in the following two specific research areas: (1) Renewable Energy Storage (RESTOR), and (2) Science in Energy and Environmental Design (SEED): Engineering Sustainable Buildings. Due Date: March 31, 2010 Annual? No
Awards:
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NSF Funding Opportunities: Hard (ARCSS) Arctic System Science Program Hard Lives Under: OPP Rationale:
:Deadline :Funding Range :Intellectual Capitol :Human Resources :Network
This RFP is a perfect opportunity for RISD to extend our skill sets to science. The RFP seeks work that explains larger arctic systems in an effort to reconcile the relationships between different fields of arctic sciences. The structural aspects of this RFP ask for larger systems understanding and concrete deliverables. Description:
The arctic system behaves in ways that we do not understand fully and has demonstrated the capacity for rapid and unpredictable change with global ramifications. Because the Arctic is pivotal to the dynamics of our planet, it is critical that we understand this complex and interactive system. • determine or investigate the important relations amongst components of the arctic system, • help explain the range of states for the arctic system, or • contribute significantly to our understanding of the structure and function of the arctic system through synthesis and further study. To be successful, a proposal to the ARCSS program should have several or all of the above characteristics. Moreover ARCSS proposals MUST define explicitly and in detail how they contribute to broad system understanding. Due Date: January 14, 2010 Annual? Yes
Awards: 40 of $16,000,000
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NSF Funding Opportunities: Hard (CLD) Climate and Large-Scale Dynamics HARD Lives Under: GEO Rationale:
:Deadline :Funding Range :Intellectual Capitol :Human Resources :Network
If RISD chose to apply itself and its resources toward collaborating with science in the field of complex data visualization and conceptualization, then this would be a wonderful challenge. It requires considerable collaboration with established scientists, and provides opportunities for both conceptual work in complex systems and practical visualization development. Description:
Research topics include theoretical, observational and modeling studies of the general circulation of the stratosphere and troposphere; synoptic scale weather phenomena; processes that govern climate; the causes of climate variability and change; methods to predict climate variations; extended weather and climate predictability; development and testing of parameterization of physical processes; numerical methods for use in large-scale weather and climate models; the assembly and analysis of instrumental and/or modeled weather and climate data; data assimilation studies; development and use of climate models to diagnose and simulate climate and its variations and change. Due Date: Anytime Annual? Yes
Awards:
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NSF Funding Opportunities: Hard (CNH) Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems HARD Lives Under: BIO Rationale:
:Deadline :Funding Range :Intellectual Capitol :Human Resources :Network
This STEM to STEAM oriented RFP calls for many of RISD’s innate talents in education. By asking institutions to take an interdisciplinary approach and attempt to better understand human and natural systems + interactions, NSF has opened the door for RISD to become a leader in this kind of quantitative investigation and incorporate our qualitative expertise in art / design. Description:
The Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems competition promotes quantitative, interdisciplinary analyses of relevant human and natural system processes and complex interactions among human and natural systems at diverse scales. This program provides educational opportunities for Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students, K-12 Educators etc... Due Date: Nov 16, 2010 Annual? No
Awards:
EarthScope Lives Under: GEO Hard Rationale:
:Deadline :Funding Range :Intellectual Capitol :Human Resources :Network
RISD could attack this kind of “broad” and “integrative” research in a concrete and productive way. By incorporating RISD into this kind of broad understanding proposal RISD would be situated to both help develop the science of Earth, but also use new cyberinfrastructure technologies, and become pioneers in Earth science education. Description:
EarthScope is an Earth science program to explore the 4-dimensional structure of the North American continent. The EarthScope Program provides a framework for broad, integrated studies across the Earth sciences, including research on fault properties and the earthquake process, strain transfer, magmatic and hydrous fluids in the crust and mantle, plate boundary processes, large-scale continental deformation, continental structure and evolution, and composition and structure of the deep-Earth. In addition, EarthScope offers a centralized forum for Earth science education at all levels and an excellent opportunity to develop cyberinfrastructure to integrate, distribute, and analyze diverse data sets. Due Date: July 16, 2010 Annual? Yes
Awards: 15 - 25 / $12,000,000
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NSF Funding Opportunities: Hard (TUES) Transforming Undergraduate Education in STEM HARD Lives Under: EHR Rationale:
:Deadline :Funding Range :Intellectual Capitol :Human Resources :Network
This is a near perfect example of how RISD could develop STEAM education from the inside out. The RFP asks for classroom practices that incorporate how children learn in order to find a scalable resource or model to develop STEM. Description:
The Transforming Undergraduate Education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (TUES) program seeks to improve the quality of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education for all undergraduate students. This solicitation especially encourages projects that have the potential to transform undergraduate STEM education, for example, by bringing about widespread adoption of classroom practices that embody understanding of how students learn most effectively. Thus transferability and dissemination are critical aspects for projects developing instructional materials and methods and should be considered throughout the project’s lifetime. More advanced projects should involve efforts to facilitate adaptation at other sites. Due Date:May 26, 2011 Annual? Yes
Awards: 94-108 of $35,000,000
(BRC) Improvements to Biological Research Collections HARD Lives Under: BIO Rationale:
:Deadline :Funding Range :Intellectual Capitol :Human Resources :Network
This RFP provides support for the expansion and incorporation of biological collections to help develop local research structures. Since RISD has a biological resource on campus (the Nature Lab) it could leverage that resource to help develop a local resource for research. Description:
The BRC program is encouraging collaborative proposals to network collections on regional and continental scales, especially collaborations that bring large and small collections together into networks. The BRC program also provides for enhancements to existing collections to improve collections, computerize specimen-related data, develop better methods of specimen curation and collection management through activities such as symposia and workshops. Due Date:July 24, 2010 Annual? Yes
Awards: 6-15 of $6,000,000
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NSF Funding Opportunities: Hard (ABI) Advances in Biological Informatics HARD Lives Under: BIO Rationale:
:Deadline :Funding Range :Intellectual Capitol :Human Resources :Network
The field of Informatics strongly correlates to the sets of skills that RISD fosters and encourages. This RFP asks for proposals to consider how to develop the field of information science within biology to better enable future research, or to propose ground breaking innovations that transform how researchers process and use information. RISD’s approaches to interpreting and communicating information qualitatively could translate into new and fruitful developments as well as open opportunities toward achieving STEAM. Description:
The Advances in Biological Informatics (ABI) program seeks to encourage new approaches to the analysis and dissemination of biological knowledge for the benefit of both the scientific community and the broader public. The ABI program is especially interested in the development of informatics tools and resources that have the potential to advance, or transform, research in biology supported by the Directorate for Biological Sciences at the National Science Foundation. The ABI program accepts two major types of proposals: Innovation awards that seek to pioneer new approaches to the application of informatics to biological problems and Development awards that seek to provide robust cyberinfrastructure that will enable transformative biological research. Due Date: August 23, 2010 Awards: 22-30 of $22,000,000 Annual? Yes
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NSF Funding Opportunities: Hard Expeditions in Computing HARD Lives Under: CISE Rationale:
:Deadline :Funding Range :Intellectual Capitol :Human Resources :Network
Although the scale of this RFP is considerable, it is an opportunity for RISD to become involved in the next generation of computing research, and to help define the agendas that NSF will pursue in the coming years. This would require systematic collaboration and unprecedented innovation in a realm that RISD is familiar with, but not wholly involved in yet. Description:
The Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) has created the Expeditions in Computing (Expeditions) program to provide the CISE research and education community with the opportunity to pursue ambitious, fundamental research agendas that promise to define the future of computing and information. In planning Expeditions, investigators are encouraged to come together within or across departments or institutions to combine their creative talents in the identification of compelling, transformative research agendas that promise disruptive innovations in computing and information for many years to come. Due Date: Feb 12, 2012 Annual? Yes, 2 year
Awards: 3-4 of $30,000,000
(GEM) Geospace Environment Modeling HARD Lives Under: GEO Rationale:
:Deadline :Funding Range :Intellectual Capitol :Human Resources :Network
If RISD were to stress graphic visualization of data and systems as an emphasis, this RFP would offer many opportunities to break new ground in the visualization of predictive geospatial models. Description:
GEM is a broad-based, community-initiated research program on the physics of the Earth’s magnetosphere and the coupling of the magnetosphere to the atmosphere and to the solar wind. The purpose of the GEM program is to support basic research into the dynamical and structural properties of geospace, leading to the construction of a global Geospace General Circulation Model (GGCM) with predictive capability. Due Date: Oct 15, 2011 Annual? Yes
Awards: 8-12 of $750,000
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NSF Funding Opportunities: Hard Antarctic Integrated System Science Hard Lives Under: OPP Rationale:
:Deadline :Funding Range :Intellectual Capitol :Human Resources :Network
This RFP is the capstone to the AISS program, a suite of funding opportunities that encompass the breadth of Antarctic oriented science. The RFP asks many discrete disciplines to begin to consider the broader Antarctic system and then present groundbreaking work with far reaching impacts. Artists and designers are natural collaborators and often function to bring cohesion to seemingly incompatible arenas. The scope and difficulty of this opportunity make it a very difficult target, but it would also break new ground for STEAM by placing RISD directly in the center of the action. Description:
The discoveries of disciplinary science increasingly highlight the need for integrative approaches to forge new understanding of the complex interactions that govern Antarctica and its past, present and future roles in the earth system. To respond to this need and foster progress on some of societies’ most pressing issues on a planet subject to potentially accelerated change‌ The discoveries of disciplinary science increasingly highlight the need for integrative approaches to forge new understanding of the complex interactions that govern Antarctica and its past, present and future roles in the earth system. Due Date: May 25, 2010 Annual? Yes
Awards: 50 of $22,000,000
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NSF Funding Opportunities: Hard (FODAVA) Foundations of Data and Visual Analytics Hard Lives Under: CISE Rationale:
:Deadline :Funding Range :Intellectual Capitol :Human Resources :Network
This opportunity follows along the lines of other RFPs for data visualization where as RISD’s existing expertise in visualization and making sense of diverse factors would contribute significantly to the research investigations. If RISD were to have a hand in the next generation of data visualization practice and decisionmaking, it would be well situated to attack other data intensive fields of study. Description:
Individuals working in areas as diverse as science, engineering, finance, medicine, and national security all face the challenge of synthesizing information and deriving insight from massive, dynamic, ambiguous and possibly conflicting digital data. The goal of collecting and examining these data sets is not to merely acquire information, but to derive increased understanding from them and to facilitate effective decision-making. Due Date: Jan. 20, 2010 Annual? Yes
Awards: 4-5 @ $350,000 - $500,000
(III) Information Integration and Informatics HARD Lives Under: CISE Rationale:
:Deadline :Funding Range :Intellectual Capitol :Human Resources :Network
This data oriented RFP seeks to understand or realize the full potential of all facets of data in our world today. RISD could contribute illustration and conceptual expertise in both visualizing the data, and figuring out what it all means. Description:
Data continue a massive expansion in scale, diversity, and complexity. Data underpin activities in all sectors of society. Achieving the full transformative potential from the use of data in this increasingly digital world requires addressing open and new questions. The Information Integration and Informatics (III) program focuses on principled approaches to the science and technology challenges to realize the potential of data. Due Date: Annual? No
Awards:
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NSF Funding Opportunities: Hard (SoCS) Social-Computational Systems HARD Lives Under: CISE Rationale:
:Deadline :Funding Range :Intellectual Capitol :Human Resources :Network
This RFP focusing on social computing as well as the interactions between people and computers could potentially open up an avenue for RISD to approach computers and computational design from an intuitive, human perspective. This opportunity would require collaboration, but it could also yield a new understanding of the human computer systems world. Description:
The Social-Computational Systems (SoCS) program seeks to reveal new understanding about the properties that systems of people and computers together possess, and to develop a practical understanding of the purposeful design of systems to facilitate socially intelligent computing. By better characterizing, understanding, and eventually designing for desired behaviors arising from computationally mediated groups of people at all scales, new forms of knowledge creation, new models of computation, new forms of culture, and new types of interaction will result. Further, the investigation of such systems and their emergent behaviors and desired properties will inform the design of future systems. Due Date:Aug 31, 2010 Annual? Yes
Awards: 30-35 @ $250,000
(BECS) Building Engineered Complex Systems Hard Lives Under: ENG Rationale:
:Deadline :Funding Range :Intellectual Capitol :Human Resources :Network
Mathematics has traditionally been slightly outside of RISD’s expertise, however this RFP could provide an amazing integration of pattern, structure, mathematics and complex systems. RISD could bring expertise in physical modeling of complex systems, or apply our digital skills to conceptually helping to develop the future design of complex systems. Description:
...small teams of innovative engineers and mathematical scientists (mathematicians or statisticians) to seek and develop a theoretical basis of complex systems, with the aim of developing formal methods for the design of engineered complex systems. A complex system is characterized by its display of patterns of structure or behavior at one level of organization of the system that are diagnostic of interactions among parts of the system at other levels; the emergent behaviors or structures are not evident from considering only the system’s separate components. Due Date: March 22, 2010 Annual? Yes
Awards: 3-6 @ $12,000,000
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NSF Funding Opportunities: Hard (STS) Science, Technology, and Society HARD Lives Under: BIO Rationale:
:Deadline :Funding Range :Intellectual Capitol :Human Resources :Network
This RFP asks questions about the parallel development of science and society, to better understand their relationships to each other. RISD could contribute to this understanding by developing our analytical and collaborative skills to better generate a picture of the relationships between these connected, but separate worlds. Description:
STS considers proposals that examine historical, philosophical, and sociological questions that arise in connection with science, engineering, and technology, and their respective interactions with society. STS has four components: 1. Ethics and Values in Science, Engineering and Technology (EVS), 2. History and Philosophy of Science, Engineering and Technology (HPS), 3. Social Studies of Science, Engineering and Technology (SSS), 4. Studies of Policy, Science, Engineering and Technology (SPS). Due Date:Aug 1, 2010 Annual? Yes
Awards: 46 of $9,000,000
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NSF Funding Opportunities: FYI (C-RUI) Cross-disciplinary Research at Undergraduate Institutions FYI Lives Under: BIO Rationale:
:Deadline :Funding Range :Intellectual Capitol :Human Resources :Network
Although this RFP has long expired, it is valuable to know how the NSF has handled undergraduate education in a cross disciplinary way, and that it has seen collaboration and development of students in biology as a priority for a long time. Description:
The goal of the Cross-disciplinary Research at Undergraduate Institutions (C-RUI) is to support research efforts involving faculty from different fields and undergraduate students at predominantly undergraduate institutions. This program is specifically targeted toward cross-disciplinary research projects that require contributions from more than one disciplinary area. C-RUI is also intended to facilitate greater diversity in student participation and to contribute to the development of the next generation of scientists well-trained in 21st century biology. Due Date: June 15, 2004 Annual? No
Awards: $2,000,000
Dimensions of Biodiversity FYI Lives Under: BIO Rationale:
:Deadline :Funding Range :Intellectual Capitol :Human Resources :Network
This is RFP is an opportunity for RISD to apply its own “integrative” and “innovative” talents towards the sciences. In an effort to better understand biodiversity, the NSF has asked for researchers to broadly interpret and develop biodiversity in order to fill in the gaps of our understanding. Description:
The Dimensions of Biodiversity initiative seeks to characterize biodiversity on Earth by using integrative, innovative approaches to fill rapidly the most substantial gaps in our understanding of the diversity of life on Earth. This campaign will take a broad view of biodiversity, and in its initial phase will focus on the integration of genetic, taxonomic, and functional dimensions of biodiversity. Due Date: June 8, 2010 Annual? No
Awards: $20,000,000
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NSF Funding Opportunities: FYI (FIA) Future Internet Architectures FYI Lives Under: CISE Rationale:
:Deadline :Funding Range :Intellectual Capitol :Human Resources :Network
If RISD were to help conceive of the next generation of internet architectures, we would either break the internet, or make such a solid demonstration of RISD’s art + design education that we would foster a new revolution of art and industry. Description:
Continuing its long-standing commitment to support groundbreaking research through Network Science and Engineering (NetSE), the Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) invites research teams to submit innovative and creative proposals that describe projects to conceive, design, and evaluate trustworthy Future Internet architectures. Proposing teams should include individuals with expertise in a range of relevant disciplines and/or different research methods, from theoretical to experimental to applications-driven. Due Date: April 22, 2010 Annual? No
Awards: 2-4 of $30,000,000
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NSF Funding Opportunities: FYI Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers FYI Lives Under: EHR Rationale:
:Deadline :Funding Range :Intellectual Capitol :Human Resources :Network
This is an ideal opportunityfor STEM to STEAM. This sort of comprehensive look into what STEM education is as well as developing new and innovative approaches for STEM education would well suit RISDs STEM to STEAM agenda. Description:
This program is interested in addressing such questions as: What does it take to effectively interest and prepare students to participate in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce of the future? What are the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that students need in order to participate productively in the changing STEM workforce and be innovators, particularly in STEM-related networked computing and information and communication technology (ICT) areas? How do they acquire them? How can the Nation’s burgeoning cyberinfrastructure be harnessed as a tool for STEM learning in classrooms and informal learning environments? What will ensure that the nation has the capacity it needs to participate in transformative, innovative STEM advances? How can we assess and predict inclination to participate in the STEM fields and how can we measure and study impact of various models to encourage that participation? Due Date:April 7, 2010 Annual? No
Awards: 25-40 of $30,000,000
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NSF Funding Opportunities: FYI (FIRE) Fostering Interdisciplinary Research on Education FYI Lives Under: EHR Rationale:
:Deadline :Funding Range :Intellectual Capitol :Human Resources :Network
This RFP is an opportunity for RISD’s graduate or post-graduates to help develop STEM / STEAM education as well as their own professional careers. By crossing disciplinary boundaries, this kind of research at RISD can help develop STEAM education in a effective and compelling way. Description:
The FIRE program seeks to facilitate the process by which scholars can cross disciplinary boundaries to acquire the skills and knowledge that would improve their abilities to conduct rigorous research on STEM learning and education. The primary goal of the strand is to facilitate the development of innovative theoretical, methodological, and analytic approaches to understanding complex STEM education issues of national importance and, by so doing, make progress toward solving them. A secondary goal of the strand is to broaden and deepen the pool of investigators engaged in STEM educational research. In order to address this goal, investigators must pair with a mentoring scientist in a to-be-learned field of interest. Proposals therefore have both a research and a professional development component. Investigators may apply at any point in their post-graduate careers. Due Date: May 20, 2010 Annual? No
Awards: 2-5 of $1,000,000
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NSF Funding Opportunities: FYI (CCE) Climate Change Education FYI Lives Under: OPP Rationale:
:Deadline :Funding Range :Intellectual Capitol :Human Resources :Network
Climate Change Education through RISD could become a wonderful model for applying the arts to the STEM agenda. This RFP asks for many things that RISD does particularly well, such as creative education practices, practical and systems thinking, and most importantly storytelling and communication to a wide range of demographics. Description:
The CCEP program is one facet of a larger NSF collection of awards related to Climate Change Education (CCE) that has two goals: (1) preparing a new generation of climate scientists, engineers, and technicians equipped to provide innovative and creative approaches to understanding global climate change and to mitigate its impact; and, (2) preparing today’s U.S. citizens to understand global climate change and its implications in ways that can lead to informed, evidence-based responses and solutions. Due Date: May 24, 2010 Annual? No
Awards: 10-15 / $20,000,000
(CIC) Computing in the Cloud FYI Lives Under: NSF -Wide Rationale:
:Deadline :Funding Range :Intellectual Capitol :Human Resources :Network
Cloud computing is currently positioned to become the dominant medium for web content delivery and complex computations. The broad nature of the requested research opens a door for RISD’s artists and designers to contribute to the development of applications that utilize cloud computing and in turn help define what an artistic and designed approach to a new computing platform might look like. This opportunity would require a wide network of collaborators that might include traditional computing schools, or our local universities. Description:
Cloud services represent a growing paradigm of on-demand access (as a service) to computing, data and software utilities, an abstraction of unlimited resources, and a usage-based billing model where users essentially “rent” virtual resources and pay for what they use.... to foster simultaneous advances in other fields of science and engineering is both recognized and encouraged. Due Date: April 30, 2010 Annual? No
Awards: 10-15 of $5,000,000
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NSF Funding Opportunities: FYI Antarctic Organisms and Ecosystems FYI Lives Under: OPP Rationale:
:Deadline :Funding Range :Intellectual Capitol :Human Resources :Network
This RFP is similar to Antarctic Integrated Systems Science in that it could potentially position RISD in the center of the action. Namely, RISD would be in a position to synthesize discrete disciplines at scale and then quantify the results on a human scale. This opportunity would also include playing with new technologies and sympathizing with complex issues and discrete factors. Although the nature of the work requires considerable outside collaborations, the RISD community skill set uniquely situates it to provide many invaluable contributions to the investigations. Description:
The goal of the Antarctic Organisms and Ecosystems Program is to improve understanding of organisms and their interactions within the biosphere and geosphere. The program supports projects directed at all levels of biological organization from molecular, cellular, and organismal, to communities and ecosystems up to regional and global scales. Investigators are encouraged to develop and apply theory and innovative technologies to understand how organisms adapt to and live in high-latitude environments and how populations and ecosystems may respond to global change. Due Date: May 25, 2010 Annual? No
Awards: 50 of $22,000,000
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