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INSTAAR CU Boulder Feb. 1, 2010

Support for research in environmental biology by NSF, and other sabbatical musings… Henry Gholz Program Director BIO/Division of Environmental Biology (LTER, NCEAS, Ecosystem Studies) hgholz@nsf.gov, www.nsf.gov. INSTAAR CU Boulder Feb. 1, 2010. TOPICS

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INSTAAR CU Boulder Feb. 1, 2010

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  1. Support for research in environmental biology by NSF, and other sabbatical musings…Henry GholzProgram Director BIO/Division of Environmental Biology(LTER, NCEAS, Ecosystem Studies)hgholz@nsf.gov, www.nsf.gov INSTAAR CU Boulder Feb. 1, 2010

  2. TOPICS • NSF in the context of Federal R&D support • NSF as an agency • Proposals and panels • Looking ahead: The expanding scope of science (examples) • New and developing initiatives • How to think, prepare and respond • Some nitty gritty • Discussion, Q/A

  3. NSF is an independent government agency, with 1700 total employees (ca 1/3 “rotators”) and a $7B annual budget President Science Advisor Office of Management and Budget Other boards, councils, etc. OSTP Science Advisor Major Departments Health and Human Services Commerce Agriculture Interior Transportation Defense Energy Independent Agencies Nuclear Regulatory Commission Smithsonian Institution NIST, etc. NASA EPA NSF, NASA, NIST, OSTP Appropriations sub-Committees – House: Science, State, Justice and Commerce; Senate: Commerce, Justice and Science [HR3288]

  4. NSF is…- unique among Federal agencies in supporting research not necessarily tied to resolving specific societal issues or restricted to falling within the purview of agency-specific missions. - the primary sponsor of competitively awarded “basic research” in the U.S.** FY10 budget is 6.7% > FY09 base, second year of authorized doubling* FY 11 Budget rollout today; August 09 WH memo omits any mention of “basic research” and emphasizes linking research to “practical challenges”

  5. NSF is small, in terms of R&D budgets across Federal agencies ** NSF funds no in-house research

  6. However, NSF…

  7. Typical NSF Funding Profile($6.9B in FY 10) Research Projects 58% (grants) Administration & Management 5% Education & Training 18% MRE/FC - 19% (ships, accelerators, telescopes, NEON, OOI)

  8. National Science Board National Science Foundation Arden Bement,Director • Research Directorates • Biological Sciences • Computer & Info. Science & Eng. • Education & Human Resources • Engineering • Geosciences • Mathematical & Physical Sciences • Social, Behaviorial & Econ. Sciences • Offices • Integrative Activities (STCs) • Polar Programs (ARC/ANT) • International Science and Engineering • CyberInfrastructure *** All now have some role in supporting “environment/global change research”

  9. Annual NSF-level proposal statistics • 44,000 Proposals processed • 200,000 Reviews • 50,000 Reviewers (incl. panelists) • 10,400 Awards • 21% Average funding rate (30% in ’99; incl. all actions; see example) • 2.9 Average duration (yr; LTER are longest grants at 6 yrs)

  10. Typical Core Panel Math(e.g., Ecosystem Studies Program) • 135 projects/panel x 2 panels/yr • Average request = $650,000/3 yrs (wide range) • Panel recommendation = “fund 25%” • Funding available = $7 M/panel • Fraction funded = ca 10% (by $ or #) additional considerations enable a greater rate: buy-ins (cofunding from other core or special programs, EPSCoR, etc.); year-end $; mortgage manipulations = 15% perhaps? [We ask 1620 people for 810 reviews each year, or 3/proposal]

  11. FY 09 – ARRA (“Stimulus $”) 50% one-time increase in budget for NSF ($3B) and most core programs (e.g., Ecosystem Studies +15 projects = 30% rate) Enabled $6M/5 yr grant to LTER Network Office (NIS) Provided funds for NEON airborne platform Supported MRI, minority fellowships Supported 3 new CZOs Used only for proposals considered by FY09 panels (except for MRI and fellowships) Non-recurring No more left (legacy effect?) Didn’t make up for all the cuts elsewhere in research support Contributed to 30% increase in first term FY 10 proposals submitted and extra panels (a one-time event?)

  12. The expanding scope of “ecological science” • Integrating ecology and social sciences • LTER ISSE • ULTRA-Ex (Urban) • New “Climate Change” initiatives • Synthesis: NCEAS and new ESC AO • How to think, prepare and respond

  13. LTER at 30 • Since 1980 • 26 sites • 5 core research areas • Network Office • NSF, external partners • 6 NEON core sites • ILTER • $30M budget in FY10 • www.lternet.edu

  14. “ISSE” (LTER 2007), product of decadal strategic planning process: • Integrating social and ecological sciences • Integrating education and research • Multi-site science • Synthesis

  15. Integrative Science for Society and the Environment External drivers Human Cognition, Behavior, and Institutions Biotic structure Q6 Long-term press Q1 Q2 Short-term pulse Q5 Ecosystem functioning Human Outcomes [LTER historic] Q4 Q3 Ecosystem services ISSE: LTER 2007

  16. Integrative Science for Society and the Environment External drivers Human Cognition, Behavior, and Institutions Biotic structure Q6 Long-term press Q1 Q2 Short-term pulse Q5 Ecosystem functioning Human Outcomes [LTER current] Q4 Q3 Ecosystem services ISSE: LTER 2007

  17. Integrative Science for Society and the Environment External drivers Human Cognition, Behavior, and Institutions Biotic structure Q6 Long-term press Q1 Q2 Short-term pulse Q5 Ecosystem functioning Human Outcomes [LTER future?] Q4 Q3 Ecosystem services ISSE: LTER 2007

  18. e.g., Opportunities to synthesize the effects of relative sea level rise on coastal zones across sites PIE VCR GCE FCE 2.6 mm y-1 3.9 mm y-1 2.9 mm y-1 2.2 mm y-1 M. Alber, Ecotrends

  19. Lagoons at VCR are similar to the Venice lagoon, with identical distributions of barrier islands, tidal flats, and salt marshes, but 2000 yrs of human history (K. McGlathery, VCR) 50 km Eastern Shore, Virginia Venice lagoon, Italy Also provides opportunities for data & model intercomparisons and expanded assessment of human impacts through international collaborations [also GLEON] 50 km

  20. Expanding urban focus: Urban Long-Term Research Areas – Exploratory Awards (ULTRA-Ex, FY09-10) GOAL: To develop and test theory and conduct fundamental research on human-natural interactions in an urban context, and to generate excitement and raise general levels of awareness, interest and experience across U.S. • Not pre-proposals • Not ULTRA • No connection to any eventual ULTRA • But conceived as precursor to an ULTRA competition for 4-6 new urban LTERs in FY11/12 • 73 proposals submitted • 18 awards, $300,000/2 yrs (split USFS, NSF/BIO-SBE)

  21. A vision for LTER at 40? Decadal Strategic Plan (04-07) • 4 prospecti09* • NISARRA 09 Agency response11+ ISSE (07) Multi-site (08-09) LTER80-04 LTER20+? [Site-based] ULTRA-Ex [ISSE: Multi-site, integrated, expanded] • *4 prospecti for synthesis and integration: • Coastal Zone and Climate Change • The Disappearing Cryosphere • Future Scenarios • Inland Climate Change

  22. Synthesis – support by NSF • National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS, UCSB) • National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent, Duke) • Center for Plant CyberInfrastructure (“iPlant”, U AZ) • NIMBioS- Math-Bio Synthesis Center (U TN) • Individual Awards (OPUS, DEB only) • Other NSF centers (SBE? GEO?) • Other agencies (USGS Powell Center)

  23. New AO (2011): “Environmental Synthesis Center” - expanding the scope of NCEAS? Environmental Knowledge Realm of NCEAS (thru 2011) Engineering Social Sciences Ecology Geological Sciences Data Models Computational Sciences Theory after Carpenter et al. (2009)

  24. Should NSF support “boundary activities”? If so, how? Or is this “Mission Drift”? Decision support for management, policy? [some in SBE, but still “research” and not integrated across NSF] Stakeholder feedback Environmental knowledge Synthesis [NSF mission now] Stakeholder Input? Research

  25. New “Climate Change” Initiatives • Water, Sustainability and Climate (WSC) - AO just released (annual, 5 yrs) • Ocean Acidification - AO just released • Biodiversity - ? • Macroecology at Regional to Continental Scales (MERCS) - ? • Modeling - ? (MSM [DCL] “will be folded into a new multi-scale modeling effort focusing on climate issues. We anticipate the related solicitation will be available on the NSF website in early 2010.”)

  26. A shifting and complex context for “ecological” research… • LTER/ISSE (plus CNH, etc.) - integrating disciplines • Environmental observatories - a new paradigm • Synthesis centers and informatics • Changes in core programs - depend on proposals • New initiatives - larger scale, increasing complexity • Many players, agencies • Applying results of science - leave to other agencies?

  27. Assembling the pieces… Strategic Plan (04-07) • 4 prospecti09 • NISARRA 09 Agency response11 ISSE (07) Synthesis (08-09) LTER80-04 LTER20-? ULTRA-EX09 (USFS) ULTRA11? NEON10 OOI10 AON09 Synthesis (and application?) MERCS10? NCEAS95-11 ESC11 NESCent iPlant NIMBS Powell Ctr (USGS) other agencies? USGCRP BIOD10? Ecosystems70-, CNH08-, other core programs other NSF centers & programs (soc, inf)? Climate change10 DCLs09

  28. How to think, prepare and respond(institutionally)Actively seek opportunitiesTeach more “synthetic thinking”Define “interdisciplinary” Optimize individuals vs teams Group PhDs?More data-based degreesAdapting reward structures

  29. Be proactive; things to watch for at NSF (PIs, students) • Use website, including award search engine, and explore • Program announcements change: • CNH became a core program; HSD ended • MO/MIP disappeared, so where did microbe $ go? • DCLs appear (or disappear): • MSM • ETBC , Life in Transition (LiT), MSB, ESE, etc. – same fate? • Special/new competitions: • Ultra-Ex (and LTAP/USDA) • Environmental Synthesis Center • Climate change • Biodiversity? • Special reports (e.g., AC-ERE “greenbook”, GEO-AC) • Important new reviews, workshop reports, or society position papers (e.g., Carpenter 2009)

  30. The nitty gritty: tips for a better NSF proposal • Lead with ideas (not location, ecosystem, species, tools, policy context, methods, or end application) • Generate excitement • NOTE SWITCH FROM TARGET DATES TO DEADLINES (DEB) • Address AO, but don’t limit yourself by it (co-reviews are common) • Know and express the context of your work (literature, other grants) • Respond explicitly, but concisely, to previous reviews • Emphasize readability and completeness; but avoid verbiage • Browse new PAPPG; use it • Address both review criteria • Follow formatting requirements carefully (font, margins, cpi) • Compliance check before submitting • Suggest reviewers • Include all conflicts of interest in CV; keep updated • Be available by email to fix compliance problems (test your spam filters) • Talk to your program officer

  31. And remember: NSF Needs You! • 44,000 proposals • 10,000 awards • 200,000 reviews • 50,000 reviewers Program Officers DDs and ADs Ad hoc Reviewers Advisory Panelists Fun! High impact! Rewarding! Well paying! Great city! www.nsf.gov

  32. Thank you Questions? Discussion?

  33. Thank you! Questions? Discussion?

  34. Questions for universities? • How can “synthetic thinking” be best taught? • Are reward structures adequate and appropriate? • credit for group, interdisciplinary projects • credit for facilitating advances (e.g., LTER PIs) • Can a PhD be a group project/degree? • Conversely, is disciplinarity being diluted or subverted by “big science” • How do you strike a balance between individual efforts and more complex • project structures, or is balance needed? • How can you avoid the “NIH effect”? • How can you be more involved in the funding process?

  35. Reminder:Criterion 1:Intellectual Merit • Potential to advance knowledge and understanding within and across fields • Qualifications of investigators • Creativity and originality • Conceptualization and organization • Access to resources

  36. Reminder: Criterion 2: Broader Impacts • Advance science, while promoting teaching, training and learning • Target under-represented groups • Enhance infrastructure for R & E • Disseminate results to enhance public understanding • Provide other benefits to society (e.g., in management, policy) • No formula or template proposals that do NOT address Broader Impacts in the Project Summary are RWR

  37. LTER at 40? LTER is central to an international environmental science and education network, with results informing critical societal decision making • Led by today’s graduate students • Still focused on the 5 common core research areas • LTER NIS integral to the data system • socio-ecological science is the norm (with SBE) • Geosciences and engineering are full partners • major urban focus (via ULTRA competition with USFS; other agencies) • geographic holes filled (N. Rockies, S. Central, Gulf coast) • agricultural/energy focus expanded (with USDA, DOE) • functionally linked with NEON, AON, OOI • International component to every project in context of ILTER • predictive modeling is a central tool, validated with increasing long-term data • first set of integrated synthesis projects completed; second generation themes underway <“DO NOT QUOTE”, “NOT ENDORSED BY NSF”, etc. etc.>

  38. BIO: 5 Divisions with Clusters & Programs Emerging Frontiers: NEON; CNH; Ecology of Infectious Diseases; RCN; AToL; Life in Transition; Biodiversity Initiative; Multi-Scale Modeling; ETBC; Advancing Theory in Biology Biological Infrastructure Environmental Biology Integrative Organismal Systems Molecular and Cellular Biosciences Neural Systems Biomolecular Systems Research Resources FS/ML, ABI Systematic Biol. & Biodiversity Inventory Developmental Systems Cellular Systems Human Resources/Training Evolutionary Processes Behavioral Systems Genes and Genome Systems Plant Genome Population and Community Ecology Physiological and Structural Systems BIO Centers (coming) Ecosystem Science, (Ecos. Studies, LTER) Note: microbes spread around

  39. Alternate proposal paths at NSF • Submitted to a core program, reviewed by that program: ad hoc, panel, program officer – or some combination of these review approaches • Submitted to a core program, transferred with agreement to another program – see above [or RWR as “unresponsive to the solicitation] • Submitted to a core program, co-reviewed with agreement by another program (ranges from ad hoc suggestions, to formal full panel co-review) • Submitted to two programs: governed by the identified lead program • Submitted to a special competition with multiple programs and/or directorates with formal inter-program review (e.g., ETBC, IGERT, IPY) * Talk with Program Director, if confused…

  40. Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) - supplements for undergrads (note ESA/SEEDS involvement) • Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grants (DDIG) • Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in BioInformatics • CAREER - Res & Educ integration; $500,000 for 5 years in BIO; pre-tenure PIs • Research Opportunity Award (ROA) – supplements for faculty from undergrad institutions • Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) – supplements for high school teachers • IGERT – PhD Fellowships Examples of education and early career programs

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