Directorate Update
The IDEAS Factory is a transformative program initiated by the UK EPSRC to foster innovation in high-risk research. It utilizes a "Sandpit" concept where a diverse group of participants collaborates intensively for five days, generating innovative ideas and interdisciplinary research projects. This environment encourages creativity through real-time peer review and emphasizes the importance of diverse backgrounds and disciplines. Supported by NSF and EPSRC, the Sandpit process aims to address grand challenges in science, including synthetic biology and national security, by promoting holistic, collaborative approaches.
Directorate Update
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Presentation Transcript
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 • Human factors in environmental change
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
The IDEAS Factory A potentially transformational method to foster the process of discovery
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
Sandpit Concept Inputs: Grand Challenge Topic, Creative People, Money Creative Environment: “Sandpit” Outputs: Ideas, Research projects, Feasibility studies, Networking
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
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
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)
Sandpit Process: What it isn’t • Technical presentations • Committee-style meetings • Limited to single disciplines • Disconnected from funding plans
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.
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
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
Social and Behavioral Dimensions of National Security, Conflict, and Cooperation (NSCC)
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
