Directorate UpdateDirectorate Update

David W. LightfootDavid W. Lightfoot

Assistant DirectorAssistant Director

National Science FoundationNational Science Foundation

Human & Social DynamicsHuman & Social Dynamics

Increase budgets of core programsIncrease budgets of core programs Complexity scienceComplexity science InfrastructureInfrastructure Large-scale interdisciplinary awardsLarge-scale interdisciplinary awards Decision Making Under UncertaintyDecision Making Under Uncertainty Cross-Directorate ActivitiesCross-Directorate Activities Human factors in environmental changeHuman factors in environmental change

Dear Colleague LetterDear Colleague Letter

Complexity scienceComplexity science complex systems incorporating simpler systemscomplex systems incorporating simpler systems dynamics of complex systems: tipping points dynamics of complex systems: tipping points

and emergent phenomena of phase transitionsand emergent phenomena of phase transitions

Large-scale interdisciplinary researchLarge-scale interdisciplinary research

InfrastructureInfrastructure

The IDEAS FactoryThe IDEAS Factory

A potentially transformational A potentially transformational method to foster the process of method to foster the process of

discoverydiscovery

The IDEAS FactoryThe IDEAS Factory

Program initiated in 2004 by UK EPSRC to Program initiated in 2004 by UK EPSRC to explore mechanisms of generating innovative explore mechanisms of generating innovative high risk research projects on selected topics high risk research projects on selected topics (problem-based or paradigm-shift)(problem-based or paradigm-shift)

Central feature: “Sandpit”Central feature: “Sandpit” Intensive, interactive, 5-day event involving a diverse Intensive, interactive, 5-day event involving a diverse

group of 20-30 people in order to uncover innovative group of 20-30 people in order to uncover innovative ideasideas

Inputs: Grand Challenge Topic, Creative People, Money

Creative Environment: “Sandpit”

Outputs: Ideas, Research projects, Feasibility studies, Networking

Sandpit ConceptSandpit Concept

Who is Involved?Who is Involved?

Director and Mentors, focus on the topicDirector and Mentors, focus on the topic Not eligible for fundingNot eligible for funding Provide real-time peer reviewProvide real-time peer review

Facilitators, focus on the processFacilitators, focus on the process Help design the sandpitHelp design the sandpit Facilitate interactions to develop creative Facilitate interactions to develop creative

environmentenvironment

ParticipantsParticipants Recruited through open callRecruited through open call

Sandpit Selection ProcessSandpit Selection Process Sandpit Director selects 4-5 Mentors (similar to Sandpit Director selects 4-5 Mentors (similar to

an NSF review panel or site-visit team)an NSF review panel or site-visit team) Open, widely-advertised, call for participantsOpen, widely-advertised, call for participants 2-page application (analogous to pre-proposal)2-page application (analogous to pre-proposal)

Knowledge and expertiseKnowledge and expertise Personal attributes (communication skills, collaborative Personal attributes (communication skills, collaborative

behavior, level of creativity)behavior, level of creativity) Review panel, with occupational psychologist, Review panel, with occupational psychologist,

selects workshop participantsselects workshop participants Diversity is key: Variety of disciplines, diverse Diversity is key: Variety of disciplines, diverse

backgrounds, mix of personal attributes increases backgrounds, mix of personal attributes increases group’s willingness to take risks and encourages group’s willingness to take risks and encourages creativitycreativity

Sandpit Process: What it isSandpit Process: What it is

Intensive and interactiveIntensive and interactive

InterdisciplinaryInterdisciplinary

Facilitated to promote creative thinkingFacilitated to promote creative thinking

Based on real-time peer review (analogous to Based on real-time peer review (analogous to MREFC PDR processMREFC PDR process))

Sandpit Process: What it Sandpit Process: What it isn’tisn’t

Technical presentationsTechnical presentations

Committee-style meetingsCommittee-style meetings

Limited to single disciplinesLimited to single disciplines

Disconnected from funding plansDisconnected from funding plans

Features and OutcomesFeatures and Outcomes

FeaturesFeatures:: Real-time peer reviewReal-time peer review Real-time decisions about projects and fundingReal-time decisions about projects and funding

OutcomesOutcomes:: Complementary research projects that vary in scale Complementary research projects that vary in scale

and scope, provide a more holistic approach to and scope, provide a more holistic approach to addressing the grand challengeaddressing the grand challenge. .

What Happens After?What Happens After?

Groups submit full proposals within eight weeksGroups submit full proposals within eight weeks

Reviewed by Director and mentors for Reviewed by Director and mentors for intellectual merit and degree of novelty and intellectual merit and degree of novelty and complementarity to the other projectscomplementarity to the other projects

Proposed Joint NSF-EPSRC Proposed Joint NSF-EPSRC Sandpit Sandpit

TopicTopic: Synthetic Biology: Synthetic Biology Sandpit DirectorSandpit Director: NSF Program Director: NSF Program Director MentorsMentors: Selected by NSF and EPSRC: Selected by NSF and EPSRC

Open call for workshop participants issued by Open call for workshop participants issued by EPSRC, open to US and UK EPSRC, open to US and UK Applications reviewed by Sandpit Director and Applications reviewed by Sandpit Director and

MentorsMentors Sandpit to be held in USSandpit to be held in US NSF proposed contribution of $4MNSF proposed contribution of $4M

Social and Behavioral Social and Behavioral Dimensions of National Dimensions of National Security, Conflict, and Security, Conflict, and Cooperation (NSCC)Cooperation (NSCC)

GoalsGoals

NSF and DoD intend: NSF and DoD intend:

to develop the DoD’s social and human science to develop the DoD’s social and human science intellectual capital in order to enhance its ability intellectual capital in order to enhance its ability to address future challenges; to address future challenges;

to enhance the DoD’s engagement with the to enhance the DoD’s engagement with the social science community; andsocial science community; and

to deepen the understanding of the social and to deepen the understanding of the social and behavioral dimensions of national security behavioral dimensions of national security issues. issues.

Four Topical AreasFour Topical Areas

New Approaches to Understanding Dimensions New Approaches to Understanding Dimensions of National Security, Conflict, and Cooperationof National Security, Conflict, and Cooperation

Studies of Terrorist Organization and Ideologies Studies of Terrorist Organization and Ideologies

Studies of the Strategic Impact of Religious and Studies of the Strategic Impact of Religious and Cultural Change Cultural Change

Studies of Political, Cultural, and Social Studies of Political, Cultural, and Social Dynamics Under Authoritarian Regimes Dynamics Under Authoritarian Regimes

Types of SupportTypes of Support

Workshops: Up to an all inclusive total of Workshops: Up to an all inclusive total of $50,000 to $150,000 $50,000 to $150,000

Small Award Grants: Up to an all inclusive total Small Award Grants: Up to an all inclusive total of $500,000, over a duration of two to three of $500,000, over a duration of two to three years. years.

Large Award Grants: Up to an all inclusive total Large Award Grants: Up to an all inclusive total of $2 million per year for a duration of three to of $2 million per year for a duration of three to five years. five years.

ResponseResponse

169 projects representing 201 proposals:169 projects representing 201 proposals:

24 workshop projects24 workshop projects 119 small award projects119 small award projects 26 large award projects26 large award projects

Six panels for topical areas plus 1 workshop panel. Six panels for topical areas plus 1 workshop panel. Commence December 1. Commence December 1.

Science of Learning CentersScience of Learning Centers

LIFE Center:LIFE Center: Learning in Informal and Learning in Informal and Formal Environments - Formal Environments - PI Pat Kuhl, PI Pat Kuhl, University of Washington. University of Washington.

CELEST:CELEST: Center for Learning in Center for Learning in Education, Science, and Technology- Education, Science, and Technology- PI PI Stephen Grossberg, Boston University. Stephen Grossberg, Boston University.

PSLC:PSLC: Pittsburgh Science of Learning Pittsburgh Science of Learning Center – Center – PI Ken Koedinger, Carnegie PI Ken Koedinger, Carnegie Mellon University. Mellon University.

SLC’sSLC’s

SILC:SILC: Spatial Intelligence and Learning Spatial Intelligence and Learning Center - Center - PI Nora Newcombe, Temple PI Nora Newcombe, Temple University. University.

VL2:VL2: Visual Language and Visual Learning Visual Language and Visual Learning Center – Center – PI Thomas Allen, Gallaudet PI Thomas Allen, Gallaudet University. University.

TDLC:TDLC: Temporal Dynamics of Learning Temporal Dynamics of Learning Center – Center – PI Garrison Cottrell, University of PI Garrison Cottrell, University of California-San Diego. California-San Diego.