NSF, NASA sign collaborative agreement to expand activities for broadening participation in engineering
04/26/2021
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NSF, NASA sign collaborative agreement to expand activities for broadening participation in engineering
The U.S. National Science Foundation and NASA have signed a memorandum of understanding establishing the framework for collaborative efforts to broaden participation in engineering.
The collaboration will involve NASA’s Minority University Research and Education program, which engages underrepresented populations through a wide variety of initiatives, and NSF’s Broadening Participation in Engineering and NSF INCLUDES programs. NSF INCLUDES supports national infrastructure for collaborations that broaden participation in STEM fields for historically underrepresented groups. NSF’s Broadening Participation in Engineering program supports research to develop a diverse, inclusive and well-prepared engineering workforce.
“The goal with this new agreement is to leverage NASA and NSF programs to build coalitions of public and private organizations who use evidence-based concepts for broadening participation of underrepresented groups in engineering,” said NSF Assistant Director for Education and Human Resources Karen Marrongelle. “NSF’s investments in engineering research and education build and strengthen a national capacity for innovation that leads to greater prosperity and a better quality of life. Through this partnership with NASA, NSF aims to build on and scale up broadening participation programs in engineering to reach underrepresented populations nationwide, a much-needed effort to build the STEM workforce of the future.”
Under the new agreement, NSF and NASA intend to collaborate on a common agenda and joint review of proposals; the agreement also provides more flexibility to support research, education, and workforce development proposals of mutual interest to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in engineering.
“NASA and NSF have benefited from a partnership spanning decades that advances space and science research,” said NASA Associate Administrator for STEM Engagement Mike Kincaid. “This new collaboration enables NASA to leverage substantial NSF INCLUDES investments for the next generation of future explorers and innovators. Working together, our agencies can further strengthen a diverse STEM workforce that will achieve missions beyond our imaginations.”
The new partnership aims to broaden participation in engineering by expanding opportunities for institutions and organizations to engage students and researchers through NSF and NASA programs. Activities may include educational experiences for students from kindergarten through college, professional development of educators, new course and curriculum development, and workforce inclusion research.
“This exciting collaboration between NSF and NASA brings together our complementary activities and connections,” said NSF Assistant Director for Engineering Dawn Tilbury. “As partners, we can significantly improve our ability to grow a diverse, equitable and inclusive engineering workforce and create innovations that benefit society.”
NSF’s long-standing partnership with NASA dates back to the creation of NASA in 1958. Earlier this year, the agencies signed an agreement reaffirming their commitment to advance mutually beneficial research programs ranging from astrophysics to earth system science to ocean and climate monitoring activities, with special emphasis on those activities that use NSF-managed facilities, including those in the Antarctic.
For information about NSF’s broadening participation efforts and agency programs, visit nsf.gov. For information on NASA’s programs, visit nasa.gov.
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For more National Science Foundation news, visit our news site.
NSF-led, multi-sector partnership will support research that leads to superior communication networks and systems
04/27/2021
NSF-led, multi-sector partnership will support research that leads to superior communication networks and systems
April 27, 2021
The U.S. National Science Foundation is partnering with other federal agencies and private industry to form RINGS -- the Resilient and Intelligent Next-Generation Systems program -- a new, NSF-led initiative that seeks to accelerate research in areas with potentially significant impact on Next-Generation (NextG) networking and computing systems.
NextG systems are future versions of today's cellular, Wi-Fi and satellite networks that are expected to connect billions of people and revolutionize the relationship between users' devices and cloud services. The new systems will enable enhanced data streaming, communications, analytics and automation. These future networks and systems will provide key support to societal priorities such as education, transportation, public health and safety, defense and associated critical infrastructure.
Central to NextG systems is resiliency to survive, gracefully adapt to, and rapidly recover from malicious attacks, component failures, and natural and human-induced disruptions. Therefore, the RINGS program will seek to advance the underlying technologies to guarantee worldwide availability, security and reliability of NextG systems.
"Since I joined NSF, I have championed public-private partnerships as a critical foundation for advancing the frontiers of science and driving home solutions to some of our foremost societal challenges," said NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan. "I am delighted we are launching this multi-sector collaboration to drive the innovations that will shape future communication networks so vital to everyday life."
The RINGS program is NSF's single largest effort to date to engage public and private partners to jointly support a research program. Partners include:
Department of Defense Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Apple
Ericsson
Google
IBM
Intel
Microsoft
Nokia
Qualcomm Technologies
VMware
The investment of $40 million includes contributions from each of the partners. Approximately 40 awards are anticipated, each up to $1 million and up to 3 years in duration -- subject to the availability of funds and the quality of proposals received.
The significance of the public-private partnership goes beyond leveraging funding. For example, private-sector partners in this coalition represent some of the users who would develop and implement NextG technologies; they bring experience and insight, as well as the potential to accelerate the translation of fundamental research findings into new technologies and solutions.
More information about RINGS program and award solicitation can be found at nsf.gov.
For more announcements, visit NSF's announcement site.
For more National Science Foundation news, visit our news site.
NSF and NCSES release 2021 Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering report
04/29/2021
NSF and NCSES release 2021 Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering report
Report provides statistical information about participation in science and engineering education and employment
Washington DC – The National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics released its 2021 Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering report.
The biennial report provides detailed information about participation levels of underrepresented groups in science and engineering education and employment.
"Ensuring accessibility and inclusivity in STEM is essential to cultivate a robust U.S. science and engineering enterprise," said NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan. “This report provides useful information that helps us understand where we are and where we need to go. We must continue to work collaboratively for inclusive change that results in a STEM workforce that reflects the population of our nation.”
Key topic areas in the report include enrollment, field of degree, employment status and occupation, including academic careers. The report focuses on women, persons with disabilities, and minorities from three racial and ethnic groups: Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, and American Indian or Alaska Native. These groups tend to have less representation in S&E than in the U.S. population.
“We are excited to provide this important resource on the status of women, minorities and persons with disabilities in STEM," said NCSES Director Emilda B. Rivers. "The WMPD report serves to inform policymakers and the science and engineering communities on issues impacting underrepresented groups over time. The report also provides a valuable resource to academic researchers and community leaders to further the discourse on STEM representation."
Congress mandated the report in the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act of 1980 as part of NSF's mission to encourage and strengthen the participation of underrepresented groups.
View the full report and data tables online at ncses.nsf.gov/wmpd
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April 27, 2021
The U.S. National Science Foundation is partnering with other federal agencies and private industry to form RINGS -- the Resilient and Intelligent Next-Generation Systems program -- a new, NSF-led initiative that seeks to accelerate research in areas with potentially significant impact on Next-Generation (NextG) networking and computing systems.
NextG systems are future versions of today's cellular, Wi-Fi and satellite networks that are expected to connect billions of people and revolutionize the relationship between users' devices and cloud services. The new systems will enable enhanced data streaming, communications, analytics and automation. These future networks and systems will provide key support to societal priorities such as education, transportation, public health and safety, defense and associated critical infrastructure.
Central to NextG systems is resiliency to survive, gracefully adapt to, and rapidly recover from malicious attacks, component failures, and natural and human-induced disruptions. Therefore, the RINGS program will seek to advance the underlying technologies to guarantee worldwide availability, security and reliability of NextG systems.
"Since I joined NSF, I have championed public-private partnerships as a critical foundation for advancing the frontiers of science and driving home solutions to some of our foremost societal challenges," said NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan. "I am delighted we are launching this multi-sector collaboration to drive the innovations that will shape future communication networks so vital to everyday life."
The RINGS program is NSF's single largest effort to date to engage public and private partners to jointly support a research program. Partners include:
Department of Defense Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Apple
Ericsson
IBM
Intel
Microsoft
Nokia
Qualcomm Technologies
VMware
The investment of $40 million includes contributions from each of the partners. Approximately 40 awards are anticipated, each up to $1 million and up to 3 years in duration -- subject to the availability of funds and the quality of proposals received.
The significance of the public-private partnership goes beyond leveraging funding. For example, private-sector partners in this coalition represent some of the users who would develop and implement NextG technologies; they bring experience and insight, as well as the potential to accelerate the translation of fundamental research findings into new technologies and solutions.
More information about RINGS program and award solicitation can be found at nsf.gov.
For more announcements, visit NSF's announcement site.
For more National Science Foundation news, visit our news site.
NSF and NCSES release 2021 Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering report
04/29/2021
NSF and NCSES release 2021 Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering report
Report provides statistical information about participation in science and engineering education and employment
Washington DC – The National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics released its 2021 Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering report.
The biennial report provides detailed information about participation levels of underrepresented groups in science and engineering education and employment.
"Ensuring accessibility and inclusivity in STEM is essential to cultivate a robust U.S. science and engineering enterprise," said NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan. “This report provides useful information that helps us understand where we are and where we need to go. We must continue to work collaboratively for inclusive change that results in a STEM workforce that reflects the population of our nation.”
Key topic areas in the report include enrollment, field of degree, employment status and occupation, including academic careers. The report focuses on women, persons with disabilities, and minorities from three racial and ethnic groups: Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, and American Indian or Alaska Native. These groups tend to have less representation in S&E than in the U.S. population.
“We are excited to provide this important resource on the status of women, minorities and persons with disabilities in STEM," said NCSES Director Emilda B. Rivers. "The WMPD report serves to inform policymakers and the science and engineering communities on issues impacting underrepresented groups over time. The report also provides a valuable resource to academic researchers and community leaders to further the discourse on STEM representation."
Congress mandated the report in the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act of 1980 as part of NSF's mission to encourage and strengthen the participation of underrepresented groups.
View the full report and data tables online at ncses.nsf.gov/wmpd
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