NSF Quarterly...

 

Dear NSF Community,      Welcome back to another issue of "NSF Quarterly: News from the Director."  It has been a busy spring at the U.S. National Science Foundation. At NSF Headquarters, we celebrated this year’s Alan T. Waterman awardees — Natalie S. King, William Anderegg and Asegun Henry. These three scientists and engineers are utilizing innovative approaches to push the boundaries of what is possible in each of their respective fields. I also welcomed several international leaders to NSF to strengthen our partnerships including Juliet Gerrard, chief science advisor to the prime minister of New Zealand, to explore new avenues for research collaboration. Among the many partnership meetings at NSF, we also hosted the 6G workshop with National Security Council co-led by Deputy NSC Director Anne Neuberger that involved leading industry, academic and government participants. I had the pleasure of several visits with our congressional delegation across the nation to see first hand the amazing work of our researchers and students as well as engaging with the communities. In April, at the invitation of Chair of Senate Commerce Committee, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), I traveled to Washington State to visit the University of Washington in Seattle. It was a delight to meet with students, Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA) and university leaders from across the state. The next day, I traveled to Spokane to participate in a technology leadership summit with representatives from local universities and the University District. A few days later, I had the pleasure of joining Majority leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in Syracuse, New York, where we met with Micron executives, academic leaders, and workforce representatives to launch the Northeast Semiconductor Consortium. Then, we were off to Columbia, Missouri, where I spoke with Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) and leaders across the University of Missouri System. While there, it was an honor to deliver the inaugural address in the “President’s Distinguished Lecture Series.” Finally, at the end of April, I visited the University of Rhode Island with Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) where we met so many incredible students and researchers and toured several of their impressive facilities. Throughout the month of April, it was an honor to appear before the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees for Commerce, Justice and Science (CJS). Also, I testified with National Science Board Chair Dan Reed to the full House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. During the hearings, I emphasized the importance of NSF’s mission and the critical role increased investments will play in the success of our agency and the nation.  In May, at the invitation of Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), I participated in a roundtable in Silicon Valley with leaders from industry to discuss the implementation of the "CHIPS and Science Act" and how we can create sustainable innovation and opportunity across the region. Rep. Khanna and I published our thoughts in an Op-Ed for The Mercury News. Following this, I had the pleasure of joining Chair of CJS Appropriations, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) at the University of New Hampshire to tour facilities and learn about programs supported through NSF investments that enable fundamental research in wide-ranging and important topics, including advanced manufacturing, space weather and human-automation interaction for the future of work. I particularly enjoyed hearing from students and researchers participating in the NSF-supported Convergent Arctic Research Perspectives and Education program.   It was truly an honor and delight to join President Suresh Garimella at the University of Vermont's graduation ceremony for the class of 2023. In the commencement address, I urged the graduates, whether in STEM or other fields, to celebrate their successes and the many individuals who have supported them along the way, and emphasized to the class of 2023 to seize this moment and transform the obstacles ahead into opportunities to create meaningful outcomes and serve our nation. As with all science, true success is not found in individual achievement. It requires collaboration with people with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, experiences and ideas. In that vein, it was a pleasure to share my thoughts about STEM meeting people where they are in an editorial for Science.   Something I am particularly excited to share is NSF’s new Public Access Plan 2.0, which strives to ensure open, immediate and equitable access to NSF-supported research. This plan integrates new agency guidance issued by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Public access to federally funded research and data goes hand in hand with our values of scientific openness, integrity, equity, fairness and academic freedom. Please consider joining one of our upcoming community "Listen and Learn" webinars, included below in the "engage with us" section, to help inform plan implementation.   Lastly, you may have noticed that we recently rolled out significant updates to NSF’s website to make it easier to find the information that's relevant to users. Here is what has changed:   The section of our website previously called beta.nsf.gov is now new.nsf.gov. We've updated our homepage and site navigation to better connect you to the information you care about.  We've updated our pages with clearer guidance for awardees and those seeking funding opportunities.   We've created new "Focus Area" landing pages that showcase some of our funding priorities.   As you can see, we are working hard to bring the NSF mission to every community across the United States and around the globe. I hope you, too, can use these resources to learn what NSF can do for you and how we can partner in new and exciting ways. This is how we will unleash our nation’s full potential at speed and scale.  Sincerely,  Sethuraman Panchanathan Director, National Science Foundation Diving into the decade: Ocean science to combat climate change Over 3 billion people — more than one-third of the world's population — depend on ocean and coastal ecosystems for their livelihood. The ocean helps regulate climate, supports vital global transportation and trade, holds tremendous cultural value, and captures the collective imagination in art and entertainment. How we choose to study, protect and engage with the ocean in the next decade will impact the health of the ocean and, ultimately, the severity of climate change for everyone. Read more ...  Earthquake tests could help wooden structures reach new heights Mass timber — a structural material engineered by bonding together layers of wood — is gaining popularity in the construction sector. Buildings constructed with the material can be erected more quickly and are more sustainable than those using traditional materials such as steel and concrete, which require large amounts of energy to produce. As use of the new material increases, researchers and industry want to determine the performance of mass timber, especially in earthquake zones. Read more ...  NSF announces 7 new National Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes The U.S. National Science Foundation, in collaboration with other federal agencies and higher education institutions and other stakeholders, announced a $140 million investment to establish seven new National Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes (AI Institutes). The announcement is part of a broader effort across the federal government to advance a cohesive approach to AI-related opportunities and risks. Read more ... GRFP 2019-2023: Little wins result in big rewards April 15, 2023, was graduate school commitment day for thousands of students across the nation, including about 2,500 who received fellowship offers from the U.S. National Science Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship Program, or GRFP. For Andre Green at Penn State, receiving this fellowship was a big moment. Read more ... NSF invests more than $43 million in NSF Regional Innovation Engines Development Awards The U.S. National Science Foundation announced the first-ever NSF Regional Innovation Engines, or NSF Engines, program awards to 44 unique teams spanning universities, nonprofits, businesses and other organizations across the U.S. states and territories. Each awardee team will receive up to $1 million for two years. The NSF Engines program is anticipated to be transformational for the nation, ensuring the U.S. remains in the vanguard of competitiveness for decades to come. Read more ...   Want more? From Earth’s poles to black holes, read more NSF stories about transforming the world through science. Research Experiences for Teachers Sites in Biological Sciences webinar Please join us Monday, June 12, from 4 - 5 p.m. EDT for a webinar on the Research Experiences for Teachers Sites in Biological Sciences (BIORETS) program. Program officers will introduce BIORETS and provide an overview of the program. They will also provide tips on how to write a great BIORETS proposal. This will be an opportunity to raise questions and communicate directly with program officers in your field. Register for the webinar.   2023 NSF Frontiers in Ocean Sciences symposium Join us for the 2023 "NSF 5th Annual Frontiers in Ocean Sciences Symposium" on Thursday, June 22, from 12:30 - 5 p.m. EDT. In celebration of June as World Ocean Month, the symposium highlights NSF-supported scientists who are transforming ocean science and are at the frontiers of their field. Learn more and register.   Office Hours: Preparing your Phase I Proposal for America's Seed Fund at NSF  Please join us Thursday, June 29, from 2 – 3 p.m. EDT (additional dates available) for an open-ended session to ask questions about what’s needed when creating a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) proposal. A SBIR/STTR program director will answer questions and point you to resources. Prior to this session, we encourage you learn more about the proposal process. Register for the webinar.    Search and save the date for other upcoming NSF events. Alaska's Permafrost in Warming Arctic webinar  In case you missed the live webinar, watch the recording in which a team of researchers and educators from the Toolik Field Station explored how the water cycle in the Arctic is changing. They gave a quick tour of their research lab, talked about what it’s like to do science in a remote region of the tundra, and answered audience questions about their work.     Join a public access 'Listen and Learn' webinar  With a newly updated Public Access Plan, NSF has launched a "Listen and Learn" series to help inform about the plan and how it will be implemented. Researchers and grant administrators are encouraged to attend one of the upcoming webinars:  Friday, June 16, from 1 - 2 p.m. EDT for the Geoscience and Biological science communities.  Thursday, June 29, from 1 - 2 p.m. EDT for the Computer and Information Science and Engineering and Engineering communities.  Register for the webinars and visit NSF’s Public Access webpage for more information and to access recorded sessions for the Mathematical and Physical Sciences; Technology, Innovation and Partnerships; Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences; and STEM Education communities.    NSF Speakers Bureau   Our science-loving staff want to share their passion and knowledge with you. NSF speakers offer a wealth of knowledge and subject matter expertise on a broad range of science, engineering and STEM research and education topics. Request an NSF speaker to inspire your audience at your next event today.    CyberCorps® Scholarship for Service  The CyberCorps SFS program supports scholarships in cybersecurity that require a service obligation following graduation equivalent to the length of the scholarship. Proposals due July 17, 2023.  BioFoundries to Enable Access to Infrastructure and Resources for Advancing Modern Biology and Biotechnology  Biofoundaries is an NSF infrastructure program designed to accelerate advances in the biological sciences, chemical biology, biotechnology and bioengineering via access to modern infrastructure, technology and capacity. Letters of intent due Aug. 1, 2023; full proposals due Oct. 2, 2023.  Research Training Groups in the Mathematical Sciences  The RTG program supports efforts to improve research training by involving undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral associates and faculty members in structured research groups pursuing coherent research programs. Proposals due Aug. 8, 2023.  NSF Convergence Accelerator Phases 1 and 2 for the 2023 Cohort - Tracks K, L, M  This program addresses national-scale societal challenges through use-inspired convergence research. Using a convergence approach and innovation processes like human-centered design, user discovery, and team science and integration of multidisciplinary research, the Convergence Accelerator program seeks to transition basic research and discovery into practice to solve high-impact societal challenges aligned with specific research tracks. Letters of Intent due July 11, 2023; full proposals due Aug. 22, 2023.  Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program  The Noyce program invites innovative proposals that address the critical need for recruiting, preparing and retaining highly effective elementary and secondary mathematics and science teachers and teacher leaders who persist as classroom teachers in high-need local education agencies (i.e., school districts). Proposals due Aug. 29, 2023.  Faculty Development in geoSpace Science  The FDSS program offers funding for the creation of new tenure-track faculty positions within the disciplines that comprise the NSF Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences programs to ensure their vitality at U.S. universities and colleges. Proposal target date is Sept. 18, 2023.  Major Research Instrumentation Program  The MRI program supports requests for up to $4 million from NSF for the development or acquisition of multi-user research instruments that are critical to the advancement of science and engineering. Proposal deadline window: Oct. 16 – Nov. 15, 2023.  Stimulating Diversification in Language Science Research  This funding opportunity invites proposals that broaden the representation of learners, languages, cultures, contexts and locations sampled in language science research and use multiple behavioral or neural methodologies and analyses. Various proposal deadlines/target dates.  Combustion and Fire Systems  The CFS program supports research on combustion and fire prediction and mitigation. Priority areas include basic combustion science, combustion science related to clean energy, wildland fire prediction and prevention, and turbulence-chemistry interactions. Proposals accepted any time.    Search for more NSF funding opportunities in your field and check out NSF 101, our informational series for the science and engineering research community. NSF 101 answers commonly asked questions for applicants who might be new to applying for NSF funding opportunities and want to know more about how to communicate with NSF.     NSF 101: The postdoctoral mentoring plan The postdoctoral mentoring plan has been an NSF requirement since 2007, recognizing the important role that mentorship plays in the postdoctoral experience and their future career paths. While you will find many templates online, NSF does not endorse a prescriptive format and encourages researchers to lead the way in creating unique strategies for supporting their mentees. Read more ...

Additional Resources WHO IS NSF? For more than 70 years the U.S National Science Foundation has funded basic research that has transformed our lives. For a glimpse into who we are and what we do, watch this video.   WEBSITE For special resources, galleries and a closer look at our various research areas, visit our website. MOBILE APP For hundreds of exciting videos and high resolution photos from NSF-supported research, download the Science Zone app.   FACT SHEETS Concise, factual summaries describing NSF at a Glance, By the Numbers, or other science topics, please visit this page.