Community Leadership to Support Computer Science Research US-China Computer Science Summit II Bryant W. York July 11, 2008

Charge to the Panel We would like to ask you to address the ways in which interests of the community shape the research agenda in computer science. We would like to ask you to address the ways in which interests of the community shape the research agenda in computer science. To what extent is this "bottom-up" vs. "top-down"? To what extent is this "bottom-up" vs. "top-down"? To what extent does funding emphasis lead research or vice versa? To what extent does funding emphasis lead research or vice versa? What is the role of practical applications? What is the role of practical applications? Can industry influence the direction of research in universities? If so, how? Can industry influence the direction of research in universities? If so, how? What is a role for US-China collaborations in shaping the research agenda for computer science? What is a role for US-China collaborations in shaping the research agenda for computer science? What factors influence the choice of research topics, especially factors that originate in the larger society in which we live and work? What factors influence the choice of research topics, especially factors that originate in the larger society in which we live and work?

How do top-down and bottom-up interests shape the computing research agenda? Top-Down Top-Down Administration Hot Buttons Administration Hot Buttons Broad Initiatives (ITR, CyberTrust, GENI, …) Broad Initiatives (ITR, CyberTrust, GENI, …) Research and the National Needs (RANN) Research and the National Needs (RANN) Human Capital Development Human Capital Development America Competes (ACI) America Competes (ACI) PITAC, PCAST PITAC, PCAST Bottom-UP Bottom-UP Computing Community Consortium (CCC) Computing Community Consortium (CCC) Professional Society Working Groups - ACM, CRA, IEEE-CS and SIGs Professional Society Working Groups - ACM, CRA, IEEE-CS and SIGs Editorials in major journals Editorials in major journals Federally funded workshops Federally funded workshops NRC/CSTB solicitation of community input, reports NRC/CSTB solicitation of community input, reports Individuals Individuals

Is funding emphasis the primary research driver? Young researchers must chase the dollars Young researchers must chase the dollars Incremental research dominates novel Incremental research dominates novel Risks and rewards Risks and rewards Panelists/reviewers Panelists/reviewers Program officers Program officers Congresspersons Congresspersons “The nature of research is failure” Peter Lucas, IBM Research, 1979 “The nature of research is failure” Peter Lucas, IBM Research, 1979

Other Issues What is the role of practical applications? What is the role of practical applications? Global Climate Change Global Climate Change Air Quality Air Quality Water Quality Water Quality Worldwide Food Shortages Worldwide Food Shortages Health and Disease Control Health and Disease Control Obesity Obesity HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS Recovery from Natural Disasters Recovery from Natural Disasters Can industry influence the direction of research in universities? Can industry influence the direction of research in universities? Of course Of course What factors influence the choice of research topics, especially factors that originate in the larger society in which we live and work? What factors influence the choice of research topics, especially factors that originate in the larger society in which we live and work? War, economic and social costs War, economic and social costs Near term economic well being Near term economic well being Increasing globalization Increasing globalization (inter) national security (inter) national security Hope for the survival of the species (yeye nainai hen gaoxing syndrome) Hope for the survival of the species (yeye nainai hen gaoxing syndrome) Social conscience Social conscience

What is the role of US-China collaborations in shaping the research agenda for computer science? Demonstrate the tangible results of fruitful research collaborations to the appropriate bodies: Demonstrate the tangible results of fruitful research collaborations to the appropriate bodies: NSF, NRC/CSTB, U.S. Congress NSF, NRC/CSTB, U.S. Congress CAS, NNSFC, Beijing Central Government CAS, NNSFC, Beijing Central Government Stimulate policy debate based on sound scientific conclusions Stimulate policy debate based on sound scientific conclusions Develop factual, scientific arguments that meld the policy objectives of both sides Develop factual, scientific arguments that meld the policy objectives of both sides Press for shared research infrastructure Press for shared research infrastructure GLORIAD, … GLORIAD, …

How do we cultivate the next generation of computing research leaders? Identify leaders at all career levels Identify leaders at all career levels Individual Research Track Record Individual Research Track Record Not just a paper count Not just a paper count True Impact True Impact Problem Solvers vs. Field/Sub-field Generators Problem Solvers vs. Field/Sub-field Generators Research Management Track Record Research Management Track Record Provide mentoring, Give them the big picture early Provide mentoring, Give them the big picture early Challenge them Challenge them Allow/Create counterpoint; foment public debate around CS research issues Allow/Create counterpoint; foment public debate around CS research issues Embrace diversity Embrace diversity

Three Ideas Create a venue for the annual celebration of International Collaborative IT Research. Create a venue for the annual celebration of International Collaborative IT Research. i.e. a conference in which all submissions must be from international collaborations i.e. a conference in which all submissions must be from international collaborations Sponsor an annual meeting which brings together China Key Lab Directors in IT (and related), and NSF STC, ERC, and SLC Directors. Sponsor an annual meeting which brings together China Key Lab Directors in IT (and related), and NSF STC, ERC, and SLC Directors. Bring together international experts to design and implement an international CS Leadership Institute – a one month summer institute. Bring together international experts to design and implement an international CS Leadership Institute – a one month summer institute.

Just as world leaders have come in all ages, genders, shapes, sizes, colors, ethnicities, philosophical, political, religious persuasions, and personalities Embrace Diversity!

在丽江, 纳西人告诉老外关于生命的秘密 Zai Lijiang,Naxi ren gaosu laowai sheng ming de mimi In Lijiang, a Naxi person tells a foreigner the secret of life 计算机认为 Ji suan ji ren wei Computational Thinking

Some Relevant Quotes I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. Confucius I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. Confucius The cardinal responsibility of leadership is to identify the dominant contradiction at each point of the historical process and to work out a central line to resolve it. Mao Tse-Tung The cardinal responsibility of leadership is to identify the dominant contradiction at each point of the historical process and to work out a central line to resolve it. Mao Tse-Tung Mao Tse-Tung Mao Tse-Tung Enable every woman who can work to take her place on the labour front, under the principle of equal pay for equal work. Mao Tse-Tung Enable every woman who can work to take her place on the labour front, under the principle of equal pay for equal work. Mao Tse-TungMao Tse-TungMao Tse-Tung Women hold up half the sky. Mao Tse-Tung Women hold up half the sky. Mao Tse-TungMao Tse-TungMao Tse-Tung

Some Relevant Quotes Nothing is more dangerous than a dogmatic worldview - nothing more constraining, more blinding to innovation, more destructive of openness to novelty. Stephen Jay Gould Nothing is more dangerous than a dogmatic worldview - nothing more constraining, more blinding to innovation, more destructive of openness to novelty. Stephen Jay Gould Stephen Jay Gould Stephen Jay Gould Fires can't be made with dead embers, nor can enthusiasm be stirred by spiritless men. Enthusiasm in our daily work lightens effort and turns even labor into pleasant tasks. James A. Baldwin Fires can't be made with dead embers, nor can enthusiasm be stirred by spiritless men. Enthusiasm in our daily work lightens effort and turns even labor into pleasant tasks. James A. Baldwin James A. Baldwin James A. Baldwin A nation or civilization that continues to produce soft- minded men purchases its own spiritual death on the installment plan. Martin Luther King, Jr. A nation or civilization that continues to produce soft- minded men purchases its own spiritual death on the installment plan. Martin Luther King, Jr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction. John F. Kennedy Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction. John F. Kennedy John F. Kennedy John F. Kennedy

References China Inc., Ted Fishman, Scribner, New York, 2005 China Inc., Ted Fishman, Scribner, New York, 2005 The Quintessential Questions of Computer Science, Al Aho The Quintessential Questions of Computer Science, Al Aho NAE Grand Challenges for Engineering NAE Grand Challenges for Engineering Google Lunar XPrize Google Lunar XPrize iPlant Collaborative, U. Arizona iPlant Collaborative, U. Arizona