ADBC: Background, Broader Impacts and Opportunity Anne Maglia Program Director, Division of Biological Infrastructure National Science Foundation (703) Sept 2012 Public Participation Workshop iDigBio

Challenge: Mobilize collections “dark data” Collections: priceless resource for biodiversity data Much of the data inaccessible, inconsistent -Data may not be captured  Ancillary data may not be linked, usable  Identifying knowledge gaps impossible  Use of data for modeling, other applications unreliable

Feds know this, too! 2005: Interagency Working Group on Scientific Collections formed 2008: NSF surveys non-federal collections 2009: IWGSC releases “mission critical" (aka "green") report 2009: NSF releases survey results 2010: America Competes Act includes collections language 2010: NSF fund workshops for strategic planning, plan released

NIBA recommendations Create permanent, web-accessible repository of digitized information from all US bio-collections -Enable new research discoveries -Provide understanding and appreciation of biodiversity through education and outreach -Drive well-informed environmental and economic policies

NIBA strategic plan Centralized integration Research-based thematic networks New tools and technologies Partnerships with other agencies, organizations Training and outreach

NSF’s first response: ADBC 10 year, $10+ mil per year to seed efforts Focused on: –Central coordinating resource (HUB) –Digitization based on research challenges TCNs = Thematic Collections Networks Requires: –Innovative approaches to digitization –Cyberinfrastructure, technology development –Inclusivity and prioritization –Training and outreach

ADBC, to date i DigBio (HUB) awarded FY11 3 TCNs awarded FY11 4 TCNs, 2 PENs awarded FY12 Round 3: proposals due Oct 19

NIBA recommendations Create permanent, web-accessible repository of digitized information from all US bio-collections -Enable new research discoveries -Provide understanding and appreciation of biodiversity through education and outreach -Drive well-informed environmental and economic policies

NSF Broader Impacts (current) How well does the activity advance discovery while promoting teaching, training and learning? How well does the activity broaden the participation of underrepresented groups (e.g., gender, ethnicity, disability, geographic, etc.)? To what extent will it enhance the infrastructure for research and education, such as facilities, instrumentation, networks, and partnerships? Will the results be disseminated broadly to enhance scientific and technological understanding? What may be the benefits of the proposed activity to society?

New NSB Recommendations The Broader Impacts criterion encompasses the benefit to society and the achievement of specific, desired societal outcomes. NSF projects, in the aggregate, should contribute more broadly to achieving societal goals. These "Broader Impacts" should be achieved through the research itself, through activities that are directly related to specific research projects, or through activities that are supported by, but are complementary to, the project.

New NSB Recommendations Meaningful assessment and evaluation of NSF funded projects should be based on appropriate metrics, keeping in mind the likely correlation between broader impacts and the resources provided to implement projects. If the size of the activity is limited, evaluation of that activity in isolation is not likely to be meaningful. Thus, assessing the effectiveness of these activities may best be done at a higher, more aggregated level, than the individual project.

Poised for opportunity High profile, familiarity, direct links to societal challenges Engagement via products and processes Involvement in data capture, verification, and meta- analysis Assessment at multiple levels Model for community-wide BI success

NIBA: Implementation Plan First draft workshop: Sept Next phase: community input and feedback Outreach, public engagement included

Questions? Anne Maglia Program Director: ADBC, CSBR, ABI (703) skype: amaglia 14