1. CLOSING THE GAPS RESEARCH (PAST-PRESENT-FUTURE) Advisory Committee on Research Programs April 24, 2008

2. CLOSING THE GAPS Research -1 of 4 goals in Closing the Gaps Does not stand alone Interacts with/impacts other 3 goals Participation - impacts teachers and students Success - produces graduates ready to produce Excellence-contributes to national rankings Builds the future for Texas

3. Goal 1 Participation For example--the Advanced Research Program supports science and mathematics teachers with summer grants to do research with ARP grantees Impact: Strengthens the curriculum with relevant experience, improves teacher retention, renews teacher enthusiasm, spurs students’ interest in and access to STEM higher education

4. Teacher Comments “I think that this is a wonderful opportunity for high school teachers. Students gain so much from us when we have hands-on experience, real life examples to teach. My students have been impressed to find out that I have actually done research in a laboratory.”

5. Teacher Comments “This project was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I was able to work with some of the most inspiring and cutting edge scientists in the world. This made for an incredible learning experience.”

6. Goal 2 Success ARP/ATP have involved over past 20 years: Undergraduate students - 10,605 Graduate students - 17,498 Impact: Strengthened the educational process, improved post-graduate employability

7. 96% of PIs and 90% of graduate students said the ARP program significantly contributed to educating students for their future 67% of graduate students said their ARP experience was more important than most of their classroom education 71% of students felt their ARP work made them a more attractive hire to potential employers Educational Impacts: Training Students Data suggest ARP is fulfilling its role of educating students: ARP projects contribute significantly to producing graduates properly trained for their intended job markets and future career tracks.

8. 89% of PIs agreed that the ARP was important to attracting outstanding graduate students to Texas 44% of the out-of-state graduate students (pre- matriculation) stayed in Texas immediately after ending their university program 83% of PIs said the ARP was important to attracting faculty Educational Impacts: Attracting Talent Data indicate ARP attracts outstanding students and faculty: How important is the ARP grant program in attracting outstanding graduate students to your institution?

9. Goal 3 Excellence Using R&D funding as measure of excellence, Texas in 2006 had: Public Institutions Private Institutions 4 of top 50 5 of top 100 9 of top 100 14 of top 150

10. WHERE DOES TEXAS STAND? All university/college R&D expenditure in 2006 was $3.27B #3 in US - behind #1 CA, #2 NY Federal R&D $’s expended in 2006 totaled $1.8B ~47% increase over 5 years (not adjusted for inflation) #4 in US - behind #1 CA, #2NY, #3 MD Different if we consider on normalized basis Texas below US average in number of metrics and more than competition

11. Comparison of Selected Indicators: R&D

12. Points to Ponder ( Drs. David Baltimore and Ahmed Zewail) Science  Technologic Innovation  Wealth Raised standard of living in America Developer of new technology is best positioned to benefit Young, energetic scientists are the seed corn Research grants are the life blood

13. Points to Ponder (National Science Board) Basic research -- major driver in the future for innovations  new industries and new jobs  enhanced global competitiveness. Recent three-year decline in Federal obligations for academic research poses significant problems for academic researchers Interrupts the steady stream

14. Points to Ponder (THECB Research Committee) Dr. Hackerman: The 3 most important things needed for the Texas research enterprise: Produce a steady stream of scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. Research is not a system of great discoveries but of consistent discoveries over a long time and the ability to make use of them.

15. Dr. Smalley:. ARP/ATP: very beneficial --not big enough. Vital that Texas be a player/leader in the transition of science to technology and to utilization. We need to attract and produce outstanding people Be bold/think big! Points to Ponder (THECB Research Committee)

16. WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO? Improve Advanced Research Program funding Reactivate the Advanced Technology Program Develop a new Competitive Enhancement Program focused on new, young faculty

17. ADVANCED RESEARCH PROGRAM Increase ARP Funding - Current level $18M Program is peer reviewed Solid accountability ROI - approx 5:1 Publications Student involvement Post-graduate employment Support a $40M program to the legislature

18. Advanced Technology Program Reactivate Advanced Technology Program Provide a better link between academia and industry Peer reviewed approach Past efforts had positive ROI:~5:1 Enhance technology transition process Support a $40M recommendation to the legislature

19. COMPETITIVE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM Support for academic research by the federal government currently lagging Success rate at NIH ~12% Average age for first RO1 grant ~43 yrs Opportunity exists to position our people to be more competitive earlier by funding, on a competitive, peer-reviewed basis, research proposals from young faculty

20. COMPETITIVE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM This program would: Increase our ability to attract young faculty Enhance the environment for careers in science Provide that initial support to get young faculty involved in research Develop a cadre of winners The key success metric would be federal funding of future proposals at a rate above average U.S. success rate

21. COMPETITIVE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM Funding level to be determined, with a tentative range of $20-30M, depending upon academic hiring plans ACORP would be pleased to develop this idea further if the Board desires

22. SUMMARY OPPORTUNITY exists to shape the future for Texas. Research leads to technology which leads to innovation which leads to wealth generation for all Texans.