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External Forces and NSF Engineering National Science Foundation Directorate for Engineering Acting Assistant Director for Engineering Richard O. Buckius
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External and Internal Conditions
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Innovation and International Competition “The best companies outsource to win, not to shrink. They outsource to innovate faster.” “If Americans and Europeans want to benefit from the flattening of the world … they will have to run at least as fast as the fastest lion – and I suspect that lion will be China, and I suspect that will be pretty darn fast.” – Thomas Friedman, The World is Flat “Life will be tough for those who are less skilled, less educated, and less able to adapt to changing conditions. Even highly skilled service workers, engineers included, will be challenged by the rise of similar (and cheaper) human capital resources abroad.” – Peter Coy, Business Week “The individuals who are able to take advantage of the new opportunities do extremely well. Those who are poorly situated get hammered.” – Gordon Hanson, UCSD in Business Week “Once a new technology rolls over you, if you're not part of the steamroller, you're part of the road.” – Stewart Brand, Whole Earth Catalog
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Ranking of First University Degrees Selected Countries CountryRanking by NumberRanking by Percent of Eng. Degrees (#)Eng. of all Degrees China (2001) 1 (219,563) 1 Japan (2001) 2 (104,478) 9 Russia (1999) 3 (82,409) 15 U.S. 4 (59,536) 29 South Korea 5 (56,508) 4 Germany (both) 6 (36,319) 8 France (both) 7 (34,293) 18 India (1990) 8 (29,000) 30 Italy (both) 9 (27,685) 10 Taiwan (2001) 10 (26,587) 6 ……………………………. ………………. Israel 25 (2,762) 20 Ireland 26 (2,014) 19 Hong Kong (1995) 27 (1,822) 14 Norway (both) 28 (1,691) 25 Singapore (1995) 29 (1,676) 3 Malaysia (1990) 30 (877) 23 NSB, S&E Indicators 2004
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Engineering Workforce Trends Degrees [ AAES/EWC, 2004] Bachelor’s Master’s Doctorate
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Engineering Workforce Trends Women [AAES/EWC, 2004] Master’s (Women) Doctoral (Women) Bachelor’s (Women) [Years] [Degrees]
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Engineering Workforce Trends Underrepresented [AAES, 2004] Bachelor’s (Underrepresented) Master’s (Underrepresented) Doctoral (Underrepresented)
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External Reports Engineering Research and America’s Future (NAE, 2005): Committee to Assess the Capacity of the U.S. Engineering Research Enterprise The Engineer of 2020 (NAE, 2004) and Educating the Engineer of 2020 (NAE, 2005) Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future (NRC/COSEPUP, 2005) Innovate American: National Innovation Initiative Final Report (Council on Competitiveness, 2005)
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NSF Budget 2001-2006
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NSF Research and Related Activities FY 2006 Request by Directorate (Dollars in Millions)
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Research and Education ENG Integration CAREER Proposals Program started in 1994 Must have a well thought-out plan for integration of research and education, in addition to significant research project ENG provides approximately 1/4 of all CAREER awards Engineering Research Center (ERC) Awards Program initiated in 1985 ERC innovations in research and education are expected to impact curricula at all levels from pre- college to life-long learning and to be disseminated to and beyond academic and industry partners
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The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program supports active research participation by undergraduate students in any of the areas of research funded by the National Science Foundation. REU projects involve students in meaningful ways in ongoing research programs. REU Sites are based on independent proposals to initiate and conduct projects that engage a number of students in research. REU Supplements may be requested for ongoing NSF-funded research projects or included as a component of new proposals. ENG provides approximately 1/4 of all NSF REU investments. Research and Education Research Experiences for Undergraduates
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The Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) activity was initiated in the NSF Directorate for Engineering in FY 2001 to involve middle and high school teachers in engineering research. The RET program builds partnerships between teachers and engineering researchers in engineering research laboratories. RETs aim to build collaborative relationships between both in-service and pre-service teachers, support their active participation in research and education, and strengthened partnerships between institutions of higher education and local school districts. ENG provides approximately 1/2 of all NSF RET investments. Research and Education Research Experiences for Teachers
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Our Engineering Education and Centers (EEC) programs support research that addresses the aims and objectives of engineering education including the content and organization of the curriculum, how students learn problem solving, creativity and design, new methods for assessment and evaluation of how students learn engineering, and our understanding of how to attract a more talented and diverse student body EEC is looking for significant breakthroughs in understanding so that our undergraduate and graduate engineering education can be transformed to meet the needs of the changing economy and society. It is expected that successful proposals will most likely be comprised of multidisciplinary teams of engineers and other fields that bring expertise pertinent to learning research. Research and Education Other ENG Programs
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In addition, other NSF-wide activities include ADVANCE: Increasing the Participation and Advancement of Women in Academic Science and Engineering Careers Centers for Learning and Teaching Graduate Research Fellowships Graduate Teaching Fellows in K-12 Education Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship Program Nanoscale Science and Engineering Education National Nanoscale Infrastructure Network In addition to ENG Engineering Education and Centers programs, other ENG/EHR activities include NSF-Navy Civilian Service Fellowship-Scholarship Program SBIR Supplemental Funding for Diversity Collaborations Research and Education NSF Programs
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Research and Education 2005 Investment in Students NSFENG Other includes: direct costs (subcontracts, materials and supplies, consultant services), permanent equipment, travel, other personnel, etc.
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Engineering Research Awards Increase in Research Collaboration ENG Single PI vs. Multiple Investigator Awards 2005 5+ PIs 9% 3 PIs 12% 4 PIs 7% 2005 # of PIs 2 PIs 28%
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Research Grant Funding Rate Proposals Submitted Funding Rate Percent
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ENG Organization and Reorganization
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Engineering at the NSF and in the U.S. In 2006, the NSF Engineering Directorate will invest approximately $580 million – among the smallest budgets in NSF – to support the entire breadth of engineering, including its nanotechnology and cyberinfrastructure investments. These resources will be divided among 7 divisions – the largest number in all of NSF. Engineering currently receives the largest number of proposals of any NSF directorate. Engineering education and research are becoming increasingly interdisciplinary and collaborative. Universities and industries are adopting interdisciplinary clusters. Foreign nations – particularly China – are increasing emphasis in engineering research and graduating more engineers than the United States. Leadership in engineering and innovation will be key to the nation’s prosperity and security in a global, knowledge-driven economy. Internal ConditionsExternal Conditions
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Potential Reorganization Outcomes Ability to Pursue New Directions Provides mechanisms to pursue high-risk, frontier research. Enables research at the intersection of diverse disciplines. Combined divisions promote agile and flexible responses to emerging challenges. Collaboration Across Disciplines Enhances integration of education and research. Enables a more integrated approach to research priorities. Builds synergy among basic research, discovery, and innovation.
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Directorate for Engineering Office of the Assistant Director Deputy Assistant Director Office of the Assistant Director Deputy Assistant Director Senior Advisor Nanotechnology Senior Advisor Nanotechnology Office of Industrial Innovation OII (SBIR/STTR) Office of Industrial Innovation OII (SBIR/STTR) Bioengineering and Environmental Systems BES Bioengineering and Environmental Systems BES Civil and Mechanical Systems CMS Civil and Mechanical Systems CMS Chemical and Transport Systems CTS Chemical and Transport Systems CTS Engineering Education and Centers EEC Engineering Education and Centers EEC Electrical and Communications Systems ECS Electrical and Communications Systems ECS Design and Manufacturing Innovation DMI Design and Manufacturing Innovation DMI
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Merging Divisions and Priorities Engineering Education and Centers Office of Industrial Innovation Electrical and Communication Systems Chemical and Transport Systems Bioengineering and Environmental Systems Division of Chemical, Biological, Environmental, and Transport Systems (CBET) Division of Civil, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Innovation (CMMI) Current ‘06Proposed ‘07 Division of Electrical, Communication and Cyber Systems (ECCS) Office Industrial Innovation and Partnerships (IIP) Division of Engineering Education and Centers (EEC) Office of Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation (EFRI) Design and Manufacturing Innovation Civil and Mechanical Systems GOALI I/UCRCs Partnerships Cyber- Systems
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Proposed Organizational Structure Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation (EFRI) Chemical, Biological Environmental and Transport Systems (CBET) Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation (CMMI) Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems (ECCS) Engineering Education and Centers (EEC) Industrial Innovation and Partnerships (IIP) Disciplinary AreasCrosscutting Areas Office of the Assistant Director Deputy Assistant Director (OAD) Office of the Assistant Director Deputy Assistant Director (OAD)
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Proposed Organizational Structure Civil, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Innovation (CMMI) Crosscutting Areas Emerging Frontiers In Research and Innovation (EFRI) Engineering Education and Centers (EEC) Industrial Innovation and Partnerships (IIP) Crosscutting Areas: Biology in Engineering Complexity in Engineered and Natural Systems Critical Infrastructure Systems Manufacturing Frontiers New Frontiers in Nanotechnology Others Disciplinary Areas Office of the Assistant Director Deputy Assistant Director (OAD) Office of the Assistant Director Deputy Assistant Director (OAD) Chemical, Biological Environmental and Transport Systems (CBET) Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems (ECCS)
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Reorganization Process Throughout 2004: ENG engaged in a comprehensive strategic planning process. Among the goals identified by this process was “Organizational Excellence.” Spring 2005: Engineering Advisory Committee reviewed and commented on conceptual framework for reorganization. Summer/Fall 2005: Public comments were solicited via the NSF website. Fall 2005: Engineering Advisory Committee reviewed and commented on conceptual framework in light of public comments. End of 2005: Structure complete. Spring 2006: Draft strategic plans for each new division completed, and completed reorganization presented to Engineering Advisory Committee. FY 2007: Engineering Directorate reorganized.
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Summary Globalization, engineering workforce, and external reports point to leadership in engineering and innovation as the key to the nation’s prosperity and security in a global, knowledge-driven economy. NSF and ENG must balance all its priorities in research and education. Directorate for Engineering reorganization seeks to enhance mechanisms to pursue high-risk frontier research, to promote interdisciplinary activities, and provide an agile and flexible structure to respond to emerging challenges.
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Thank you Questions
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