NSF Considers Reforms to High Risk, High Reward Research
The National Science Foundation's (NSF) Commission on Merit Review recently met to discuss potential reforms to the identification and funding of transformative research.
The Commission was created in 2022 by the National Science Board to re-examine NSF's merit review policy and process. The current criteria have been in effect since 1997 and were last reviewed in 2011.
Commission Chair Stephen Willard noted that transformative research, which is also known as high risk, high reward research, is not necessarily risky.
The Commission discussed numerous aspects of what is high risk, high reward research; how to identify it; and how to encourage more of it. Commission members noted that these issues have been grappled with in the past, but unanswered questions remain.
"To the extent to which a proposal is potentially transformative in its benefits to society and the ability to identify risks and rewards in BI [broader impacts] are things that we must continue to wrestle with," said Chair Willard.
One topic that seemed to gain traction among commission members is the need for data tracking and internal quantitative targets for use of various funding mechanisms to support transformative research. Currently, NSF does not set a goal for the number of high risk, high reward awards made.
Transformative research can be funded by NSF through several mechanisms: 1) the typical proposal submission, 2) application for funding in a special investment area, such as clean energy technology, 3) Early-Concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER), 4) special creativity extensions to existing awards, and 5) accomplishment-based renewals.
During the meeting, it was noted that use of accomplishment-based renewals is very limited. Only five were awarded across NSF in fiscal year 2023 out of approximately 11,000 awards.
Other points of discussion included:
- There is no specific definition of "high risk" research for reviewers to be able to identify it.
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How to best give discretion to NSF Directorates to define transformative research?
- Need to look across the research portfolio--at least at the Directorate level--to have at least some riskier research that might fail. Otherwise we're just maintaining the status quo in our scientific knowledge.
- When supporting higher risk research, the greater the potential reward should be.
- Be open to new technologies.
- Extraordinary claims require extraordinary scrutiny.
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Difficulty of finding reviewers with appropriate expertise in emerging fields and technologies.
- EAGER awards are relatively small amounts of money and wouldn't fund large transformative ideas.
- Challenge of changing the culture within NSF for program officers to be empowered to support transformative research.
- Request for transformative proposals is skewed towards transformative research, not broader impacts.
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Should the expectations for broader impacts be the same for transformative research?
The Commission is slated to complete its preliminary recommendations by May 2024. They are accepting public feedback throughout the process via email at meritreviewcommission@nsf.gov.
NSF Addresses Sexual Assault and Harassment in Antarctica
During the recent meeting of the National Science Board, the National Science Foundation (NSF) provided an update on agency actions to address sexual assault and harassment at the U.S. Antarctic Program stations.
"[A]ddressing the issues of sexual violence, sexual assault, and harassment is one of the most important issues that I am addressing as the director of the National Science Foundation," said NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan.
The agency commissioned a report on the problem in 2021, after multiple women came forward with allegations of sexual harassment while working in Antarctica. The report found that 59% of women said they personally had experienced sexual harassment or assault while in Antarctica. As a result of those findings, NSF created a Sexual Assault and Harassment Prevention and Response Office, deployed an "on ice" victim advocate, completed physical safety upgrades at the base, and enhanced screening procedures for employment.
While the agency's initial focus was on the Antarctic program, NSF is now working on a broader initiative across the entirety of the agency. NSF now requires all organizations with a proposal that involves field work to certify a field safety plan. The agency is also piloting individual researchers submitting field safety plans as part of the merit review process. NSF also released an anti-retaliation resource to improve workplace culture.
During listen sessions with current and former Antarctic staff, one of the recurring themes that arose was organizational and social retaliation. Staff who reported sexual harassment or assault said that they were not rehired in a subsequent season, were passed over for promotions, and/or were socially shunned. To address this, all program participants, including visitors, are required to be trained on bystander intervention.
Earlier this month, investigators with NSF's inspector general visited McMurdo Station in person to investigate criminal violations. Planned future actions include a new senior HR representative on the ice and an employment climate survey.
Report Shows STEM Degrees Unhindered by the Pandemic, Gains in Diversity
Racial disparities still persist in postsecondary science and engineering degree recipients, despite gains by Black and Hispanic students. According to a new report from the National Science Board, the number of science and engineering certificates and degrees earned by students from most racial and ethnic groups have grown over the past decade. Hispanic students represented the largest increase from 2012 to 2021. But Black, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Hispanic students are still underrepresented relative to their share of the U.S. population.
"It's clear we are not moving fast enough to reach the "Missing Millions" in STEM [science, technology, engineering, and mathematics], in spite of the fact that more students are studying science and engineering," said Heather Wilson, President of the University of Texas at El Paso and National Science Board Member.
The report also notes gender disparities in science. In some fields, including biology, the agricultural sciences, and psychology, the majority of degrees are earned by women. Yet women remain underrepresented in fields like engineering and computer and information sciences.
Although total doctoral degrees dipped from 2020 to 2021, overall science and engineering degree awards continue to gradually increase over time. This growth is notable given the 9.4 percent decline in undergraduate enrollment during the pandemic. Much of the growth in graduate degrees is driven by engineering and computer and information science degrees.
International graduate students also continue to grow, surpassing even pre-pandemic enrollment levels by about one-third.
Read the Higher Education in Science and Engineering report.
Nominations Sought for First National Nature Assessment
The U.S. Department of the Interior is soliciting nominations for authors and scientific/technical inputs for the First National Nature Assessment. The assessment will evaluate the status, observed trends, and future projections of America's lands, waters, wildlife, biodiversity, and ecosystems and the benefits they provide, including connections to the economy, public health, equity, climate mitigation and adaptation, and national security.
Nominations are sought for volunteers with expertise in a variety of subjects, including ecology, evolutionary biology, genetics, conservation biology, climate adaptation and mitigation, and more. The deadline to apply is January 4, 2024. Learn more.
Call for Applications: 2024 Emerging Public Policy Leadership Award
Are you a science graduate student looking to make a difference in science policy and funding? The American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) is now accepting applications for the 2024 Emerging Public Policy Leadership Award. This award recognizes graduate students in the biological sciences who are demonstrating an interest and aptitude for working at the intersection of science and policy.
Recipients of the AIBS Emerging Public Policy Leadership Award receive:
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A trip to Washington, DC, to participate in the AIBS Congressional Visits Day, an annual event where scientists meet with lawmakers to advocate for federal investment in the biological sciences, with a primary focus on the National Science Foundation. The event will be held on April 15-17, 2024 (tentatively). Domestic travel and hotel expenses are paid for the winners.
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Policy and communications training, including information on the legislative process, trends in federal science funding, and how to engage with policymakers and the news media.
- Meetings with congressional policymakers to discuss the importance of federal investment in the biological sciences.
- A one-year online subscription to the journal BioScience.
The 2024 award is open to U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents enrolled in a graduate degree program in the biological sciences, science education, or a closely allied field. Applicants should have a demonstrated interest in and commitment to science policy and/or science education policy. Prior recipients are not eligible for the award.
Applications are due by 05:00 PM Eastern Time on January 17, 2024. Learn more about how to apply.
Short Takes
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The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing on the challenges and opportunities in improving safe wildlife movement across roads. Wildlife corridors received bipartisan praise during the hearing. The 2021 federal infrastructure bill provides $350 million for wildlife crossings pilot projects through 2026.
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Join the National Science Foundation (NSF) on Thursday, December 21, at 1:00-2:00 PM ET for a Virtual Office Hour on "NSF101: Navigating NSF for New and Established Investigators." The program will provide insights on navigating NSF's many funding opportunities and online resources. NSF officers will also provide an overview of the merit review process and discuss strategies that both new and established PIs can implement to help improve their grant proposals. Register now.
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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking nominations of experts for membership to the Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals. In particular, nominees are sought from the following disciplines, including, but not limited to: human health and ecological risk assessment, biostatistics, epidemiology, pediatrics, physiologically based pharmacokinetics, toxicology and pathology, and the relationship of chemical exposures to women, children, and other potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulations. Nominations must be received on or before December 11, 2023. Any questions may be directed to Tamue L. Gibson at tamue@epa.gov.
From the Federal Register
The following items appeared in the Federal Register from November 20 to December 2, 2023.
Commerce
Council on Environmental Quality
Health and Human Services
Institute of Museum and Library Services
Interior
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
National Science Foundation
Office of Science and Technology Policy
