National Science Foundation (NSF)

This week, Director Sethuraman Panchanathan engaged in meetings that deepened NSF’s relationships with current international partners and expanded NSF’s global network. On Monday, Oct. 21, Panchanathan and NSF representatives virtually greeted a senior delegation from NSF counterpart funding organizations in Portugal. The delegation was led by Maria Madalena dos Santos Alves, president of the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), and António Grilo, professor and president of ANI | Agência Nacional de Inovação .The meeting focused on Portugal’s interest in learning more about how NSF sets priorities, integrates research and innovation, and approaches research security. Portugal's willingness to learn from the U.S. and deploy similar policies and procedures, especially research security guidelines and guardrails, will ease the collaboration between U.S. researchers and Portuguese counterparts. On Thursday, Oct. 24, Panchanathan met with Chairman Martin Galstyan of Central Bank of Armenia and delegates at NSF headquarters. The director and the Armenian delegation discussed opportunities for U.S.-Armenia collaboration and the potential of a U.S.-Armenia Science Foundation. Later in the day, the director met with Chile’s Minister of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation, Aisén Etcheverry Escudero, and Ambassador of Chile to the United States, Juan Gabriel Valdés. The director applauded Chile's continued leadership in astronomy and explored potential opportunities to enhance NSF-Chile collaborative efforts. NSF’s partnership with Chile allows for groundbreaking research in fields like astronomy through the NSF-U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s Rubin Observatory, collecting more data about the universe than all previous telescopes combined. The director also met Finance Minister of India Nirmala Sitharaman to discuss the rapid progress of U.S.–India science and technology collaborations. That same day, the Biden-Harris Administration issued a National Security Memorandum (NSM) on Artificial Intelligence to further drive U.S. leadership in the development of safe, secure and trustworthy AI. The NSM doubles down on the National AI Research Resource pilot, launched in January 2024. Since then, NSF and partners have been working rapidly to connect a broad cohort of researchers and educators with essential AI research resources. The initiative lays the foundation for an AI research ecosystem where ideas and innovations from a diverse talent pool can thrive and benefit all Americans.

The U.S. National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) program announced that 71 teams spanning nearly every state and territory in the nation are advancing to the next stage of the second-ever competition. The program is charting a new frontier for American innovation according to the bipartisan "CHIPS and Science Act of 2022." The teams selected to submit full proposals stand to build upon an inaugural cohort of regions nationwide that are bringing technology-driven economic and workforce development to all parts of the United States. Explore the interactive map. The invited teams highlight the broad interest in the NSF Engines program and show great promise in building regional ecosystems that will accelerate breakthrough technologies, leading to economic development. Of the 71 teams invited to submit full proposals to the NSF Engines program, 23 — or nearly one-third — are led by organizations located in NSF Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research jurisdictions; 13 are led by organizations new to NSF funding; 23 are led by nonacademic organizations lead 23; and nine are led by a minority-serving institution. In addition, nearly half of the teams advancing received an NSF Engines Development Award — effectively a planning grant. To learn more, visit https://bit.ly/3UnkWD6.

Listen up, innovators. The U.S. National Science Foundation Convergence Accelerator is expanding to 10 regions across the country and is currently looking for a Southeast Regional Anchor — an organization that will oversee the management and implementation of the #NSFConvergenceAccelerator program model and ensure a consistent experience. The roles and responsibilities of the Regional Anchor will include leading ideation, monitoring milestones and deliverables, facilitating communication and outreach, and issuing research awards. This position offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of research, development and innovation in the Southeast Region. Interested organizations must reside within the region: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at the free webinar on October 29 from 2:30 – 4 p.m. EDT. bit.ly/3YsXHdi Apply for the Southeast Regional Anchor solicitation by 4 p.m. EST on November 21: https://bit.ly/3UjtJGk

#DYK? According to the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, approximately 95% of U.S. universities engaging in research receive only about 10% of all research funding from the corporate sector. 📚 To bridge the gap between industry and academia at emerging research institutions, #NSFfunded pilot Halo helps companies connect with scientists and startups to bring innovation to market faster using artificial intelligence. Leveraging Halo's network and AI-based matchmaking technology, Halo CEO Kevin Leland leads NSF Emerge, an NSF-supported pilot connecting industry research and development teams with a curated network of top innovators across emerging research institutions. Through AI-driven matchmaking, the pilot will support NSF's efforts to democratize access to industry partners and fuel innovation by fostering diverse partnerships nationwide. To learn more, visit https://bit.ly/3YEkamL. 📷: Halo Science

A fleet of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution will soon explore the ocean depths thanks to new awards. 🔦🫧🪼 NSF and NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration funded two medium-sized ROVs to support the growing demand for a smaller footprint on ships. 🚢 The new vehicles will be easier to transport and operate with smaller teams of engineers, allowing them to reach depths of 4,000 meters — 2,500 meters less than the large (and bulky) ROV "Jason." Necessary technology, such as cameras, lights, manipulator arms and mission-specific sensors and samplers, will be added as needed. ⚓ "The demand for ROV-enabled science has grown steadily over the past decade and the more nimble mROV will support many of the missions that Jason would otherwise perform, freeing up time for demands in deeper water or with needs for the larger ROV," said Brian Midson, program director for the Ship Acquisition and Upgrade Program in the NSF Division of Ocean Sciences. "We are eagerly anticipating the ability to support even more exciting science in some of the most challenging to access regions of the planet." 🦑 Read the full story: https://bit.ly/40icFEe. 📷: Dave Fustino/ETHO, LLC/©Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution #oceanexploration #science #RemotelyOperatedVehicles #NSFfunded #marinescience #sciencenews

Educators, NSF wants your input! Help us create an initiative that unites students, teachers, tech experts, and researchers to create innovative technological solutions for the most challenging issues in K-12 education. Please provide your input before Nov. 17, 2024: https://bit.ly/3YBhjuP. Your feedback will help the NSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships inform the development of future programs!

NSF's #ConvergenceAccelerator fast-tracks research that benefits society, and Cultivate IQ, part of the program’s Track J: Food & Nutrition Security, is a prime example. Cultivate IQ provides American farmers with valuable data and regional insights to support local food needs. Learn more through the project's feature in Growing Produce ➡ https://bit.ly/40eSebu.

This week, Director Sethuraman Panchanathan underscored the progress and accomplishments that NSF investments are having on innovation and research. The director traveled to Omaha, Nebraska, to attend the 28th NSF Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (NSF EPSCoR) National Conference hosted by the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Panchanathan met with University of Nebraska System President Jeffrey Gold and delivered a keynote speech highlighting NSF EPSCoR's transformative impact in creating an inclusive research ecosystem in the United States. The director emphasized EPSCoR's vital role in response to the "Chips and Science Act of 2022," which set targets for investments to advance innovative ideas in STEM and rapidly translate them into solutions. The EPSCoR program supports NSF's overall goal of promoting the progress of scientific development. EPSCoR continues to evolve and adapt to fuel discoveries by building research infrastructures, fostering innovation and enhancing collaboration in jurisdictions that have not always been represented before in the research landscape. Later in the week, the director met with Brian Schmidt, a Nobel Prize laureate in physics who NSF has supported, and delegates from the Embassy of Australia representing The Australian National University  and CSIRO. The group discussed opportunities to enhance collaborative research between NSF and Australia, strengthening NSF's international partnerships.  Additionally, the director recognized the success of the NSF-led National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) Pilot since its inception in January 2024. The NSF-led NAIRR pilot continues to bring cutting-edge AI resources to researchers and educators across the United States. As AI impacts the nation, the nation must have an opportunity to impact AI. https://bit.ly/3UifhhM

Students zap into #STEM via video games. 🎮🧑🚀 #NSFfunded company Skillionaire Games by skillsgapp develops mobile gaming apps 🕹️ to help middle and high school students, especially those in underserved communities, learn the skills needed for jobs in science, technology, engineering and math. The games are designed to teach youth soft skills and focus on specific STEM areas, like cybersecurity, aerospace, advanced manufacturing and more. Developed by female founders Tina Zwolinski and Cynthia Jenkins, skillsgapp’s mission is to connect students to life-changing careers through game-changing play. “Providing early awareness to skills-based careers will remove systemic economic barriers and close our skills gap once and for all,” said Zwolinski. Zwolinski was recently named a 2024 Manufacturing Maven honoree, which recognizes female leaders and innovators in South Carolina’s manufacturing industry. 👏 https://bit.ly/4eNfPEn #NSFSBIR #womeninstem 📷: skillsgapp

With peaks higher than the Colorado Rockies, annual precipitation of 6.5 inches, and temperatures plummeting to -128 degrees Fahrenheit, Antarctica is the highest, driest, coldest, windiest and emptiest place on Earth. But it’s not completely barren; two species of penguins and their neighbors — visiting scientists and technicians at the three year-round U.S. research stations — are among the continent’s inhabitants. And we can’t forget the birds, whales, seals and an abundance of sea life that populate the harsh but beautiful environments. Discover what makes Antarctica so unique and important in “Antarctica by the Numbers” factsheet and “A Kids Guide to Antarctica." These two new learning resources are now available to parents and teachers looking to inspire and educate kids about Antarctica, an icy landscape critical to the future of our planet. 🐧 “A Kids Guide to Antarctica”: https://bit.ly/487YeEJ 🐋"Antarctica by the Numbers”: https://bit.ly/3YuJ2hT