Chesley Bonestell, “The Exploration of Mars” (1953), oil on board, 143/8 x 28 inches, gift of William Estler, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Reproduced courtesy of Bonestell LLC.

Events

Federal Research Funding: Is There a Fairer Way to Share the Pie?

Fewer than 7% of research-active institutions receive more than half of all federal funds for university research and development. Recently, multiple efforts have attempted to spread federal research funding more evenly, with the idea that broader distribution could strengthen national innovation by diversifying who does research and by spawning more regional technology-based economic development. 

Last year’s CHIPS and Science Act bolsters these efforts by officially recognizing emerging research institutions (ERIs)—universities that currently receive little federal funding for research. Other programs to balance distribution of federal research funds support minority-serving institutions and institutions in states that receive a small fraction of total federal R&D funding, often called EPSCoR states. 

On June 27, at 3 PM ET, join Issues in Science & Technology for a discussion of how efforts to share research dollars can promote equity and enhance research capacity nationwide. 

Panelists

  • Anna Quider, Founder, The Quider Group; Senior Research Fellow, Northern Illinois University
  • Vanessa Sansone, Director of Policy, Alliance for Research on Regional Colleges; Professor, University of Texas – San Antonio
  • Dina Stroud, Program Director, NSF GRANTED; Lead Program Director, HBCU Excellence in Research Grant
  • Chris Nomura, Vice President for Research & Economic Development, University of Idaho; Member, EPSCoR/IDeA Coalition Board
  • Moderated by Mitch Ambrose, Director of Science Policy News and Analysis, FYI Science Policy News

Live Chat Transcript

Kimberly Quach: Read a couple recent publications by Vanessa Sansone on this topic:

(1) Federal-State Partnerships: Why Centering Support for Rural, Regional, and Minority-Serving Institutions Can Improve College Affordability and Student Success in the US. https://ticas.org/affordability-2/student-aid/federal-state-partnerships/paving-the-path-to-debt-free-college/

(2) Exploring Hispanic-Serving in Minority Serving Institutions: Pathways, Racial Equity, and STEM Doctoral Degree Production in the United States. https://johepal.com/article-1-252-en.html

Kimberly Quach: Learn more about NSF’s Growing Research Access for Nationally Transformative Equity and Diversity (GRANTED) program here: https://new.nsf.gov/funding/initiatives/broadening-participation/granted

Susan Fitzpatrick: @Vanessa — thanks — excellent points.  I wonder if rather than add all the administrative support funders now require from institutions  – would it be better to remove barriers and simplifying the grant process.

Kimberly Quach: Read Anna Quider’s article, “How to Keep Emerging Research Institutions From Slipping Through the Cracks” https://issues.org/emerging-research-institutions-quider-blazey/

Cherrill Spencer: The DOE is about to hand out $56 million to 35 universities for research on nuclear energy. See this news article (not clear in this article what those 35 universities are) : https://www.power-eng.com/nuclear/doe-awards-56-million-to-u-s-universities-national-labs-for-nuclear-energy-projects/

Cameron Keys:  Interesting data point: as an employee of the Army Research Laboratory from 2019 to 2022, I witnessed ARL making systemic plans to expand ARL’s reach among HBCUs and MSIs, including ensuring that hiring solicitations and research opportunities are distributed widely to these institutions.

Based on what I’ve heard so far, it sounds like there are many universities who do not meet MSI criteria that should be included in such efforts. So, apart from the NSF context. I encourage folks to reach out to DOD and ARL specifically to consider ways of expanding their outreach efforts.

ARL regularly invites NSF program managers to discuss new approaches, such as the Convergence Accelerator program model.

Cherrill Spencer: Website where you can find out which universities are getting DOE R&D funds: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USEERE/bulletins/3602ec1

Cameron Keys:  In the 1960s there was a Laboratory Democracy movement in Japan, in case comparative study across countries becomes of interest to anyone.

In the Japan case, the effort was for research dollars within institutions to be distributed more equitably to junior researchers.

Not quite an overlap to the excellent framing of this discussion, but perhaps worth considering from a global / international research enterprise perspective.

Dina Stroud:       Here is publicly available data on who and how much is being funded over time. https://new.nsf.gov/about/about-nsf-by-the-numbers

Prabhakar Clement: NSF perhaps should consider the idea of sharing the pie. If someone is already funded well by NSF, the next proposal should be expected meet a higher standards.  On the other hand, if someone has zero NSF funding they should get some priority. Good example is CAREER, we need more programs like that at various levels.

Susan Fitzpatrick: +1 PC

Jamelle Simmons: Very High Research Institutions can have offices and staff dedicated to helping faculty locate and apply for grants, but MSI’s may not have the staffing for that. Are there mechanisms or support at agencies like the NSF that can help level the playing field or help smaller institutions.

Susan Fitzpatrick: perhaps institutions should reconsider using external markers as a source of validation and valuation  for their faculty ?

Kim Baeten: @Jamelle, the National Organization of Research development Professionals have started a program to provide research development support to MSIs and ERIs who may not have that access otherwise: https://www.nordp.org/nordp-consultants-program

Susan Fitzpatrick: @chris +1 — policies should not constantly creep more onerous because there are a few bad actors.  Deal directly with the bad actors.

Kimberly Quach: If you would like to learn more about the work of the Emerging Research Institutions Coalition (ERIC), sign up here! https://forms.gle/UjSwcEps3DrgBaSaA

Cherrill Spencer: Thank you for an interesting webinar.

Susan Fitzpatrick: thanks for an interesting discussion.   needed to go deeper… hope this is a beginning

Catalina Achim: Thank you!!

Dina Stroud: Interagency cooperation is my other dream!

Anna Quider:  + 1 million to Dina!!

Joanna Jullien: Thank you for a very instructive and instructive discussion. Much appreciated!

Brendan Godfrey: Interagency cooperation can happen at multiple levels – management level, but also the level of the program officers.

Bob Cook-Deegan:  Thank you all.

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