On Creating Agency, Inter-agency and National Initiatives Jim - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

On Creating Agency, Inter-agency and National Initiatives

Jim Kurose

Previously: NSF Assistant Director for CISE; Co-chair National Science and Technology Council Subcommittees on Network and Information Technology R&D (NITRD), Machine Learning and AI (ML/AI) and Open Science (SoS); Assistant Director for Artificial Intelligence (Office of Science and Technology Policy)

Distinguished University Professor University of Massachusetts College of Information and Computer Sciences

Outline

2

What is an

initiative?

Why does

• ne get

started? Reflections

How does

• ne get

started?

What is an “Initiative”?

§ New, “named” program, typically with new solicitation § Different scopes:

• completely/mostly within NSF/CISE
• across NSF
• national initiatives

§ Different funding mechanisms § Different lifetimes

all may have inter- agency collaboration

Core Programs

CISE multi-division NSF-wide, CISE-leading role

NSF-wide CISE participating

2018 CISE Programmatics: Overview

$960M (area)

Initiatives happen here

Core Programs

CISE multi-division NSF-wide, CISE-leading role

NSF-wide CISE participating

2018 CISE Programmatics: Overview

Industry & Innovation $10M. Area proportional to FY18 investment level Core Research Programs KEY:

IIS CNS CCF

Research Infrastructure

OAC

EWF

REU RET BPC

CS+X CT

CS For All

ED

BP

Early Career

CAREER

CRII

I&I Ind. Res.

Center

STC

EXP CISE RI

CC*

CSSI

Leader- Ship

Computing

Domain

CI

CPS

NRI

SaTC

S&CC SCH BIGDATA

BD Hubs

SPX FW- HTF CFLT

FW-HTF CCC+

Spec EES Tri- pods

BI

Seed

BRAIN

CDSE

Named Research Programs

Why is a new initiative started?

§ Need for “named” program to increase emphasis/attention/awareness, funding for research topic area

• particular importance to CS field
• national importance

§ Community consensus

• within research community, NSF

§ Consistent with NSF mission: “To promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense...”

How is a new initiative started?

Within CISE, and some NSF-wide initiatives:

The idea!

• Research community
• CISE PDs, DDs, DAD, AD

Community building

• Technical: workshops,

reports (NSF, CCC, NASEM)

• Advisory committees (e.g.,

CISE-AC)

• Identifying partners

Budget commitments

• Scope, partners
• Typically from existing

budget (e.g., from core programs, returned to core programs)

Funding

• pportunity

How is a new initiative started?

National initiatives: (e.g., CSforAll, Smart Cities/Smart & Connected Communities, AI

for America) Community Existing Agency Programs Politics!

new funding, or via “language” Via OMB PBR “existing” funding

Funding

• pportunities

Thoughts, observations

The importance of people

• Ideas always start somewhere – someone has to step forward!
• Passionate champion needed within organization (agency, OSTP,

industry). Others must also care (or become convinced to care)

• Soft skills needed for community/consensus building and “selling”:

good/great ideas don’t “win” on their own

• Community consensus (e.g., NRI white papers)

Need for thoughtful, scientifically-talented, well-spoken, “aggressive” (in a good way) people to “move the needle” and lead CISE research community (in many different ways) nationally

(this is why we have LISPI)

Thoughts, observations

§ Understanding the larger value proposition: progress of science (yes), but also national economic competitiveness, national health, security, defense, welfare § Active research community support/leadership critical

• providing technical foundations/rationale
• “circling wagons and shooting in” can kill

§ Again: it’s all about people!

Looking forward

Important: CISE science leadership – dedicated, creative IPA/Fed mix

Deputy Assistant Directors Advisors Division/Office Directors Deputy Division/Office Directors

Important: strong academic computing presence in agencies, White House

Looking forward

Backups

AI and Big Data

Image Credit: CCC and SIGACT CATCS

Robotics & Manufacturing

Image Credit: Eliza Grinnell/Harvard SEAS

Cybersecurity

Image Credit: ThinkStock

CISE programs address national priorities

Advanced Cyberinfrastructure

Image Credit: Texas Advanced Computing Center

Computer Science Education

Image Credit: Calvin Lin, University of Texas, Austin

Smart Communities

Image Credit: US Ignite Image Credit: WINLAB, Rutgers University

Advanced Wireless Research

Quantum Information Sciences