James P. Collins

Assistant Director forBiological Sciences

National Science Foundation

BESC & CoFARM Briefing

March 14, 2006March 14, 2006

Biology as a Bridge to the Future:Biology as a Bridge to the Future:Science at the FrontierScience at the Frontier

Outline

Biology in the 21st century

Science policy shift: American Competitiveness Initiative

Consequences of the policy shift: NSF benefits

Science at the frontier

Biology is composed of four overarching theories

All living things are made from cells, the chemical factories of life: CELL BIOLOGY

All life is based on the same genetic code organized as DNA or RNA: GENETICS

All forms of life evolved by natural selection or genetic drift: EVOLUTION

All life is connected to form ecosystems: ECOLOGY

“… the 21st century is going to see a cohesion of the sciences and disappearance of their borders.”

- David Baltimore

21st Century Biology

21st Century Biology• Multidisciplinary• Multiscale• Multimodal• Multidimensional• Information-driven

& IT driven• Education-oriented• Internationally

engaged• New curricula

Cross-Directorate Activities

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) BIO and SBE Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants

(DDIG) Graduate Research Fellowships Graduate Teaching Fellows in K-12 Education (GK-12) Integrative Graduate Education and Research Training Program

(IGERT) BIO and SBE Minority Postdoctoral Research Fellowships Research Opportunity Awards (ROA) Faculty Early Career Development Awards (CAREER) ADVANCE: Increasing the Participation and Advancement of Women

in Academic Science and Engineering Careers Research in Undergraduate Institutions (RUI) Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research Program

(EPSCoR) Small Grants for Exploratory Research (SGER)

Social, Behavioral, & Economic Sciences

Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences Supports research to develop and advance scientific

knowledge on human cognition, language, social behavior and culture, as well as research on the interactions between human societies and the physical environment.

Social and Economic Sciences Seeks to enhance our understanding of human,

social and organizational behavior by building social science infrastructure, by developing social disciplinary and interdisciplinary research projects that advance knowledge in the social and economic sciences.

Cross-Directorate Areas

Human and Social Dynamics Fosters breakthroughs in understanding the dynamics of human

action and development, as well as knowledge about organizational, cultural, and societal adaptation and change.

– Agents of Change– Dynamics of Human Behavior – Decision Making, Risk and Uncertainty

Science and Society Supports research that examines the relationships among

science, engineering, technology and society.– Ethics and Values in Science, Engineering and Technology– History and Philosophy of Science, Engineering and Technology– Social Studies of Science, Engineering and Technology– Studies of Policy, Science, Engineering and Technology

Cross-directorate research in these areas will increase as science and society converge…

Technological Convergence and theEvolution of Life Sciences R&D

big biology

big rewards

big dilemmas

big shifts in science policy….

Twodriversof sciencepolicy

ReleasedFeb. 23, 2006

AnnualS&Esnapshot

The two drivers are at least partly responsible for ACI…

GOALS Increase Federal investment in critical research Ensure that the United States continues to lead the

world in opportunity and innovation Provide American children with a strong foundation

in math and science

FY 2007 FUNDING = + $910 million (9.3% above FY 2006) for: National Science Foundation (NSF) Department of Energy’s Office of Science (DoE SC) Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and

Technology (NIST)

ACI plans to double investments in innovation-enabling science and engineering research at NSF, DoE SC, and NIST over 10 years

American Competitiveness Initiative (ACI)

$9.75 billion

$10.66 billion

$19.49 billion

Double the NSF budget over 10 years

Independent agency Established 1950

To promote scientific progress

To advance national health, prosperity and welfare

To secure national defense

NSF benefits…

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

FY2000

FY2001

FY2002

FY2003

FY2004

FY2005

FY2006

FY2007

Growth in NSF Budget FY 2000-2007(millions)

Advancing the Frontier

Broadening Participation in the Science and Engineering Enterprise

Providing World-Class Facilities and Infrastructure

Bolstering K-12 Education

NSF FY 2007 Budget Priorities

Young Investigators

Underrepresented Groups

Institutional Types

Integration of Research and Education

International Collaborations

NSF Responsibilities Include Ensuring a Balanced Portfolio

Growth in BIO Budget FY 2000-2007(millions)

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

FY2000

FY2001

FY2002

FY2003

FY2004

FY2005

FY2006

FY2007

63%

52%

76%

85%

60%

66%

40%

46%

Environmental Biology

Social Sciences

Mathematics

Computer Science

Plant Biology

Biological Sciences

Physical Sciences

Engineering

NSF Support for Basic Research at Academic Institutions

(non-medical)

(*FY 2003 - latest available data in Science and Engineering Indicators, 2006)

Advancing the Frontier

Frontiers in Integrative Biological Research program (+$5.0 million)

Plant Genome Research Program (+$2.5 million)

Long-Term Ecological Research Program (+$1.2 million)

New Theoretical Biology program ($3.6 million)

New Biology and Society program ($0.5 million)

New Center for Microbial Oceanography at the University of Hawaii ($4.0 million)

New “Life in the Cold and Dark” program as part of the International Polar Year ($2.0 million)

BIO FY 2007 Budget Priorities

Broadening Participation in the S&E Enterprise

Research Initiation Grants and Career Advancement Awards to Broaden Participation in the Biological Sciences (+ $4.0 million)

Minority Postdoctoral Research Fellowships

Mentoring in Biology programs– Research Assistantships for High School Students– Research Experiences for Undergraduates– Undergraduate Mentoring in Biology

Supplemental awards for minority students on all grants

BIO FY 2007 Budget Priorities

Providing World-Class Facilities and Infrastructure

Increase support for research resources, including cyberinfrastructure (+$2.55 million)

National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) – R&RA funding (+$6.0 million)

Final Project Execution Plan Baseline NEON Infrastructure Reviews R&D on Sensors and Sensor Networks

– MREFC Request ($12 million) Assemble, deploy, network, and field-test NEON

Fundamental Instrument Units (FIU)

BIO FY 2007 Budget Priorities

Bolstering K-12 Education

Graduate Teaching Fellows in K-12 Education (GK-12) program (+$550,000)

Schoolyard LTER Research Assistantships for High School Students Research Experiences for Teachers

BIO FY 2007 Budget Priorities

NSF is unique among federal agencies in supporting research not necessarily tied to

resolving specific societal issues or restricted to falling within the purview of

agency-specific missions.

Primary sponsor of competitively awarded “basic research” in the U.S.

What is NSF?

NationalAeronautic and Space

Administration

EnvironmentalProtection

Agency

Smithsonian Institution

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Other agencies

Commerce

Science Advisor

Other boards, councils, etc.

U.S. President

Independent Agencies

Major Departments

Science AdvisorOffice of Science and

Technology Policy

Office of Management and Budget

Agriculture Health and Human Services

Interior Homeland Security

Defense Energy

Research Directorates

• Biological Sciences• Computer & Info. Science & Eng.• Education & Human Resources• Engineering• Geosciences• Mathematical & Physical Sciences• Social, Behaviorial & Econ. Sciences

Offices

• CyberInfrastructure

• Integrative Activities

• Polar Programs

• International Science and Engineering

National Science Foundation Director

Deputy Director

National Science Board

Directorate for Biological Sciences

BIO Mission:

To support the vitality of the biological sciences at U.S. colleges and universities….

Population & Evolutionary Processes

Population & Evolutionary Processes

Directorate for Biological Sciences(BIO)

Directorate for Biological Sciences(BIO)

Information and Automation Resources Unit

(IAR)

Information and Automation Resources Unit

(IAR)

Division of Environmental

Biology(DEB)

Division of Environmental

Biology(DEB)

Ecological BiologyEcological Biology

EcosystemScience

EcosystemScience

Division of Integrative

Organismal Biology(IOB)

Division of Integrative

Organismal Biology(IOB)

BehavioralSystems

BehavioralSystems

Developmental Systems

Developmental Systems

Environmental &Structural Systems

Environmental &Structural Systems

ResearchResources

ResearchResources

HumanResources

HumanResources

Division ofBiological

Infrastructure(DBI)

Division ofBiological

Infrastructure(DBI)

Division of Molecular and

Cellular Biosciences

(MCB)

Division of Molecular and

Cellular Biosciences

(MCB)

BiomolecularSystems

BiomolecularSystems

Cellular SystemsCellular Systems

Genes and GenomeSystems

Genes and GenomeSystems

Effective September 2004

Emerging Frontiers (EF)

Plant GenomeResearch Program

Plant GenomeResearch Program

Systematic Biology &Biodiversity Inventories

Systematic Biology &Biodiversity Inventories

Functional & Regulatory Systems

Functional & Regulatory Systems

How is BIO a distinctive model?

1) Working across "boundaries" (clusters, divisions, directorates, agencies).

2) One biology - ALL of biology within a single administrative unit with extensive cooperation and coordination.

3) Together, these allow us to focus on transformative research.

To Ecology… To Evolution…

From Genes…. To Cells…

Eyeless Cave Fish

How can we transform biological research in the early 21st century?

Biology at the frontier: stimulating the development of research areas that the research community needs but has not yet imagined…

Textbook science

or

frontier science?

Science at the frontier

Outline

Biology in the 21st century

Science policy shift: American Competitiveness Initiative

Consequences of the policy shift: NSF benefits

Science at the frontier

Back-up Slides

Examples of BIO Panels

Evolutionary Genetics

Evolutionary and Population Ecology

Behavioral Neuroscience and Neuroendocrinology

Plant Biotic Interactions

Animal Sensation and Movement

Integrative Cellular Neuroscience

Epigenetics, Transcription, Chromatin

Post Transcriptional Mechanisms

American Competitiveness Initiative

President Bush's 2006 education agenda, the American Competitiveness Initiative, aims to strengthen innovation and education in the U.S. by improving mathematics and science education, foreign language studies, and high schools.

300 grants for schools to implement research-based math curricula and interventions

10,000 more scientists, students, post-doctoral fellows, and technicians provided opportunities to contribute to the innovation enterprise

100,000 highly qualified math and science teachers by 2015

700,000 advanced placement tests passed by low-income students

800,000 workers getting the skills they need for jobs of the 21st century

American Competitiveness InitiativeGoals

Meeting the Challenge: President Bush's 2006

Education Agenda The American Competitiveness Initiative

commits $5.9 billion in FY 2007 more than $136 billion over 10 years

– increased investments in research & development

– DOE, NIST, and NSF benefit…

www.nsf.gov

Academic R&D expenditures: 1990–2003

SOURCE: National Science Board, Science and Engineering Indicators 2006

..and thereare other changes…

Academic R&D as share of total R&D,by country/economy: Most recent year

SOURCE: National Science Board, Science and Engineering Indicators 2006

…as the worldgets flat…

Scientific and technical articles, by country/region: 1988–2003

SOURCE: National Science Board, Science and Engineering Indicators 2006

Share of U.S. articles among most-cited articles, total S&E: 1992–2003

SOURCE: National Science Board, Science and Engineering Indicators 2006

Composition of U.S. college-age cohort: 1990–2020

SOURCE: National Science Board, Science and Engineering Indicators 2006

S&Eworkforceis changing…

U.S. S&E bachelor’s degrees earnedby women and minorities: 1990, 1995, and 2001

SOURCE: National Science Board, Science and Engineering Indicators 2006

S&E doctorates conferred by citizenship status and race/ethnicity: 1990–2003

SOURCE: National Science Board, Science and Engineering Indicators 2006

Composition of academic doctoral S&E workforce by race/ethnicity, sex, and citizenship at degree

conferral: 1989–2003

SOURCE: National Science Board, Science and Engineering Indicators 2006

Faculty and tenure-track status of academic S&E doctorate holders 4–7 years after receipt of

doctorate: 1989–2003

SOURCE: National Science Board, Science and Engineering Indicators 2006

A policyresponse…

FY 2007 NSF Budget Request by Appropriation

($ in Millions) FY 2005 FY 2006 FY 2007Actual Current Plan Request Amount Percent

Research and Related Activities 4,234.82 4,331.48 4,665.95 334.47 7.7%

Education and Human Resources 843.54 796.69 816.22 19.53 2.5%

Major Research Equipment 165.14 190.88 240.45 49.57 26.0% and Facilities ConstructionSalaries and Expenses 223.45 246.81 281.82 35.01 14.2%

National Science Board 3.65 3.95 3.91 -0.04 -1.0%

Office of Inspector General 10.17 11.36 11.86 0.50 4.4%

Total, NSF 5,480.78 5,581.17 6,020.21 439.04 7.9%

Change

$ %FY 2003 Actual (NSF Total) $5,369.34BIO 576.78 576.69 607.85 31.16 5.4%CISE 490.20 496.41 526.69 30.28 6.1%ENG (less SBIR/STTR) 454.34 480.56 519.67 39.11 8.1% SBIR/STTR 102.75 100.36 108.88 8.52 8.5%GEO 697.17 702.83 744.85 42.02 6.0%MPS 1,069.36 1,085.45 1,150.30 64.85 6.0%SBE 196.80 199.91 213.76 13.85 6.9%OCI 123.40 127.12 182.42 55.30 43.5%OISE 43.38 34.52 40.61 6.09 17.6%OPP 348.53 389.34 438.10 48.76 12.5%IA 130.92 137.12 131.37 -5.75 -4.2%ARC 1.19 1.17 1.45 0.28 23.9%

Research & Related Activities Total $4,234.82 $4,331.48 $4,665.95 $334.47 7.7%33447.0%Totals may not add due to rounding.

FY 2007 Request

Change over FY 2006 Current Plan

FY 2007 R&RA Request by DirectorateFY 2005 Actual

FY 2006 Current

Plan

FY 2007 Request

($ in Millions)

FY 2007 Request for Research & Related Activities by Directorate

Strengthen core programs across BIO

Broaden participation at all levels

Increase support for cyberinfrastructure

Provide additional R&D funds for NEON

Enhance support for education programs

BIO FY 2007 Budget Priorities

Supports undergraduate students in active research

Involve students in meaningful ways in ongoing research programs or in specially designed projects

Two mechanisms for support – sites and supplements

Research Experiences for Undergraduates

Announcement: NSF 05-592