Research Needs of the Federal Government: Research Needs of the Federal Government: A Perspective from the White House A Perspective from the White House

Research Needs of the Federal Government: Research Needs of the Federal Government: A Perspective from the White House A Perspective from the White House

Adapted from Presentation byAdapted from Presentation byThe Office ofThe Office of

Assistant Director for EnvironmentAssistant Director for EnvironmentOffice of Science and Technology PolicyOffice of Science and Technology Policy

June 21, 2005June 21, 2005

Some general remarksSome general remarks Federal R&D PrioritiesFederal R&D Priorities– How does it work?How does it work?– What does OSTP do? What does OSTP do?

Examples Examples – Collections Collections – Global Earth ObservationsGlobal Earth Observations– Digital DataDigital Data

ContentsContentsContentsContents

Role of White House Office of Role of White House Office of Science & Technology Policy (OSTP)Science & Technology Policy (OSTP)

Role of White House Office of Role of White House Office of Science & Technology Policy (OSTP)Science & Technology Policy (OSTP)

Advise the President & Offices of the PresidentAdvise the President & Offices of the President Lead the interagency effort to develop S&T Lead the interagency effort to develop S&T

policies and budgets for all areas of sciencepolicies and budgets for all areas of science Build strong partnerships among federal, state Build strong partnerships among federal, state

and local governments, other countries, industry, and local governments, other countries, industry, academia & scientific associationsacademia & scientific associations

Develop clear, measurable goals and objectives Develop clear, measurable goals and objectives for R&D programsfor R&D programs

Assess Federal investments relative to purposes Assess Federal investments relative to purposes of governmentof government

A Multi-Pronged ApproachA Multi-Pronged ApproachA Multi-Pronged ApproachA Multi-Pronged Approach

Executive branch coordination of Executive branch coordination of advice and priority development advice and priority development involving both private sector and involving both private sector and Federal agenciesFederal agencies

OSTP

PCAST NSTC

Private Sector Federal Agency

NSTC: Coordination of Federal PolicyNSTC: Coordination of Federal PolicyNSTC: Coordination of Federal PolicyNSTC: Coordination of Federal Policy

A Cabinet-level council of advisers to the A Cabinet-level council of advisers to the President on Science and TechnologyPresident on Science and Technology

Principal means to coordinate science Principal means to coordinate science and technology matters within the and technology matters within the Federal research and development Federal research and development enterprise enterprise

Means to establish clear national goals Means to establish clear national goals for Federal science and technology for Federal science and technology investments investments

The President

Office of Management and Budget

Office of Science and Technology

Policy

Other Boards, Councils, etc.

NSTC TableNSTC TableNSTC TableNSTC Table

OSTP / OMB Guidance Memorandum OSTP / OMB Guidance Memorandum for FY 07 R&D Prioritiesfor FY 07 R&D Priorities

OSTP / OMB Guidance Memorandum OSTP / OMB Guidance Memorandum for FY 07 R&D Prioritiesfor FY 07 R&D Priorities

New EmphasisNew Emphasis– CollectionsCollections– Understanding R&D Investment ImpactsUnderstanding R&D Investment Impacts

EnvironmentEnvironment– Global ObservationsGlobal Observations– Water Availability and QualityWater Availability and Quality– Climate Change Science & TechnologyClimate Change Science & Technology

Biology of Complex Systems Biology of Complex Systems Physical Sciences Physical Sciences R&D for Homeland SecurityR&D for Homeland Security Networking & Information TechnologyNetworking & Information Technology NanotechnologyNanotechnology

****Each Agency is required to request a budget that Each Agency is required to request a budget that sustains the research important for its missionsustains the research important for its mission

Scientific CollectionsScientific CollectionsScientific CollectionsScientific Collections Biological, physical, data, artifacts…Biological, physical, data, artifacts… Collections of all kinds need attentionCollections of all kinds need attention

– importance of is not widely recognizedimportance of is not widely recognized– workforce issues--taxonomy, systematics workforce issues--taxonomy, systematics – museums, universities, private, globalmuseums, universities, private, global

IssuesIssues– how to prioritizehow to prioritize– digitizationdigitization– preservationpreservation– spacespace– fundingfunding

Zoonotic diseaseInfectious disease

Land change and use

Climate Change National Security

Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals

Comparative genetics

What Use;What Use;Natural History Natural History

Collections?Collections?Biodiversity

Ecosystem• Function• Services

Economic Development

Invasivespecies

Education &Outreach

US CollectionsUS CollectionsUS CollectionsUS Collections More than 500 million specimens of plants More than 500 million specimens of plants

and animalsand animals 200 years of biological exploration in the 200 years of biological exploration in the

U.S.U.S. Numerous, diverse collectionsNumerous, diverse collections

– Museums, universities, government facilities, Museums, universities, government facilities, private collectorsprivate collectors

Unique natural history—irreplaceable record Unique natural history—irreplaceable record of national heritageof national heritage

Facing numerous challengesFacing numerous challenges– Deteriorating facilities—potential for lossDeteriorating facilities—potential for loss– Need to network together using modern Need to network together using modern

information technologies information technologies – Unidentified or misidentified specimensUnidentified or misidentified specimens– Few taxonomistsFew taxonomists

For ExampleFor ExamplePreserving the Past: Bio-CollectionsPreserving the Past: Bio-Collections

For ExampleFor ExamplePreserving the Past: Bio-CollectionsPreserving the Past: Bio-Collections

How Big is the Job?How Big is the Job?How Big is the Job?How Big is the Job? About 10,000 new species discovered each yearAbout 10,000 new species discovered each year

– 1-5 birds, 1-5 mammals 1-5 birds, 1-5 mammals About 60,000-70,000 species have been studied About 60,000-70,000 species have been studied Genomics databank (GenBank) has information on Genomics databank (GenBank) has information on

about 100,000 speciesabout 100,000 species Catalog of Life 2004 – lists 323,000 speciesCatalog of Life 2004 – lists 323,000 species

– Species 2000 (international) in partnership with ITIS Species 2000 (international) in partnership with ITIS (partnership of federal agencies) (partnership of federal agencies)

Around 1.75 million species have been discovered Around 1.75 million species have been discovered and describedand described

Anywhere from 2-100 million may exist Anywhere from 2-100 million may exist – (Michael Rosenzweig, Society for Conservation Biology)(Michael Rosenzweig, Society for Conservation Biology)

Extinction rates: 10-100 / day Extinction rates: 10-100 / day – Difficult to estimateDifficult to estimate

Public-Private Partnerships arePublic-Private Partnerships areESSENTIALESSENTIAL

Public-Private Partnerships arePublic-Private Partnerships areESSENTIALESSENTIAL

Federal GovernmentFederal Government– CollectionsCollections– ScientistsScientists– FundingFunding– InfrastructureInfrastructure– International International

collaborationcollaboration

Museums, Societies,Museums, Societies,Universities, Botanical Universities, Botanical

Gardens, etc.Gardens, etc.– CollectionsCollections– ScientistsScientists– Funding Funding – InfrastructureInfrastructure– International International

collaborationcollaborationNeither the government nor the private sector “owns” this subject, but the preservation and utilization of these collections is of great national importance

Neither the government nor the private sector “owns” this subject, but the preservation and utilization of these collections is of great national importance

Global earth observations support research in a wide range of sciences important for society. The U.S. Strategic Plan for an Integrated Earth Observations System (IEOS) provides guidance for agencies contributing to these efforts. Agencies should focus on near-term opportunities to pilot integrated observing systems, such as those that contribute to natural hazards assessment and disaster warnings. Agencies also should work through the NSTC U.S. Group on Earth Observations Subcommittee to ensure continued coordination and implementation of the U.S. Strategic Plan and continued strong U.S. leadership in the international community.

EnvironmentEnvironmentEnvironmentEnvironment

Global Global Global Global isisisis

A Distributed Global Earth Observation A Distributed Global Earth Observation

“System of Systems”“System of Systems”

A Distributed Global Earth Observation A Distributed Global Earth Observation

“System of Systems”“System of Systems”

GEOSS will be a distributed system of systems, building step-by-step on current cooperation efforts among existing observing and processing systems within their mandates, while encouraging and accommodating new components.

GEOSS will be a distributed system of systems, building step-by-step on current cooperation efforts among existing observing and processing systems within their mandates, while encouraging and accommodating new components.

GEOSS Benefits FocusGEOSS Benefits FocusGEOSS Benefits FocusGEOSS Benefits Focus

Natural & Human Induced

Disasters

Natural & Human Induced

Disasters

Human Health & Well-Being

Human Health & Well-Being

Energy Resources

Energy Resources

Climate Variability & Change

Climate Variability & Change

Water Resources

Water Resources

Weather Information, Forecasting & WarningWeather Information,

Forecasting & Warning

EcosystemsEcosystems

Sustainable Agriculture &

Desertification

Sustainable Agriculture &

Desertification

OceansOceans

Builds on existing systemsBuilds on existing systems

Addresses planned, Addresses planned, research and operational research and operational systemssystems

Capabilities interfaced Capabilities interfaced through interoperability through interoperability specificationsspecifications

Preserves continuity of Preserves continuity of observationsobservations

GEOSS ArchitectureGEOSS ArchitectureGEOSS ArchitectureGEOSS Architecture

U.S. Contribution to GEOSS: U.S. Contribution to GEOSS: U.S. Group on Earth Observations (USGEO)U.S. Group on Earth Observations (USGEO)

U.S. Contribution to GEOSS: U.S. Contribution to GEOSS: U.S. Group on Earth Observations (USGEO)U.S. Group on Earth Observations (USGEO)

Co-chairs:Co-chairs:Greg Withee, NOAAGreg Withee, NOAAGhassam Asrar, NASAGhassam Asrar, NASATeresa Fryberger, OSTPTeresa Fryberger, OSTP

Exec. Secretary:Exec. Secretary: Carla Sullivan, NOAACarla Sullivan, NOAA

Integrated ObservationsIntegrated ObservationsIntegrated ObservationsIntegrated Observations

Digital DataDigital DataDigital DataDigital Data

National Science Board Recognizes National Science Board Recognizes Central Role of data collectionsCentral Role of data collections

in research and educationin research and education

National Science Board Recognizes National Science Board Recognizes Central Role of data collectionsCentral Role of data collections

in research and educationin research and education

Provide a primary mechanism Provide a primary mechanism for scientific outputfor scientific output

Provide opportunities to Provide opportunities to broaden participationbroaden participation

National Science BoardNational Science BoardLong-lived Data Collections Task ForceLong-lived Data Collections Task Force

National Science BoardNational Science BoardLong-lived Data Collections Task ForceLong-lived Data Collections Task Force

Charge:Charge:

“… “… delineate the policy issues relevant delineate the policy issues relevant to the National Science Foundation to the National Science Foundation and its style and culture of and its style and culture of supporting the collection and supporting the collection and curation of research data and make curation of research data and make recommendations for the National recommendations for the National Science Board and the community to Science Board and the community to consider.”consider.”

Follow-on to the NSB ReportFollow-on to the NSB ReportFollow-on to the NSB ReportFollow-on to the NSB Report

NSF Draft Strategic Plan for Data, NSF Draft Strategic Plan for Data, Data Analysis, and VisualizationData Analysis, and Visualization

NSTC IWG on Digital DataNSTC IWG on Digital Data

IWG on Digital DataIWG on Digital DataIWG on Digital DataIWG on Digital Data

Over 20 agencies participatingOver 20 agencies participating Organizing meeting August 17Organizing meeting August 17thth

Finalize charterFinalize charter– to cultivate an open interoperable to cultivate an open interoperable

framework to help ensure reliable framework to help ensure reliable preservation and effective access to preservation and effective access to digital data for research, development, digital data for research, development, and education in science, technology, and education in science, technology, and engineeringand engineering (DRAFT) (DRAFT)