Feedback Survey Regarding NSF EFRI Topic Selection Process

EMERGING FRONTIERS IN RESEARCH AND INNOVATION (EFRI)

Every two years, the Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation Program (EFRI) invites the research community to 
submit suggestions for "Topic Ideas" to be considered for the subsequent EFRI Program Solicitation. Selected Topics 
become the foci of EFRI­supported research. Solicitations are announced annually for research proposals that fall under 
the specified Topic areas.The process by which topics are selected was designed with the final goal of assuring that the 
selected topics have the potential to become emerging frontiers that are transformative; attend to a national need or grand 
challenge; are interdisciplinary, and for which engineering as a discipline can take the leadership. 
Your individual answers and identity will be kept completely confidential and will only be analyzed in aggregate. 

1. Suggestions for EFRI Topic Ideas were solicited and vetted in FY12. Did you submit a
topic during that year?

j Yes
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j No
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*2. Topic submitters do so by submitting their candidate topic idea along with a one­page

description. The process by which topics are selected is transparent and includes external
and internal panel expert evaluations. External experts are under a nondisclosure
agreement. Please provide your opinion on the following statements.
I believe the format used in 

Disagree

Tend to Disagree

Tend to Agree

Agree

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the 1­pager to describe the 
topics is adequate
I believe the mechanism 
used to solicit the topics is 
adequate
I agree with the premise 
that all topics are 
confidential, and should 
not be disclosed to the 
public
I am satisfied with the EFRI 
topic submission process

3. In this space, please share positive aspects of the EFRI Topic Submission process that
you experienced.
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4. In this space, please share your thoughts about areas for improvement of the EFRI
Topic Submission process:
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EMERGING FRONTIERS IN RESEARCH AND INNOVATION (EFRI)
5. Was your topic selected for presentation at NSF?

j Yes
k
l
m
n
j No
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l
m
n

*6. What is your reaction to the following hypothetical change in the Topic Submission

and Selection process: submitted topics are to openly shared by NSF, but maintaining
submitter's information confidential.
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