Dear Colleague Letter – Seeking Community Input for Topic Ideas to inform planning by the Office of International Science and Engineering at the National Science Foundation

NSF 17-XXX

Dear Colleague Letter: Seeking Community Input for Topic Ideas to Accelerate Research Through International Network-to-Network Collaboration

Dear Colleague,

This Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) invites individuals or groups of individuals from the U.S. research community to submit White Papers on topics in science, engineering, and/or STEM education that are ripe for international network-to-network collaboration. Topics should hold the potential to accelerate discovery and deliver research outcomes.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE) will use the white papers to inform OISE planning, including potential future funding opportunities.

The deadline for white paper submission is: 23:59 p.m. local submitter’s time October 30, 2017.

BACKGROUND

The Office of International Science and Engineering supports U.S. participation in strategic international research collaborations. Increasing investment in science, engineering, and STEM education by other nations creates new communities of research excellence. OISE seeks input from the U.S. research community to identify respective networks in the U.S. and abroad that could be better connected to leverage expertise, data, facilities, and/or other resources to stimulate critical research advances.

Research areas with sufficient maturity to have a nascent, but not well-established, network of researchers in the U.S. and abroad are of particular interest. Interdisciplinary research ideas are encouraged, though ideas are welcome in any area funded by NSF where strategic bridges between U.S. and international networks would create mutual benefit. Networks should be larger than individual research teams and should be open to a wide range of U.S. institutions in the topic area. Networks will likely involve groups of investigators who communicate and coordinate their research activities across organizational and international boundaries. Topic areas may span the range of science, engineering, and STEM education fields. Responses should address research areas where enhanced international cooperation between U.S. and foreign networks would strengthen the U.S. research community and offer mutual benefit to accelerate discoveries.

Submit Your White Paper at: [Survey monkey URL]

NSF invites both individuals and groups of individuals from U.S. institutions to submit white papers. International researchers are welcome to be part of the white paper team, but the submission must be made by a U.S.-based researcher.

Submit your ideas by 23:59 p.m. local submitter’s time on October 30, 2017. Include the following:

• Name, affiliation, and valid email contact information for submitter(s).

• What current or emerging research areas would benefit from increased cooperation between networks of researchers in the U.S. and networks in one or more countries outside the U.S.?

• What is the value added proposition of international network-to-network collaboration for the U.S. research community in the research area(s)?

• What other relevant aspects should NSF consider to strengthen international research networks in the research area(s)?

White papers are limited to 2,000 words maximum.

This DCL is not a call for research proposals. Rather, it is an information-gathering effort to identify promising international network-to-network directions. No funding is associated with this call for white papers. In Fiscal Year 2019, pending availability of funds, NSF anticipates supporting projects under a new international network program, AccelNet, open to all areas of research funded by NSF. The white papers received in response to this DCL will be used to inform the development of AccelNet.

Inquiries may be directed to [email protected].

Sincerely,

Rebecca Keiser

Office Head

Office of International Science and Engineering

National Science Foundation

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