ABOUT EPSCOR. EPSCoR OBJECTIVES

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1 ABOUT EPSCOR The mission of EPSCoR is to assist the National Science Foundation in its statutory function "to strengthen research and education in science and engineering throughout the United States and to avoid undue concentration of such research and education." EPSCoR goals are: a) to provide strategic programs and opportunities for EPSCoR participants that stimulate sustainable improvements in their R&D capacity and competitiveness; b) to advance science and engineering capabilities in EPSCoR jurisdictions for discovery, innovation and overall knowledge-based prosperity. EPSCoR OBJECTIVES to catalyze key research themes and related activities within and among EPSCoR jurisdictions that empower knowledge generation, dissemination and application; to activate effective jurisdictional and regional collaborations among academic, government and private sector stakeholders that advance scientific research, promote innovation and provide multiple societal benefits; to broaden participation in science and engineering by institutions, organizations and people within and among EPSCoR jurisdictions; to use EPSCoR for development, implementation and evaluation of future programmatic experiments that motivate positive change and progression. EPSCoR INVESTMENT STRATEGIES EPSCoR uses three major investment strategies to achieve its goal of improving the R&D competitiveness of researchers and institutions within EPSCoR jurisdictions. These strategies are: Research Infrastructure Improvement Program: Track-1 (RII Track-1) Awards. RII Track-1 awards provide up to $4 million per year for up to five years. They are intended to improve the research competitiveness of jurisdictions by improving their academic research infrastructure in areas of science and engineering supported by the National Science Foundation and critical to the particular jurisdiction s science and technology initiative or plan. These areas must be identified by the jurisdiction s EPSCoR governing committee as having the best potential to improve the jurisdiction s future R&D competitiveness. (WORKFORCE, RESEARCH & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE 06/06/13) Ref. WRED-7, Page 1 of 5

2 Past Nevada NSF EPSCoR Themes Award Award Theme(s) Year Amount 1993 $7.5M Bridge Engineering Chemical Physics Plant Biology 1999 $3M Genomics Environmental Science Interface Materials Science 2001 $9M Integrated Approaches to Abiotic Stress Nanostructured Materials Advanced Computing in Environmental Sciences 2004 $9M Environmental Processes in Arid Soils Sensor Technology Cognitive Information Processing 2008 $15M Climate Change 2013 $20M Pending Solar Energy- Water- Environment Nexus (WORKFORCE, RESEARCH & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE 06/06/13) Ref. WRED-7, Page 2 of 5

3 Nevada NSF EPSCoR Track- 1 Proposal Title: The Solar Energy- Water- Environment Nexus in Nevada Duration: 5 years ( ) Amount: $20M from NSF plus $4M cost share by NSHE Mission: Advance knowledge and discovery through research on solar energy generation, its environmental impacts, and associated water issues and accelerate this research by developing new capabilities in cyberinfrastructure. Four goals will support this mission. Development and expansion of cyberinfrastructure and long- term sustainability are embedded in each goal to promote project integration. Goal 1) Solar Energy- Water- Environment Nexus Research: Advance new knowledge and discoveries in solar energy, water, and the environment. Goal 2) Diversity: Develop a comprehensive approach that leads to an increase in the number of underrepresented students who graduate with STEM degrees. Goal 3) Workforce: Develop a sustainable STEM workforce by creating a pipeline of STEM- trained students, educators, and workers while increasing public understanding of solar energy, water, and the environment Goal 4) External engagement: Enable Nevada scientists to collaborate and develop relationships with industry, institutions, and the public to strengthen research that will support the economic development of Nevada. Proposed key physical, cyber, and human infrastructure: Physical Infrastructure Cyberinfrastructure Human Infrastructure Nevada Environment, Water Solar Testing and Research Facility (NEW-STAR) Equipment/instrumentation for NEW-STAR and nexus research Nevada Research Data Center (NRDC) Web servers and data stores for NRDC Scientific software and visualization tools Network connectivity equipment for NEW-STAR and nexus research Multi-channel video cameras, CUDA video server 5 New faculty hires 41 NSHE faculty collaborating 24 Technicians and other professional staff per year 43 Graduate students per year 38 Undergraduate students per year (WORKFORCE, RESEARCH & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE 06/06/13) Ref. WRED-7, Page 3 of 5

4 NSF EPSCoR Track 1 Logic Model Mission: Advance knowledge and discovery through research on solar energy generation, its environmental impacts, and associated water issues, and accelerate this research by new, state-of-the-art capabilities in cyberinfrastructure. In doing so Nevada will diversify its economy, build its workforce, and develop innovative approaches to STEM education. Inputs EPSCoR Track 1 RII Funding Four-year universities/research institutions UNR UNLV DRI Nevada State College Two-year colleges College of Southern NV Truckee Meadows Community College Great Basin College Western NV College Community Partner: College Access Programs Industry partners Solar industry users Water industry Environmental agencies Nevada Center for Entrepreneurial and Technology Solar One NV Energy Nellis Air Force Base State College Access Programs: GEAR UP Dean s Future Scholars College Access Challenge Program TRIO 4-year university faculty Senior researchers Policy makers Industrial researchers Community-based specialists and ambassadors Science writer College access/bridge program students College access and bridge program facilitators Outputs Outcomes Participants Activities/Products Objectives Broader Impacts Goal 1 - Solar Energy-Water-Environment Nexus Research K-12 students Advance new knowledge and discoveries in solar energy, water, and the environment. Seed grants 1. Minimize water use for solar energy generation K-12 teachers Innovation working groups 2. Investigate and decrease environmental impacts of solar energy Summer internships with projects 2-year college industry partners 3. Develop sustainable and advanced water/wastewater approaches undergraduates Booth to display work at to support water needs for solar energy development 4-year university conventions 4. Improve reliability, economic modeling, and sunlight forecasting for undergraduates Conference/journal papers renewable/solar energy supply Graduate students Grant proposals 5. Develop new, and use existing cyberinfrastructure capabilities to Presentations accelerate the nexus research. Graduate research Patented products assistants Nevada Research Data Center Software systems and tools to Technical support support research, education, personnel and outreach. Post-docs Enhance personnel via enrichment activities/training 2-year college Data management plan Project logo Website Advance new knowledge and discoveries at the frontiers of science while achieving: o less expensive solar power costs o better material development for solar panels o better understanding of environmental impacts of solar power development in desert environments o understanding of dust accumulation onto solar panels and water use implications o development of water technologies that use solar energy; understanding of energy consumption for water/wastewater transport and treatment o development of forecasting modeling for shortterm forecasting of solar intensity o development of remote sensing tools to investigate dust accumulation and environmental impacts of solar plants o advancement of new knowledge of solar grid reliability Goal 2 Diversity Develop a comprehensive approach that leads to an increase in the number of underrepresented students who graduate from STEM degree-granting programs. Field trip and laboratory experience programs Collaborations with other components to increase URM New faculty training workshops 1. Improve knowledge and participation regarding STEM fields through the Nexus project. 2. Increase aptitude and advancement of first generation collegegoing students, underrepresented minorities, women, and persons with disabilities in STEM degree-granting programs. 3. Diversify resources and partnerships that contribute to the sustainability of Nexus education, outreach and diversity and STEM enterprises in Nevada. o Broaden participation to foster and promote qualified URM in undergraduate, graduate and workforce activities through the NEXUS project to support diversity in STEM education and careers. (WORKFORCE, RESEARCH & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE 06/06/13) Ref. WRED-7, Page 4 of 5

5 Inputs Outputs NSF EPSCoR Track 1 Logic Model Outcomes Participants Activities/Products Objectives Broader Impacts Goal 3 - Workforce Development/Education Develop a sustainable STEM workforce by creating a pipeline of STEM-trained students, educators, and workers while increasing public understanding of water and energy Science Extravaganza SCIP program Solar scholars, mentoring Solar energy tech training and courses Undergraduate research experience and mentoring Grad student proposal writing workshop Professional development for science teachers; Nevada Educators Really Doing Science (NERDS) Hands-on-Training (HOT) Curriculum development Peer mentor training On-line, bilingual science/engineering content for delivery via the NDRC, for use by student peers and the general public. 1. Increase K-12 students awareness of STEM opportunities and careers. 2. Increase the number of enrollees in solar technical courses by increasing their pre-enrollment skills. 3. Increase the number of undergraduate students who choose a STEM major. 4. Increase the number of graduate students who complete Ph.Ds. and pursue a career in a STEM field. 5. Increase the number of students who pursue STEM careers by increasing their pre-employment skills. 6. Increase K-12 STEM teachers curricular knowledge and use of effective pedagogical strategies. 7. Increase public understanding of on-line learning opportunities for students, teachers, and the general public. 8. Increase knowledge of STEM topics among students and the general public in rural counties. 9. Enhance educational and workforce opportunities to sustain and leverage established programs. Develop trained manpower at graduate, undergraduate, and community college levels that will supply the need of the solar power industry, environmental agencies, and the water industry in the nexus. Develop and expand a STEM teacher workforce that has profound scientific knowledge, creates lessons and assessments that are aligned with Next Generation Science Standards and uses authentic inquiry and a repertoire of effective instructional strategies and technologies. Enhance education and public understanding of water and energy use that will lead to the development of a sustainable STEM workforce Establish a sustainable social network for learning. Expose and involve rural counties, K-grey and underrepresented communities to STEM topics and cutting-edge research. Increase participation in STEM education through peer directed content and mentors. Goal 4 - External Engagement Enable Nevada scientists to collaborate and develop relationships with industry, institutions, and the public to strengthen research that will support the economic development of Nevada. Distribution of info via Discoveries articles State meeting event Mic Nite Videos and podcasts Entrepreneurial thinking event Social media outreach and media releases, K-20 educational videos STEM Pipeline collaterals Solar Energy plant tour/press conference Presentations to key stakeholders 1. Increase communication and outreach to stakeholders. 2. Facilitate stakeholder development and institutional participation. 3. Increase knowledge through activities to support STEM education. Build and sustain research capacity and Nevada s economic growth through a life-cycle approach for workforce development activities. Enable Nevada scientists to collaborate among themselves and develop relationships with industry and funding agencies to strengthen research that will support the economic development of Nevada. (WORKFORCE, RESEARCH & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE 06/06/13) Ref. WRED-7, Page 5 of 5