Visit: National
Science Foundation
Science Foundation
This week it continued its search at Asian Institute of Technology
(AIT), as a senior representative of the US Government funding agency
based in Washington DC arrived to explore new opportunities to sponsor
collaborative projects with faculty and research groups.
(AIT), as a senior representative of the US Government funding agency
based in Washington DC arrived to explore new opportunities to sponsor
collaborative projects with faculty and research groups.
Dr. Joseph Mook, NSF Program Manager based in Washington D.C. for
Thailand, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, and
Philippines, paid a fact-finding and information-sharing visit on 26
October 2010. He was accompanied by Mrs. Selma Garrido, U.S. Department
of State, Embassy of the United States of America, Bangkok, who
facilitated the meeting.
Thailand, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, and
Philippines, paid a fact-finding and information-sharing visit on 26
October 2010. He was accompanied by Mrs. Selma Garrido, U.S. Department
of State, Embassy of the United States of America, Bangkok, who
facilitated the meeting.
“There’s no question that AIT is a world-class institution which
NSF is interested in collaborating with. I am hoping to encourage
international collaborators to participate in NSF-supported
opportunities to create win-win collaborative projects,” Dr. Mook told
senior AIT officials, led by Prof. Joydeep Dutta, Vice President for
Academic Affairs and Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, Vice President for
Resource Development.
NSF is interested in collaborating with. I am hoping to encourage
international collaborators to participate in NSF-supported
opportunities to create win-win collaborative projects,” Dr. Mook told
senior AIT officials, led by Prof. Joydeep Dutta, Vice President for
Academic Affairs and Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, Vice President for
Resource Development.
NSF is committed to supporting cutting-edge research and education
across the US-based science, technology, engineering and mathematics
community, and to prepare for a Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics (STEM) workforce of the future. Neither is possible without
a substantial international component, Dr. Mook said.
across the US-based science, technology, engineering and mathematics
community, and to prepare for a Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics (STEM) workforce of the future. Neither is possible without
a substantial international component, Dr. Mook said.
He indicated that although NSF is an independent American federal
agency that supports science and engineering research and education
through grants to U.S. universities, it is actively seeking
international engagement.
agency that supports science and engineering research and education
through grants to U.S. universities, it is actively seeking
international engagement.
“We understand that expertise and new knowledge is found all over
the world,” he said, explaining NSF’s outward focus and its analysis of
the complex global nature of key problems.
the world,” he said, explaining NSF’s outward focus and its analysis of
the complex global nature of key problems.
Dr. Mook outlined the full range of collaboration opportunities
open to AIT experts, particularly its senior, tenured-tack faculty
members. He said NSF funds specific research proposals that have been
judged the most promising by a rigorous and objective merit-review
system. Most awards go to individuals or small groups of
investigators.
open to AIT experts, particularly its senior, tenured-tack faculty
members. He said NSF funds specific research proposals that have been
judged the most promising by a rigorous and objective merit-review
system. Most awards go to individuals or small groups of
investigators.
Researchers could propose whatever project they wanted to NSF, Dr.
Mook stressed, offering evidence of relatively good odds for receiving
funding.
Mook stressed, offering evidence of relatively good odds for receiving
funding.
According to Dr. Mook, NSF receives from 45,000 to 50,000
proposals each year, granting awards to 11-12,000 proposals annually
for a funding success rate of 26 per cent. There are currently more
than 30,000 active awards funded by NSF.
proposals each year, granting awards to 11-12,000 proposals annually
for a funding success rate of 26 per cent. There are currently more
than 30,000 active awards funded by NSF.
With a 2011 budget of US $7.7 billion, NSF is the funding source
for approximately 20 percent of all federally supported basic research
conducted by America’s colleges and universities. It stresses a highly
competitive, merit-based, peer review model for such funding.
for approximately 20 percent of all federally supported basic research
conducted by America’s colleges and universities. It stresses a highly
competitive, merit-based, peer review model for such funding.
Saying his agency expected “peer-to-peer” collaboration, he
outlined in detail the processes and procedures involved for AIT and US
researchers to collaborate for developing highly-focused combined
research proposals that might be funded by his agency.
outlined in detail the processes and procedures involved for AIT and US
researchers to collaborate for developing highly-focused combined
research proposals that might be funded by his agency.
The meeting was also a good opportunity for AIT to highlight its
relevant research projects and to discuss possible research proposals
for funding from NSF.
relevant research projects and to discuss possible research proposals
for funding from NSF.
“AIT is not only Thailand. AIT is Asia and even the world,” Vice
President Dutta stressed as he praised NSF for actively contributing to
US diplomacy in Asia through collaboration in science. “AIT is hugely
interested in working closely with NSF,” he said.
President Dutta stressed as he praised NSF for actively contributing to
US diplomacy in Asia through collaboration in science. “AIT is hugely
interested in working closely with NSF,” he said.
Also attending the meeting were Dr. Sumanta Guha, Associate
Professor, School of Engineering and Technology (SET); Dr. Gregory
Chiu, Visiting Associate Professor, SET; Dr. Pritam K. Shrestha, Head,
External Relations and Communications Office (ERCO); and Mr. Tomi
Hayardi, Project Manager at AIT's Center for Excellence in Sustainable
Development in the Context of Climate Change (SDCC).
Professor, School of Engineering and Technology (SET); Dr. Gregory
Chiu, Visiting Associate Professor, SET; Dr. Pritam K. Shrestha, Head,
External Relations and Communications Office (ERCO); and Mr. Tomi
Hayardi, Project Manager at AIT's Center for Excellence in Sustainable
Development in the Context of Climate Change (SDCC).
