ADBC: Background, Broader Impacts and Opportunity

Anne MagliaProgram Director, Division of Biological Infrastructure

National Science Foundationamaglia@nsf.gov; (703) 292-7380

28 Sept 2012 Public Participation Workshop iDigBio

Challenge:

Mobilize collections “dark data”

•Collections: priceless resource for biodiversity data

•Much of the data inaccessible, inconsistent- Data may not be captured- Ancillary data may not be linked, usable- Identifying knowledge gaps impossible- Use of data for modeling, other applications

unreliable

Feds know this, too!

2005: Interagency Working Group on Scientific Collections formed2008: NSF surveys non-federal collections2009: IWGSC releases “mission critical" (aka "green") report2009: NSF releases survey results2010: America Competes Act includes collections language

2010: NSF fund workshops for strategic planning, plan released

NIBA recommendations

• Create permanent, web-accessible repository of digitized information from all US bio-collections- Enable new research discoveries- Provide understanding and appreciation of biodiversity

through education and outreach- Drive well-informed environmental and economic

policies

NIBA strategic plan

• Centralized integration• Research-based thematic networks• New tools and technologies• Partnerships with other agencies, organizations• Training and outreach

NSF’s first response: ADBC

• 10 year, $10+ mil per year to seed efforts• Focused on:

– Central coordinating resource (HUB)– Digitization based on research challenges

• TCNs = Thematic Collections Networks

• Requires:– Innovative approaches to digitization– Cyberinfrastructure, technology development– Inclusivity and prioritization– Training and outreach

ADBC, to date

• iDigBio (HUB) awarded FY11• 3 TCNs awarded FY11• 4 TCNs, 2 PENs awarded FY12• Round 3: proposals due Oct 19

NIBA recommendations

• Create permanent, web-accessible repository of digitized information from all US bio-collections- Enable new research discoveries- Provide understanding and appreciation of biodiversity

through education and outreach- Drive well-informed environmental and economic

policies

NSF Broader Impacts (current)

• How well does the activity advance discovery while promoting teaching, training and learning?

• How well does the activity broaden the participation of underrepresented groups (e.g., gender, ethnicity, disability, geographic, etc.)?

• To what extent will it enhance the infrastructure for research and education, such as facilities, instrumentation, networks, and partnerships?

• Will the results be disseminated broadly to enhance scientific and technological understanding?

• What may be the benefits of the proposed activity to society?

New NSB Recommendations

The Broader Impacts criterion encompasses the benefit to society and the achievement of specific, desired societal outcomes.

NSF projects, in the aggregate, should contribute more broadly to achieving societal goals. These "Broader Impacts" should be achieved through the research itself, through activities that are directly related to specific research projects, or through activities that are supported by, but are complementary to, the project.

New NSB Recommendations

Meaningful assessment and evaluation of NSF funded projects should be based on appropriate metrics, keeping in mind the likely correlation between broader impacts and the resources provided to implement projects. If the size of the activity is limited, evaluation of that activity in isolation is not likely to be meaningful. Thus, assessing the effectiveness of these activities may best be done at a higher, more aggregated level, than the individual project.

Poised for opportunity

• High profile, familiarity, direct links to societal challenges

• Engagement via products and processes• Involvement in data capture, verification, and meta-

analysis• Assessment at multiple levels• Model for community-wide BI success

NIBA: Implementation Plan

• First draft workshop: Sept 17-18• Next phase: community input and feedback• Outreach, public engagement included

Questions?

Anne MagliaProgram Director: ADBC, CSBR, ABI

amaglia@nsf.gov (703) 292-7380skype: amaglia

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