Evaluation of the National Science Foundation's Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) and Similar Programs in Other Federal Agencies

项目负责人：凯文·芬纳提案：EPS-1157188机构：国家科学院标题：国家科学基金会评估？的实验计划，以刺激竞争性研究（EPSCoR）和类似的计划，在其他联邦企业这项研究正在进行的国家科学院？科学，工程和公共政策委员会（COSEPUP）支持国家科学基金会努力遵守2010年美国竞争再授权法案的指令。该法案于2011年1月由奥巴马总统签署后成为公法111-358。该法载有许多内容，涉及加强国家的举措？的科学，工程和教育企业，并包含特定的语言的几个基础？办公室和董事会，包括实验计划办公室，以刺激竞争力的研究（EPSCoR）。它还包含其他六个联邦机构的语言，这些机构拥有国会授权的EPSCoR和类似EPSCoR的项目。具体而言，第517（f）条要求对所有七个机构的联邦EPSCoR计划进行评估研究，并规定国家科学院应进行评估。 知识价值EPSCoR计划寻求扩大和加强国家？通过与从七个联邦机构获得较少研究资金的司法管辖区合作，提高了美国的研究能力。这些方案取得了不同程度的成功，并得到了单独的评价和评估。本研究旨在对所有EPSCoR和类似EPSCoR的计划进行全面研究，并酌情为其增强和改进提供建议，以实现与特定机构任务一致的计划目标。美国国家科学院长期以来一直证明他们有能力组建委员会，对政府项目进行严格的评估。更广泛的影响总的来说，EPSCoR管辖区已经发展了研究和教育能力，以及解决国家面临的许多科学和工程挑战所需的能力。具体而言，许多司法管辖区在能源、水和环境以及劳动力发展方面都有专门知识。此外，许多国家？未来的研究人员正在这些司法管辖区内的高等院校接受本科或研究生培训，特别是目前在STEM中代表性不足的学生。这项研究预计将导致建议，以加强各机构与EPSCoR计划的协调，以最大限度地发挥联邦资金的影响，在全国范围内建立和维持有竞争力的研究基础设施。此外，加强EPSCoR管辖区的研究能力可以促进其经济成功，因为当地产业往往受益于与研究人员的直接互动，这些研究人员可以使用支持基于知识的创新的基础设施。

AbstractProject Director: Kevin FinneranProposal: EPS-1157188Institution: National Academy of SciencesTitle: Evaluation of the National Science Foundation?s Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) and Similar Programs in Other Federal AgenciesThis study is being conducted by the National Academy of Sciences? Committee on Science, Engineering and Public Policy (COSEPUP) to support the National Science Foundation in its efforts to comply with directives of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010. This act became Public Law 111-358, when signed by President Obama in January, 2011. The Act contains numerous elements dealing with initiatives to strengthen the nation?s science, engineering, and education enterprises and contains language specific to several of the Foundation?s Offices and Directorates, including the Office of the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). It also contains language specific to the six other federal agencies with congressionally authorized EPSCoR and EPSCoR-like programs. Specifically, Section 517(f) calls for an assessment study of the federal EPSCoR programs at all seven agencies, and states that the National Academy of Sciences should conduct the assessment. Intellectual MeritThe EPSCoR programs seek to expand and enhance the nation?s research capacity by working with the jurisdictions that receive lesser amounts of research funds from seven federal agencies. These programs have achieved various levels of success and have been evaluated and assessed individually. This study seeks to conduct a comprehensive study of all EPSCoR and EPSCoR-like programs and provide recommendations for their enhancements and improvements to achieve program goals consistent with the specific agency missions, as appropriate. The National Academies have long demonstrated their ability to assemble committees to perform rigorous assessments of government programs.Broader ImpactsCollectively, the EPSCoR jurisdictions have developed research and education capacity and capability needed to address many of the science and engineering challenges facing the nation. Specifically, many of the jurisdictions have developed areas of expertise in energy, water and the environment, and workforce development. In addition, many of the nation?s future researchers are receiving their undergraduate or graduate training at institutions of higher learning within these jurisdictions, particularly students currently underrepresented in STEM. This study is expected to lead to recommendations to enhance coordination across the agencies with EPSCoR programs to maximize the impact of federal funding for building and sustaining competitive research infrastructure nationally. In addition, strengthened research capability in EPSCoR jurisdictions can contribute to their economic success as local industries often benefit from direct interaction with researchers who have access to infrastructure that sustains knowledge-based innovation.