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

项目主任：凯文·芬纳建议：EPS-1157188机构：国家科学院标题：国家科学基金的评估？S刺激竞争性研究的实验计划(EPSCoR)和其他联邦领域的类似计划这项研究是由国家科学院进行的？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《美国竞争重新授权法》的指令。这项法案在2011年1月由奥巴马总统签署后成为第111-358号公法。该法案包含了许多内容，涉及加强国家-S科学、工程和教育企业的倡议，并包含了S基金会几个办公室和理事会的特有语言，包括刺激竞争研究实验计划办公室(EPSCoR)。它还包含其他六个拥有国会授权的EPSCoR和类似EPSCoR计划的联邦机构特有的语言。具体地说，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。智力价值EPSCoR项目寻求扩大和提高国家的研究能力？S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。这些方案取得了不同程度的成功，并分别进行了评估和评估。这项研究试图对所有EPSCoR和类似EPSCoR的计划进行全面研究，并为它们的增强和改进提供建议，以实现与特定机构任务相一致的计划目标。长期以来，国家科学院一直证明了他们有能力组建委员会，对政府项目进行严格的评估。广泛的影响EPSCoR辖区总体上发展了研究和教育能力，以及应对国家面临的许多科学和工程挑战所需的能力。具体地说，许多司法管辖区都发展了能源、水和环境以及劳动力发展方面的专业知识。此外，许多国家？S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。预计这项研究将提出建议，加强各机构与EPSCoR计划的协调，以最大限度地发挥联邦资金在全国范围内建设和维持有竞争力的研究基础设施的影响。此外，EPSCoR辖区加强的研究能力有助于它们的经济成功，因为当地工业往往受益于与能够获得支持基于知识的创新的基础设施的研究人员的直接互动。

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.