Grand Challenges @UM

Outline

• Aim, Characteristics & Examples of Grand Challenges

• Why Grand Challenges?• UM Grand Challenges• Implementation• Q & A

To create ambitious but achievable goals that harness technology to solve important societal, health…. problems.

Aim of Grand Challenges

Grand Challenges Canada/Grand Défis Canada, “The Grand Challenges Approach”, January 2011

“A grand challenge is one or more specific critical barrier(s) that, if removed, would help solve an important health problem in the developing world with a high likelihood of global impact through widespread implementation”

A Health Grand Challenge example ….

• Global, regional or local issue

• Multi-, cross-, and trans- disciplinary approach in solution

• Expected to remain relevant for a relatively long period

• Purpose-driven research, while encouraging collaborative efforts

Characteristics of a Grand Challenge

- over the entire spectrum of knowledge from arts and humanities to science and technology

- different perspectives

- preferably integrated into a holistic approach

http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ostp/grand-challenges

Grand Challenges Can:

• Help create the industries and jobs of the future;

• Expand the frontiers of human knowledge about ourselves and the world around us;

• Help tackle important problems related to energy, health, education, the environment, national security, and global development; and

• Serve as a “North Star” for collaboration between the public and private sectors.

Grand Challenges in Global Health (2003): lead to breakthrough advances for developing world

Grand Challenges Explorations (2007): agile, accelerated grant initiative with a short, two-page application and no preliminary data

Grand Challenges Canada (2010): support bold ideas with big impact in global health

Grand Challenges for Development (2011): define problems, identify constraints, and provide evidence-based analysis for development issues

Grand Challenges Brazil (2012): to catalyze innovative health research within Brazil

Grand Challenges India (2013): to catalyzing innovative health and development research within India.

http://www.grandchallenges.org/GCGHDocs/Newsletter/2013-10/GC_Newsletter.html Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Govt of Canada

Bill & Melinda Gates + Ministry of Health of Brazil + its National Council on Research (CNPq)

Bill & Melinda Gates + Department of Biotechnology (DBT) in India + its Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

USAID + Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Types of Grand Challenge Research

• General scope - Development issues, health

• Discipline specific

• Wide in scope

NGO, Governments

Learned societies

Universities

Why Grand Challenges?

“an effect on, change, benefit to the economy, society, culture, public policy or services, health, the environment or quality of life beyond academia”

Measuring impact beyond academia

Research Impact

http://resfacil.msu.edu/sites/default/files/NSF%20-%20Addressing%2021st%20Century%20Grand%20Challenges.pdf

Problem of isolated disciplinary thinking

Competencies of University of Malaya (2008-2012)

Year 2008

Year 2012

Year 2011Year 2010

Year 2009

Not this type of multidisciplinary research !!!

UM Grand Challenges

What other Universities across the globe are doing As Grand Challenges

Energy

SustainabilityFood securitySustainable …Sustained agricultureEnvironmentClimate change

Low carbon vehicleIntegrated transport and logistic

Infection disease

Ageing

Healthy communities

Biomedical science

Personalized health

Malaria (Dengue)

Neuroscience

Human well-being

Lifestyle …

Sports, exercise, rehabilitation

Digital media

Computer Science & Digital

systemDigitization

Digital humanity

Big dataIT in Science and Society

Intelligent content and

communication

Materials of future

Electronic & photonic materials

Materials science

Functional material

Transferring human societiesRace & ethnicsQuestion about humans, identity & expression

Nanotech

System engineering

Rehabilitation of structure

- Oil, Gas and Energy - Palm Oil & Rubber - Financial Services-Tourism - Business Services - Electrical and Electronics - Wholesale and Retail - Education - Healthcare

- Communications Content & Infrastructure - Agriculture

- Greater Kuala Lumpur/Klang Valley

The 12 National Key Economic Area (NKEAs)

Five Grand Challenges for UM

GC1- Active Ageing

Call for research proposals to promote the concept of active ageing at both individual and population level. Allowing people to realize their potential for physical, social, and mental well being throughout their life course and to participate in society according to their needs, desires and capacities.

Proposals should also have a likelihood of global impact through its widespread implementation and focused on the following areas of interest;

1. Independent living

2. Inclusive technology

3. Psychosocial empowerment

4. Community reorientation, and

5. Protecting the rights of the vulnerable

A Model Proposal

GC2-World without Conflict• This grand challenge calls for proposals for projects that aim to address conflicts

that arise from: -tensions between nations, ideologies, faiths and cultures; - suffering that comes from illnesses and diseases in spite of proven prevention and

cures; -diminishing quality of life despite technological, medical and other progress• Projects can be framed as responses to conflict or problem resolution or reduction

in the following areas: social cohesion, enhanced quality of life, education and equitable development

• Themes:1. Indigenous communities2. Emerging socio-political trends3. Emotional Well-being and Livability Studies4. Equitable access to education5. Inter-faith dialogue/Intercultural Studies

GC3-Eco-Resilient Cities

Research of Sustainable Science Cluster focuses on current and future challenges of Greater Kuala Lumpur in facing rapid urbanization, degradation of environmental quality, limited resources, community integration and infrastructure development. Proposals are invited to model Kuala Lumpur as Eco-Resilient City in five broad areas:

1. Transportation• Public Road Safety• Human Behaviour• Aviation Industry : Environmental Impact• Vehicle lifespan

3. Food Security• Urban Agriculture/Aquaculture• Vertical Farming• Food security• Food Quality / Nutrition

2. Quality Affordable Housing• Standard Planning Guidelines• Financing System• Design Innovation

4. Assessment Tools for Eco-Resilient Cities • Eco-Resilience Index• Incentives & Awards

5. UM Eco-Resilient CampusAs a showcase of Eco-Resilient concept proposals are invited for immediate research that may lead to actual projects implementation within UM campus. • Transport – Mobility & Pedestrian• Energy Efficient• Environmental Issues• Eco-Resilient Home

Scope• Research under this Grand Challenge will be directed towards the development and application

of sustainable resources and technology, with the broader aim of mitigating environmental degradation and climate change

• Resources here mean biological and physical resources, and energy

Tentative Topics• This is a vast challenge that can not be addressed fully by a single organization or even a single

country• Based on expertise of UM researchers, topics of recent UM research projects/programmes,

existence of a critical mass at UM, NKEA, the following research themes are tentatively selected: ‐ Energy: This is a wide open area, arrangement are being made for relevant researchers to

discuss and agree on a major theme (which is the case for other topics as well)‐ Products from bio-resources: fuels, specialty chemicals, ecosystem related issues‐ Energy and resource efficient technology: energy harvesting and storage, efficiency, green

electronics etc.‐ Clean manufacturing/production: to reduce environmental impact

GC4: Sustainable Resources & Technology

The projects will harness ICT as a crucial enabler and will integrate science/technology with social sciences

The ETP was formulated by the Government to propel Malaysia towards becoming a high-income nation by 2020. Wide-ranging research programmes covering different NKEAs (see diagram below) need to be undertaken in areas such as innovative product and process development, human resource/skill development, business development, creation of high income jobs and improvement of national competitiveness. Trans-disciplinary efforts, involving science, technology, social sciences and humanities disciplines, are required to solve key issues under this Grand Challenge. You are welcomed to join existing proposals listed below or develop new ones: LABOUR MIGRATION ACROSS BORDERS / HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT FOR A HIGH-INCOME NATION / WEALTH CREATION THROUGH ENTREPRENEURSHIP / INCOME-ENHANCING PLATFORM TECHNOLOGY

GC5-Pushing Economic Borders

Application flow chart for Grand Challenges Programme

Fail

Call for Proposal for Grand Challenges (GC)

Proposal Presentation

Notify the PI in writing

Submission of Concept paper to the GC secretariat

1st evaluation meeting involving the Panel, DVP(R), and Cluster Dean

Recommended by Panel

Submission of corrected full proposal

Approval from DVC (R&E)

1st approval

Notify the successful PI in writing

Open file for programme and sub-programme

Send all related documents to RMU

RMU must reply the received of the documents

Invitation to submit full proposal

Notify the PI in writingFail

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PPGP will notify the PI regarding activation of their account ( cc. to Cluster and respective RMU)

Send related documents to PPGP for account opening (SAGA & RGMS)

PPGP will create SAGA & RGMS account for each programme and sub programme

Cluster

Faculty Research Management Unit (RMU)

PPGPDVC (R&E)

Approve

Grand Challenge Research Programme• The Research University Funding on Grand Challenge will be

awarded as research programmes. • Proposals must demonstrate inter/multi/trans-disciplinary nature

of the research and significant contribution to society (translation phase)

• Trans-disciplinary research is defined as research that involves scientists from multiple disciplines working interactively on a common problem to develop novel cross-disciplinary methods, insights and research approaches that would not have occurred with a traditional uni-disciplinary investigation.

• Project duration not less than 36 months but not more than 60 months.

Grand Challenge Research Programme• A Grand Challenge research programme is headed by a Programme Leader

(PL), and comprises at least 3 sub-programmes (SP) each of which is, in turn, led by different principal investigators (PI).

• Programme leader must be an academic staff and faculty member with excellent track record

– Programme Leader is responsible for monitoring the progress of the programme including all sub-programmes registered under the programme.

– Programme Leader is responsible to ensure the achievement of proposed expected output

– Sub-programme Leader is responsible for monitoring the research account under his/her supervision and reports its progress to his/her Programme Leader.

Grand Challenge Research Programme

• Maximum amount of funding: will be announced • Collaborations with other local or international entities

are encouraged • Must involve external stakeholder as the proposed

programme must demonstrate a significant impact to the society

General concepts• Big idea translated into some focused area of research• Think big, think long term• Global significance• National priorities• Our expertise• Scientific excellence• Real multi-disciplinary• Real impact• Must engage relevant stakeholders in a real sense

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Backup slides

Grand Challengesaddressed by

Research Universities around the globe

University College London (UCL)

• Mechanisms through which expertise from across UCL and beyond can be brought together to address the world's key problems.

• Support researchers to think about how their work relates to global issues.

• Climate and Energy Challenge• Development Challenge• Health Challenge

1. Ageing Society2. Digital Media3. Human Security4. Integrated Transport and Logistics5. Low Carbon Vehicles6. Low Impact Buildings7. Sustainable Agriculture and Food

1. Digital Economy2. Global Food Security3. Global Uncertainties – Security4. Living with Environmental Change5. Energy Programme6. Lifelong Health and Well Being in UK

Top Ten Problems Facing Humanity Over the Next 50 Years

1.Energy2.Water3.Food4.Environment5.Poverty6.Terrorism & War7.Disease8.Education9.Democracy10.Population

• Understanding our place and purpose• Fostering health and wellbeing• Supporting sustainability and resilience

Energy: a strategic initiative"Addressing the energy challenge is an area of intense activity across the University, with over 250 academics involved and a funding portfolio of over £100 million”

Digital humanities: a strategic network"The great strengths and distinctive contribution of digital humanities at Cambridge derive from the wealth of ideas that inform and underpin research“

Global food security: a strategic initiative"We must be sustainable, socially equitable and ecologically successful – the so-called ‘doubly-green revolution’

Stem cells: a strategic initiative"Our research programmes explore how stem cells build and maintain the body and how they may be used to create new medical treatments“

http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/collegestrategy/research

• Our research aims to create knowledge generally and provide solutions to a broad spectrum of societal and economic issues, including energy, environment, healthcare and security.

• We address these challenges on three broad levels, which are interdependent (core disciplines, multidisciplinary research, global challenges). Many of our academics are engaged with all three and we will maintain this approach for the foreseeable future.

Engineering Grand Challenges (ENGG7701)Information valid for Semester 2, 2014

Even a postgraduate course on Grand Challenges since Semester 2, 2013

Course Code: ENGG7701 Course Title: Engineering Grand Challenges Coordinating Unit: School of Mechanical and Mining EngineeringSemester: Semester 2, 2013 Mode: InternalLevel: Postgraduate Coursework Location: St LuciaNumber of Units: 2 Contact Hours Per Week: 2L2T Pre-Requisites: BE/ME placement

Course Description: This course will focus on exploring the implications of being a professional engineer in the 21st century through actively engaging with the technical, socio-economic and political stakeholders to the National Academy of Engineering Grand Challenges. Students will elect to focus on one of the 14 grand challenges both individually and as part of a small multidisciplinary team in an enquiry based approach requiring an in-depth framing of the problem and the identification of innovative opportunities and the necessary conditions for developing a sustainable solution that is scalable and can be applied at a global level. The students will act as consultants and advisors to the newly formed UQ Engineering Global Innovations Centre* and be required to demonstrate their leadership skills in developing a network of collaborators from the relevant disciplines within the UQ research community, as well as industry and the community. Key lectures will provide the students with supporting technical/social/political/cultural/economic issues around the challenges, developing networks within communities, leadership, planning and persuasive communication. In addition, each student will be required to produce a video of their proposal, demonstrating their understanding of the issues in a persuasive argument to the relevant stakeholders. * A fictitious organisation

President Kennedy's words during his famous Rice University speech:

“We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.”

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UM GRAND CHALLENGES

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GC ACTIVE AGINGWORLD WITHOUT

CONFLICTECO RESILIENT

CITIES

SUSTAINABLE RESOURCES & TECHNOLOGY

PUSHING ECONOMIC BORDERS

THEMES ACTIVE AGING & INDEPENDENT LIVING1) SOCIAL COHESION 2) ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE3) EDUCATION AND EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT

ECO RESILIENT CITYINNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

GETSET - GLOBALIZATION, ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION AND SOCIETAL TRANSITION 

PROP

OSED

PROGRAMMES

1) INDEPENDENT LIVING

2) INCLUSIVE TECHNOLOGY

3) PSYCHOSOCIAL EMPOWERMENT

4) COMMUNITY REORIENTATION

5) PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF THE VULNERABLE

1) EMERGING SOCIO POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT IN MALAYSIA

2) ENRICHING LIVES: EMITIONAL WELL-BEING AND LIVABILITY STUDIES

3) EQUITABLE ACCESS TO EDUCATION

4) INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY IN MALAYSIA: CONTESTATION AND RESOLUTION

5) NATIONAL BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY OF MALAYSIA

1) LIVING LAB: ECO-RESILIENT CAMPUS

2) QUALITY AFFORDABLE HOUSING

3) TRANSPORTATION

4) FOOD SECURITY

5) ASSESSMENT TOOLS FOR ECO-RESILIENT CITIES

1) ENERGY2) PRODUCTS

FROM BIO-RESOURCES

3) GREEN ELECTRONICS

4) CLEAN MANUFACTURING

1) HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT FOR A HIGH INCOME NATION

2) WEALTH CREATION THROUGH ENTREPRENEURSHIP

3) INCOME-ENHANCING PLATFORM TECHNOLOGY

GRAND CHALLENGE THEMES

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WHY GRAND CHALLENGE?

• Big ideas are translated into focused areas of research - think big, think long term

• Focus on research that have global significance, national priorities

• Give priority to research with real impact to society

• Engage relevant stakeholders in the real sense• Fully utilize our expertise• Execute multi/inter/trans-disciplinary research

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Flow Chart for Grand Challenge

Grand Challenge announced

Come up with two-pages concept paper

Identify and engage with external stakeholders

Meeting / discussion among partners/ stakeholders and proposal preparation

Proposal submission

Proposal evaluation and award

Periodic report and monitoring

Evaluation

Research future planning

Proposal submission

No Details Date

1 UNIVERSITY OF MALAYA RESEARCHERS' CONFERENCE (UMRC) 19 Nov 2013

2 Grand Challenges Workshop (IPPP) 06 –07 Jan 2014

3 Grand Challenges road show (TNC P&I) Jan-Feb 2014

5 Launching of Grand Challenges Website 31 Jan 2014

6 Focused group discussions Ongoing since 2013

7 GC Guidelines and application form ready 1 Mac 2014

8 Grand Challenges application opens 3 Mac 2014

9 Concept paper submission 15 Apr 2014

10 Concept paper evaluation 02 May 2014

11 Full proposal submission 15 Jun 2014

12 Full proposal evaluation 30 Jun 2014

13 Award of GC 05 Jul 2014

13 Half yearly progress monitoring 02 Jan 2015

GRAND CHALLENGE PROJECTED TIMELINE

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