PIRE I & II Post-Award Activities

PIRE I & II Post-Award Activities

OISE PO team working

--To help make the projects succeed,

--To help OISE and all of NSF learn more about the projects,

--To disseminate information on new and exciting models.

Partnerships for International Research and Education

Elizabeth Lyons, OISEOctober 29, 2007OISE Advisory Committee Meeting

OISE team – 7 PO’s ->12 PO’s managing the portfolio

--Press releases, speeches, highlights

--Human Subjects, supplement policy

--Annual Progress Reports

--Involvement of research directorates

--Evaluation

--PI meetings

EARLY Results !!


NSF Press Release(s)

Highlights – for Congress

Speeches by Drs. Bement & Olsen

Institutional press releases

Stories in major publications


Post-Award Logistics

--Human Subjects information

--Supplement Policy

--Annual Progress Reports

--added travel information requested

--PO from research directorate asked to look at it


Measuring the Impacts of PIRE

--Monitoring progress on program objectives

--Student questions

--Feedback from PI meeting

--Hire contractor


PIRE I Awards PIRE II Awards


2nd PI meeting October 15-16, 2007 at NSF

-12 PIRE 1 PIs, each with a student

-20 PIRE 2 PIs

--Share progress in frontier science – with research directorates

--Share information on impacts on students, institutions

--Form a community of scientists, educators and universities – leading change

--Provide project management guidance

--Discuss evaluation of research, education, institutional change, including site visits

--Discuss role of foreign collaborators

--Identify different models and consider how to disseminate information on them

2nd PI meeting October 15-16, 2007 at NSF (cont.)


EARLY Results (many others will be long term!)

Successes

PIs feel science is great & getting better

Partnerships – thriving, growing domestic ties strengthened, too

Visits overseas are long enough for real collaboration & learning

Leveraging funds in US & abroad from universities, governments, industry

PIs feel impact on participant careers very positive



Challenges

Administrative load high

Visas

Sustainability, growth

Assessment of Success

Diversity

Impacts on Science Beyond the Original Research Question

-- Int’l data IRIS available for many other studies

--IRIS wants to copy success in developing countries of Americas, South East Asia

--Trying to add climate equipment

--Rare thriving African scientific network

--Leveraged as much $$ in Africa training geoscientists


Impacts on students

Questionnaire:

-- international a big attractant -- international engagement much higher -- appreciate the cultural context science more

Student Reports:

-- learn new techniques, research approaches -- value international experience, collaborations -- strong motivator to finish and/or continue -- multiple mentors in US and abroad a plus -- new cultural experience a positive -- near-peer mentoring very helpful



Student Challenges

-Language often a problem

-Cultural transition often difficult

-Logistics often challenging

-Progress toward PhD slowed if foreign lab not ready, equipment not available

-Family issues

Flexibility is key!!

Examples of Impacts on Institutions

--New Dual Degree program – International Ph. D.

--New International focus for university capital campaign, PIRE as a model

--Increases in number and quality of graduate student applications

--Stronger relationships with university International Office


http://www.tu-braunschweig.de/international/wirueberuns


--Stronger university IP policy & practice

--Development of organizational structure with Infrastructure & many assets– beyond PIs and universities

--Linkage of research to study abroad, leverage and strengthen

--Stronger ties among U.S. universities joint recruiting for faculty and post-docs

--Showcasing of PIRE projects by universities (PIRE envy)

Documents

PIRE I & II Post-Award Activities