We'll give it a minute or so.
For those of you who are joining now. Thank you so much for joining.
We'll give an extra minutes for the other participants to join the webinar, so we'll begin in about a minute. Thank you.
Okay, let's begin. Welcome. Everyone on behalf of the global centers.
Theme, I would like to thank you for joining us today.
This is a webinar that will provide a high level discussion of a bolt.
New program. And also an overview of the opportunities for us.
Researchers to work with collaborators supported by our partner organizations in Canada, United Kingdom and Australia.
There was the previous webinar, and my colleague here.
Will. Paul will share the link on this program.
But, unlike the previous webinar today, will focus on how size that is.
The computer and information science in engineering director researchers can play a key role for the success of this program.
My name is Damien. From the computer information science and engineering directorate and I'm one of the program officers of the Global Centers program.
Today I'm also joined by my colleague, Paul Ratteron.
One of the program officers from the office of International Science and Engineering. The office of International Science and Engineering is leading the Global Centers program.
Hello, everyone happy to to see a lot of attendees today.
I'm very glad to have you here, Paul, and I'm also very great.
For our it support team. We're also here to help us make sure that everything all the trains are running on time.
And everything goes smooth.
Here on the left. You see the team responsible for running the global centers program and the 4 primary contacts from the office of International Science and Engineering.
And then our global centers, coordinating committee from across the National Science Foundation.
All of us are available to answer your questions. In the next several weeks, as you work on your proposals today, I will begin by giving a high level overview of the program.
And we'll also focus on a number of scientific areas where the size community can take the lead in supporting and ensuring the success of this bold new program.
I will, presentation will be followed by questions and answers.
Period, so you can drop your questions into the box here through the throughout the presentation, and we'll begin answering the questions after we finish with the slides.
Please make sure to use the Q&A section, and on the chat, as it may be confusing if if we were to use both of those.
We will try to answer all the questions, but since time is limited, we may not get to all of them.
If we don't get a chance to get to you, question, you can email us, or you can find out, or you can find our contact information at the end of the slide show.
And in addition, there are a number of other office hours, several office hours that you can attend in the next several weeks.
The National Science Foundation's Global Centers program is an ambitious new initiative to fund international interdisciplinary Collaborative research centers that will apply the best practices of broadening participation in community engagement to develop practical use-inspired applied research it's on
climate change and clean energy leading to foreseeable benefits to society.
Leads this new program, and in addition, Pis can coordinate with the programs partners.
At this stage, that our program partners are in Australia, Canada, and United Kingdom.
The program is designed to prioritize research collaborations which foster Science community engaged research and the proposed research work should maximize the benefits of international interdisciplinary collaborations.
In this way the expected outcome is that the whole and the outcomes should be greater than the sum of the parts.
We are aware that, addressing the dangers of climate change in delivering new methods of clean energy are challenges of global importance with impacts on the natural in the human world, and we hope that this global centers program and the global centers created traits we'll offer a bold vision
for high impact use, inspired in highly practical basic research on climate change and clean energy science.
The global centers are expected to leverage international partnerships on any area of Nsa funded science.
The global centers should also address grand challenges related to climate change and clean energy with clearly defined and practical benefits to society.
So what are the key?
Climate change is a complex challenge. And, addressing it, require solutions.
Stemming from multiple disciplines and multiple institutions.
Some of the key elements of the global centers should include multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary concepts or transdisciplinary concepts with expertise, from teams of skewed scientists, from multiple institutions and in this case multiple countries we expect to see that the
Pis and your stakeholders will extend, not just in academia, but also hopefully beyond academia, including perhaps the private and the public sectors.
We'll like to see specifically plans presented by the pis for the integration of diversity equipment, inclusion, and accessibility into the research and training plans, as well as a clearly defined plan for workforce development.
There are a number of solicitations, specific documents that need to elaborate on this, and my colleague Paul, will discuss them in a few minutes.
It is key for the pis to also think how they work, will help build supports, and grow relevant.
Communities that's will ensure the continued success of the global centers and the long-term impacts of the research work being performed well beyond the expiration of the global centers. Award.
And as I mentioned in the beginning, since this webinar is Co.
Organized by size and focused on size topics. I would like to discuss with you how the size community can participate and how size scientists can, in fact, play a key role for the success of the global centers program.
According to a recent National Academy reports on the next generation, Earth system, science.
This report advocates for a systems approach to studying the earth in the reports.
It is mentioned that computation can provide the framework for putting together the complex pieces of earth system size supporting data, collection and analysis, generating 4 casts and interpreting model results.
Here, on the right side of this slides, we see the possible stages of the systems model.
Where size can play an important and, in fact, critical role at every step.
For example, size researchers can help develop advanced infrastructure for collecting observations and for the aggregation in storage of data.
And that is key for for the success of the program pis from the size community can also create new computational MoD computational modeling as well as simulation and visualization.
Techniques and also deliver critical analysis and reasoning methods, including methods based on artificial intelligence.
These efforts can directly lead to concrete and actionable tasks.
Any suggestions that can be implemented through interventions and that's the last stage that we see here.
Of course, that's not the end of the cycle.
Finally the work and continue by observing and evaluating the impact of the intervention in interventions.
In all the previous steps.
Here allow us to mention some areas where we believe that size research can directly contribute towards the program success.
And please keep in mind that this list is not comprehensive.
So starting with ensuring the key infrastructure of the systems, approach size researchers can deliver advances in high speed communication networks and cloud infrastructure for efficient data collection.
Storage and aggregation scientists from the size community.
Then also creates noval data science solutions, including artificial intelligence.
As we mentioned, they can also enable advanced analysis, prediction, and deeper understand of climate change and clean energy.
The size community can also contribute by creating state of the arts.
Data, driven computational modeling. Hey? Precision, simulation and virtualization methods.
And once again, these are just examples, and we will continue on the next slide with several more.
Size Pis can contribute by exploring topics related to ensuring the resilience of critical infrastructure, infrastructure for that delivers energy, food, water during climate, driven driven events during hurricanes, for example, earthquakes.
If we also go back to the steps of performing observations and also collecting data, the development and deployment of smart, sensor-based networks, or maybe self-adaptive robots for data collection in potentially hazardous areas and can be important for for advancing
the science of climate change. Also the adoption of some emerging technologies, such as, for example, digital twins can be key as such technologies can create global scale interactive models for climate predictiction and reduction of greenhouse gases.
Finally, as I mentioned, this list, is not exhausted, and the pis are free to explore any ideas that can advance.
Our knowledge and understanding. In addressing climate change, and in delivering the code energy sources of of the future, and if you've noticed the solicitation is quite broad and quite open, and this is on purpose simply because we wanted to invite the community to explore all relevant areas, that's
why these are just examples, and not all of these are listed in the solicitation.
Since you're probably already looking into these topics and exploring the topics of clean energy or climate change or sustainability.
Hello me to also mention a couple of relevance and recent solicitations that you may also want to take a look at and consider.
For example, while the size community can play a leading crow in the global centers program that we're discussing here. Hey?
By providing a wide variety of computing capabilities and tools for systemability.
There is a new program to explore the sustainability of computing.
And this program is the design for environmental sustainability in in computing.
Its goal is to address the substantial environmental impacts that computing has thrown through its entire life cycle.
So from design and manufacturing through deployment into operation, and finally into reuse recycling.
In disposal, so it's a very relevant program.
I encourage you to take a look. And if you have questions, please, email, the program directors listed in this through recitation.
There is another relevant program that in the solicitation of recently released, this is the kind of the let, 2,023 international joint initiative for research in climate change adoption, adaptation and mitigation competition.
It's represents collaboration among Brazil, Canada, Germany, Norway, South Africa, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and United States.
And the goal here is to leverage internationally, expertise, to tackle the global challenges caused by climate change.
You can find again more information about this program by reading its solicitation in full detail.
But I just wanted to make you aware of it. During this webinar presentation.
Now let us go back and discuss some more details related to this global centers.
Solicitation. There are 2 tracks that are described in the program track one, it's called implementation.
And this is the joint funding opportunity with the programs.
International partners. Here the project's duration is 4 or 5 years, and for Nsspi is the funding is up to 5 million or per approach for the work.
To this track a proposal must involve pis from the Us.
And at least one person account participants from other countries beyond the partners from Australia, Canada, and United Kingdoms may also be involved.
But please keep in mind that Nsf typically does not fund for Npi research topics.
Also must be aligned with those identified by Nss.
And as this is an Nsf. Less solicitations, proposals will be evaluated by Nss. Merits.
Review, process.
Each of our partners in the solicitation. Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom has a list of specific requirements.
Can you feel like working with partners from those countries? We encourage you to read carefully the Citation section specifically.
Section 2, d. One, c. Because each partner will require additional documentation.
That is specific to the respective country, and that the also needs to be submitted.
So this is material and documentation that goes beyond. What, then is safe, typically requires.
Also, if you're curious how funding works in such cases. Nsf.
Will fund pis based in the United States. Well, our partners in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom will be funding the researchers in those countries.
A project may involve collaborators from countries outside of these 4, however, Pis have to be mindful of the rules of what activities can be founded by Nsa.
There is also track 2 in the program. The track 2 is intended to funds.
Us. Researchers and support community driven efforts in planning for future global centers.
A main goal here is to create and build and grow partnerships and collaborations, and for this reason the project's duration is up to 2 years, and the total awards cannot exceed $250,000.
The track encourages the development of international research collaboration with the goal of broadening the participation in the global centers program and by including wider expertise and participants from more areas of science, more institutions and also hopefully more participating countries.
Track 2 projects sure also addressed the topics of listed in the global center solicitation on climate change and clean energy.
Additionally, we advise that the pis think of specific planning and coordinating efforts that would lead to a successful track.
One proposal for the next competition. We also encourage that to reach out and try to involve scientists from any country globally, because the goal is to grow.
The program internationally, and especially those scientists from those regions of the world that are disproportionately affected by climate change.
So we would really love to see that in those design track proposals.
In terms of preparing your proposal.
The proposal right should be familiar with. Hey? It says, general policies and procedures.
So, if you have doubts, please take a look at this document.
Unlike a standard proposal, the solicitation here allows for a page limit of 20 pages for the project description documents, and we encourage the pis to take the time to clearly explain the various research areas in the specific roles of the academic and non academic collaborators hello collaboration
here is key and giving the reviewers a good understanding of everybody's role.
And importance in the project is very important, also providing details of partnerships that build on existing Nsa.
Investments is desirable, due to the complexity of the problem.
Domain. It is also highly desirable to compose teams that are multidisciplinary and multi-institutional.
With broad representation of individual expertise and knowledge, simply because, as we stayed in thoroughly, we believe that the complex problems climate change in developing clean energy methods requires efforts from more than one institution, more than one discipline such partnerships should lead to the creation
of science, communities that will ensure the success of the project beyond the expiration of the current awards, and will also work towards delivering concrete and long-lasting impacts.
Each project should define metrics of success, and should also include specific plans for evaluation.
Such plans need to be concrete and also well taught out.
Next my colleague, Paul Rutteron, will discuss more details regarding the programs requirements and also the solicitation specific criteria.
So, Paula, turning the presentation to you.
Thank you. And next slide.
So, it's an Nsf. Funding opportunity.
So the full proposal goes to Nsf. You have some documentation that you have to submit.
If you are submitting a track line proposal. So you have some documentation to send me directly to the partner funding agency in Australia.
Cana, and and the United Kingdom down!
So Damien mentioned that, but the full proposal really got to Nsf.
So you need to have somebody submitting the proposal in the Us.
And the the people eligible to submit the proposal.
I hadather the institution of higher education as an indicator on this line or a nonprofit organization.
So we I can right away answer a question that we had a lot.
We see whether a for profit organization can can submit proposal or national lab.
And the answer is, no, however, any category of organization which is listed in the Ppg.
Which is our guide to submitting proposal, is able to be server words so participate to the, to the proposal as a suber already, and an individual can only be listed as pi and copi.
So the pi and the copi are us-based scientists, and they are usually listed on the cover page of the proposal.
And so they are. They are from eligible institutions, and so and then we all can only submit a proposal.
One, whether it's a trip one or trying to. However, an individual can be senior personnel in as many proposals as they like.
So within your personal. All include the pi and copia. But there are other categories of senior personnel next slide.
So as Damien was saying, running participation is really something that you have to think about when you write your proposal.
So diversity, d, e, i, a activities.
We really as a behind to think of bringing in the population that are particularly impacted by by climate change, which is a topic on climate change, on a specific area of the world.
But overall, what we'd like that the Dei activity not only are applied by involving, for example, scientists from underrepresented groups, but also, by the way you think about the research topic, and how you can really integrate these activities into the way you design the
priority research, topic. So this will be evaluated.
That will be one of the evaluation and I'll get back to that by the reviewers.
So be aware of that when you write your proposal next slide.
So, as you know. Nsf. As a married trivial process, which is clearly the details on on on the web page of Nsf.
You can find out easily and we use 2 main Creator which is intellectual merit, and they are essentially the put on show for advancing knowledge and get transformative outcome.
So that's something, of course, which is very, very important in the proposal.
But we also have a border impacts and the growing impacts are essentially how benefit will benefit from the outcome of the research project that's a way to say it simply.
And both intellectual merit and brother impact will be evaluated at the same level.
So you can go to the PA. Ppg, the public policy procedure Guide.
Be aware that since the first of, I think, was the end of January or the first of February, you have to use a new version of the dine, which is version 23, one, and you have all the description about these 2 next time.
So this is a solicitation specific creature. Yeah. So in addition to the creature that I described in the pabpg, this specific solicitation request you, too, address this specific criteria.
So, Damien mentioned, and until disparity just make sense, when we are just seeing very complex topic like climate change of clean energy, I'd like to say, if you're worried about the use inspired research.
I think that a question that come often, it is applied research.
It did translational research? The answer is, no, it's not directly applied.
Research or translation and research, and we still are looking forward for research that our basics.
But you need to have foreseeable societal benefit, and foreseeable meaning that the outcome of the research should be able to be used, maybe by the stakeholder that you are bringing into the research to trust the research into possible foreseeable applications so use inspired is not
translation, no applied but is linked to the future.
Soon application of the outcome of the research. So that is why, actually, one of the creature is to bring in in particular stakeholders so these stakeholders could be communities.
That are particularly impacted by climate change. For example, but they could be also industry that are working on developing new sources of energy, renewable, renewable sources of energy.
Or it could be a stakeholder, of course, from Academia, but also from public sector like local government or policymakers, and once again, this is because we want the question of climate change and continuity are very aggression question.
So we want to push the envelope we want, we trust, or pi to do that, and uncertainty some very fundamental question about the topic at hands, but at the same time we need to see social benefit foreseeable social benefit.
So use the stakeholder to be able to basically push a little bit the the outcome of the research in particular to all toward applying or transitional research, international.
I think we we mentioned that bringing international partners is really bringing their also explaining their role into the project. We just don't want to patchwork of project that could be founded independently and carried out independently.
It needs to be a very integrated project, and why international?
Just because global challenge required to bring in all the actors that are relevant to address these challenges. D. A.
I. I think I mentioned that already it has to be integrated into the research and educational effort and visa.
And vision for growth. So we're not asking the pi to ensure the system availability of the center beyond the funding period, because that would be hard to do in many case what we ask the Pi to do is to build a relevant community to build a workforce to beat the next generation of
scientists, the relevant community that can actually carry out the research beyond the center.
The idea is to when we address the global challenge these challenges not going to evaporate in the coming years.
So we want at the same time that this global center funding opportunity help building a community and the relevant skills that involves all the actors around the world to be able to carry out this research beyond the 5 years funding period of the track one proposal next slide.
So supplementary documentation. It was mentioned briefly by Damien, so later, of collaboration.
I there was quite a few questions in in the about nature of collaboration, so I want to clarify that point, especially for track.
One proposal. These are 2 pages. This is a deviate from the Ppg.
And this to give you room, basically to to explain the role of unfounded collaborators.
So they really like there to explain the role, the commitment, the role of fund fund and collaborators, and how they, what they expect from the project so later, of collaboration.
For example, are not required for your primary partners should have a track.
One proposal, and you collaborating with partner in Australia, Canada, and the Uk.
And that is because their role in the project should be clearly explained elsewhere.
In the project. Description in the budget they request to their agency in the document.
They even sent to their country agencies in the program management plan, etc., etc.
So this later of collaboration, there was question of whether community can write literature, of collaboration or industry.
Yes, if they are significantly involved in the project, understand that this letter of collaboration is to explain to the reviewer what is the first one to ensure the commitment of certain key partners in the project that are unfounded, but also explain to the reviewer what is the role of these
partners, so having too many litter of working or recommendation, does not help particularly if they are not later of support.
They are literature of a collaboration so we also would deviate from the Ppg.
By asking a student plantering plan, not only for the students right?
So normally, you have a mentoring plan for the pastaks that are involving the project.
We ask a also as supplementary documentation, a student, voluntary client for integrated and graduated students.
So be aware of that foreign collaboration organization and funding information.
So that's also it's a supplementary documentation.
You'll find that in the chapter, if I'm not mistaken.
5 a 8? I think so of the solicitation.
Please read carefully what you have to submit directly to the funding and agencies.
These are only for track. One proposal. We understand that track through proposal are the design stage.
So we are not requesting this information from track to proposal, but for track one, you need to clearly provide all these extra documents.
Project, management plan. It's 3 page. We had quite a few questions about that.
In the solicitation. It is mentioned. At the same time in project description, and as supplementary documentation.
So let me be clear on that project. Management plan is an important part of the proposal.
So if you want to have a high paradise, you of what you intend to do with with your partnership in the project description, please do so.
I mean, as long as it's helpful to understand what is the project about.
But this really extra page, that is also a deviation from the Ppg.
Give you 3 page where you can really describe the nuts and balls of the program project management plan.
And so, in other words, use this page to it. Explain really how the center or how you design of the center will be, will be management, and you can refer to this page in the project description.
So that gives you an extra place essentially to explain what you intend to do, and we also have a.
We are part also with the solicitation of a pilot study, which is the we request, from the behind to submit a safe and increasing work environment plan for off campus activities or off campus activity could be when you go on the field when you go to this cell when you on the
on Seti, or if you you have some data collection in aircraft. Nsf.
And a few program attendees are piloting this thing which is really to provide essentially to prevent harassment when you are in Fil Street.
And so please read carefully the guideline.
We also put on the program website link to the frequently asked question about the safe and increasing Environment Environment Plan.
So please make sure that you submit the plan. If you intend to found some sort of a data collection on the field next slide, please.
So frank collaborator bio skates. So that's what I was mentioning before I supplementary documentation for track line proposal, you need to submit the bio sketch of all participating in investigator.
They have to be at Nsf. Format. That's for track.
One detailed budget of the fund they request to their partner organization.
But that's only for Australia, Canada, and the Uk.
If you have partners that are involved from other countries, they don't need to submit.
Budget. Why do we ask for this budget is because if the probe, the proposal is successful, this partner will be founded by your partner funding agency in Australia, Canada, in the Uk.
So please provide the budget so that this partner agency can understand it.
So in particular, there was question about the currency you can use a currency definitely of of the fine countries for this budget.
They are essential information for our partners. If you don't have a missing.
But if you have a missing budget, so you don't provide this budget for collaboration.
With Australia. Canada, and the Uk. Where you request funding from this agency the proposal will be returned without review.
So this is an important part of the documentation. You can also see, I said, the detail about the supplementary Education Documentation section 5, 8.
Thank you. Next slide.
So this is a the safe and increasing work environment. I think I mentioned, I already spoke about that.
So I let you read the slide. 1 point that it replaces the certification which is requested in in the Ppg.
At chapter 2, 9, there is a certification which is requested for fil field field work.
Essentially for every Ansf proposal, but we replace that by this safe and inclusive working environment, which is a little bit more involved because it's 2 pages.
So please see the detail of that in the solicitation next slide.
So we have many questions about, how do we phone foreign organization or individual?
And I'm not talking about your partners in Australia, Canada, and the Uk.
Because his partner, if your proposal is successful in the trackman proposal, will be funded by our partner funding agency.
I'm talking about all the other actors in the world, notably for track 2 proposal, but also for track.
One proposal that are else somewhere else in Australia, Canada, and the Uk.
And to some extent even for track to proposal, even partners in Canada.
The Uk and Australia. So Nsf.
Cannot found foreign partners. We have some found that we can particip participation costs.
For example, if we organize a meeting in the Us. Or you can pay for some of the travel expenses.
Of your foreign collaborators. When we say foreign collaborators, it's not a matter of being American citizen or foreign.
It's basically collaborators working in foreign institutions.
So we cannot found them except for small amounts. When they travel to the Us.
Or you organize a workshop. There is one case where Nsf.
Can phone collaborators, and but it required to be clearly explained in the budget justification.
And you need to document 3 points that are important. One is that no us personal will be able to carry out the activity that your fine partner will be carrying out.
But typically if it's a guide to go in the jungle or I don't know it could be maintenance of equipment on site all year round.
We can understand that us, Pi cannot carry out this sort of activity.
So one. It has to be something necessary for the project. Second, only this following partner can carry it out, not us. The Us.
Pi cannot do that, and the third condition is that this particularly collaborator doesn't have found from this country local phone.
So it's not founded, for so you have to justify these 3 points in the budget justification.
If you request a specific budget for funding of foreign partners.
So, of course, in in in the framework of this call.
This is important because you, we expected that you have international collaboration.
And I think that the end of my contribution to the presentation and it's back to you, Damien.
Thank you so much, Paul. The just wanted to share with you the timeline of the program, the due date for all full proposals is May tenth, and it's quickly approaching.
This is the submission deadline for track one. We also have a submission window for track.
To this starts opens, in fact, today until May tenth, we plan to perform your merit review process throughout the summer and complete the ranking can make some funding decisions in July, and our plan is to award the first projects in February 2,020
3 in other words, sometime in August or September.
Not all of the our words will be made in a fiscal year 2,023.
But we plan to make some, at least by by the end of September.
There are office hours almost every week. There are 4 more office hours left, and these are the dates and times you can stop by and chat with the program directors of the program as well as of course, in addition, you can send us an email the global centers program has a dedicated
email that you see here on on the left side of the slide.
And this is my email on the right hand side of the slide.
For any size specific questions, or just any questions about the program do not hesitate to reach out to us.
Our team also helps us maintain, and websites of these programs.
So please visit the Global centers homepage that is listed here, and also take a look at the web pages of the funding partners, especially if you plan to work with the collaborator from these countries.
So you become aware of any criteria from these countries.
This is the end of the slide show and I'm glad that we have more than 15 min.
15 min or so to answer questions so let's turn our attention.
Then I'll stop sharing 2 the questions and answer session.
So I already started answering a few questions, and we can certainly take them from the top down and see what we can answer.
As Damien was saying, make sure that if you, if we can't answer all the questions, we won't be able to please send us an email, and we can answer that email.
Yes, absolutely.
The first question is, and I I can take it if you don't mind the timescale was very short for submission of for this program when it was announced.
Will there be another opportunity? We have absolutely no visibility so obviously, since there is a tractor proposal, we hope that there will be a second round, and it will be soon at some point.
We have no visibility today. The track to properly can also help definitely build collaboration for other opportunity. I I. So it's it's a way for building international partnership and climate change and clean energy.
There has been also a lot of questions about literature, of collaboration, and if you don't mind, Damien, I'm gonna take this one too.
Later of collaboration are really to help understanding how the unfunded partners will be contributing to the project so you don't need later of collaboration that I said, for the main partners that are, you know, submitting budget and and documentation to our funding partner
agencies for track. One proposal you want later of collaboration for everybody who will significantly contribute to the project and depend on that.
And and this later will help the evaluator.
The residuals to see if you're able to actually carry out the work that you are proposing.
So you have to page for that. So deviation from from the paging. And then you, if you want to take the next question, go go for it.
Absolutely so. There is a question and I really like this question, track 2 is more about planning, not about research.
Correct. How much is the way to research? And my advice, not only from participating in this program, but other programs.
Nsf is. Yes, this track is about planning, and we are looking for specific plans for coordination efforts and building a team that can submit a successful track.
One proposal, but at the same time keep in mind that in your proposal you may have to support some of you ideas, some of the key risks concepts with preliminary evidence.
So I would encourage you to also perform research, so you can come up with some, maybe prototype.
So preliminary evidence to build a much stronger proposal, I would suggest, don't just include in this track a workshop and some meetings.
I would encourage you to also do some preliminary research investigations, and that's my view of it.
I I don't know if you want to add to this question, but yeah, perfect.
This is very good, and given the time we have, I'd like to answer another question, which which is important, I think, is for track.
One proposal with 3 country participating, for example, is it possible that the center is still funded when one of the international country choose not to phone the scope of their country?
So I'm going to be clear. The married review process is carried out by Nsf. Alone.
So basically, we will ask some of our partners to provide some list of possible reviewer that we can pick in, especially that concern the let's say that our priority topics and and they will some of them will be able to observe the meritorial process.
But we are carrying it out. So basically, it would be like any other call at Nsf.
We'll hand it up with a list of proposals that are ranked, and at some point for the one that we are ready to award.
We are going to ask our insight for our funding partners, and and see they on board, because they will be funding the following part of the center.
The sign in that country it wouldn't make sense.
Given that we, we wait for very intrigued center.
As I said before, we are not waiting for patchwork of a different project that can be founded independently and run independently.
It wouldn't make sense to found only one leg of the proposal, which would be this, the Us. Side.
While the other leg is broken. So the answer is that we will have to have some kind of agreement and be on the same page with all involved funding partners to be able to fund the proposal.
I hope that's answered this question.
You want to take another question, Damien?
Sure. Yes. So the next question is, track.
One is specific for partnership with Australia, Canada, or the Uk, where, as track 2 is open to any country in the world, may I ask you to clarify how a track to project with a partner that is not a country listed above could become an application for track.
One in the future. Does it mean that partners, such as if, for example, South American countries, would always have to search for their own funding?
My understanding is that, as as we had said on the slide, the National Science Foundation Funds, researchers from us.
Institutions, and we have very, very limited funds to support pis from foreign institutions, and, as Paul mentioned, mostly for travel, so in fact, the foreign collaborators should look for their own funding.
That's my understanding of it, unless I mean, we hope that more countries will join in the program in the future.
That's one of the intentions. Correct, Paul.
Yeah, that's correct. So actually track 2 proposal is not only to build collaboration globally with any country in the world, but also to help us identify.
Where are the the critical topic that can be addressed are gently in the in the, in climate change and clean energy, and maybe to build the next round of the of the this call.
So, so, really, whenever the proposals will become a maybe a track line or address another phone, there may be opportunity to have, like a found directly a ranch ahead of time, with some partners in this country and the country we will.
We will, partner. We also depends on the type of proposal we receive for attracting.
But yes, overall frank Coventry, so for track 2 proposal, we, Australia Canada, and the Uk.
Just make sure you go to the website, you can actually, as I said, track 2 is an Nsf alone.
But I know that on their website, some of our funding partner mentioned that they may consider founding some of the successful track to proposal, but that will be done only as a pasta word kind of fund, so we run the competition, and I said well, fond your proposal, and you may be able to get
some fund for your partners in fine countries. You know Australia, Canada, and the Uk.
May be of. You have to really get in touch with the funding agency. There.
So there is a against a what is expected in the collaboration later for Canada.
You can, and Australia, that said, if his track one is not expected, there, you don't need to submit later of collaboration for your main python, your key partners in a for track. One proposal because their role will be clearly described elsewhere.
So I think we answer this question.
There is also that question from Peter Cummings about for type one proposal should the pi of the international partner proposal be listed as a copy-on on the Nsf proposal, and and my understanding is not as a Coppi but of course detailed information should
be provided in the solicitations, specific documents, and throughout the project description.
If you don't mind, I mean, I'm going to add to that.
There is some confusion about the just, a semantic, essentially so.
What nsf, consider Api and Coppi, I'll have 5 people listed on the cover page, and and they are all from eligible Us-based organization.
Our institution, we don't consider your partner in Australia, Canada, and the Uk.
Pi or copi. I mean that the vocabulary we use in also recitation.
They are considered foreign collaborators, and for the sake of dissociation they are even unfounded collaborators.
But for this one you don't need to provide later of collaboration.
So you have the pi, the coppi, and you have also the senior personnel and senior personnel and Api in copyright are senior personal.
But there are other category of senior personnel, so you can only have 5 pi and copies.
However, you can have as many in your.
There is another question about what should be our expected start. Date for Track 2, and it could be August or September.
Actually 2,023. Would that be reasonable?
I, how does you, miss? Because we plan to make the first awards?
And by the end of fiscal year 2,023.
So that's one option, or it depends on the schedule of the team.
You team can choose a start date, let's say, in December, even January 2,024.
That's okay. In this case the award will be made in fiscal year 2,024.
But actually even award made in 2310 star dates can have started in January, so we may be able to make most of the award in Fy.
23, we hope, and so you can have stopped it, starting at any time after I mean, whenever you want, keep in mind that the start date.
No, I know I mean that's fine. If it's a budget 23, it's fine.
If it goes on Toget 24. You know that sometime we work with continuing resolution. And so it complicated.
When we reach the first of October. So usually we don't like this kind of standing, but for for the global centers especially, they are on fiscal year 23 signs.
Wonderful. Thank you, Paul.
So I see subcontractor can subcontracted partners join multiple proposal so, as I said, that's again the definition of what is Api and a copy, I for super Worldy.
It's really a relationship between the lead institution and the Civil War. The institution.
So they are not technically, even if they look like pi, they're not technically pi on the project, and the only restriction that we have on piano pi that this 5 listed on the cover page.
They can be only on one track, one or track 2 proposal, and you cannot be on track.
One and track 2. It's either or an either. It's not the 2 of them.
So the answer is, yes, through contractor can be in several proposal.
If they ask you already. Now, if it's a super worthy, which is also a pi listed on the cover page, then no.
Great. I also see a question here about from Satish.
Should the use inspired include a close collaboration with the community?
Is community engagement by involving community partners required for this solicitation.
How will the impact of the application be evaluated?
And it is the one of the key goals of the solicitation is to involve multiple multidisciplinary team across not only multiple institutions, but institutions, but also multiple countries.
So I'll advise that you do plan to reach out to community if from different science areas and collaborate with them and also build your own community for a successful global center in terms of evaluation of the impact, this is strictly specific to the proposed research so
we cannot really give you a general recipe for that.
But you should clearly explain that in the proposal.
In fact, it is the Pi's responsibility to explain how the impact of the application will be evaluated in this is key for the success of a also, in my opinion.
So we have very little time. I am going to pick questions down the list, because I know that you know some of you are right.
I mean, ask a question later. I see a question that come often is a 5 million dollars funding only for the Us.
Team, or is it for everybody? For the Us. Team, or is it for everybody for truck? One proposal? It is only for the Us.
Team. So technically, if you have 4 country involved, you could have up to 20 million dollars or equivalent effort.
I mean, you know that the other country they don't contribute the same way.
But basically, you could have a lot of money involved because they would form their sign.
I also see other question, how to direct the proposal to specific Nsa.
Directory you don't have to do that. Just submit them.
We take care of that. And actually, most of the phone come from Oecd.
There may be some confounding from Directory the Directory will help us evaluate the proposal, of course, so somebody like Damien.
We certainly be very much involved for the proposals that involve assigns.
I'm trying to go through that very quickly. Please, Damien, go ahead.
If you see something that could be answered online.
Right? That I answer, Oh, how about Cvs for foreign collaborators?
As we said, you would have if you're in track one, and you involve collaborators in Australia, Canada, in the Uk.
You need to provide a Cv. A supplementary materials.
So, a Bio sketch and Cv. And we encourage you very strongly to use Nsf is more than courage required.
Actually to use Nsf standard, you know, form for that.
For other collaborators. It's up to you.
There is a similar question which is about conflict of interest and collaborators and other affiliation, understand the the goal of this document is to basically prevent conflict of interest.
When we evaluate the proposal. So the more you can provide the better it is.
So you can provide. Cv. If you want, I would say the absolutely required for your partner in Australia.
I, Canada and the Uk. And for track proposal you another question.
Excellent. I found one more question that I believe we should answer, and that is, is there any specific requirement for education and workforce training?
Especially with international collaboration in both track one and tractor.
Our answer is that there is no specific list of requirements.
But again, this is depends on the proposed research topics and the plan of of the Pis.
But is it is absolutely essential to have a concrete plan with specific activities for education and workforce training.
So again, this is specific to the proposal, and the ideas that you put forward must be clearly explained.
But there are no no single list of expectations.
This is up to the pis to decide and propose.
So I think we really reaching the end Damian, maybe you want to wrap up as we said, you can definitely feel free to reach out directly to the program officers. They are listed in the solicitation and on the website forward concerned, those are you know, I see I think Damian I let
you close up!
I just would like to thank you for joining the webinar in 4 overview interesting questions.
The recording will be posted on the Global Centers website, and those formations will be more than happy to answer your questions in our office hours and also through email.
Thank you so much for your interest in the program, and we we're looking forward to seeing your proposals.