News Release 17-055
NSF-funded researchers demonstrate advanced network applications at 2017 Smart Cities Connect Conference & Expo
NSF connects research with local communities, builds a foundation for smart and connected communities
June 27, 2017
This material is available primarily for archival purposes. Telephone numbers or other contact information may be out of date; please see current contact information at media contacts.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has long been a leader in supporting research that has formed the basis for smart and connected communities, pushing sensor and networking capabilities beyond today's Internet of Things (IoT) to next-generation technologies able to revolutionize our lives in smart communities across the nation.
This week, hundreds of researchers, community leaders and innovators will converge at the 2017 Smart Cities Connect Conference & Expo, co-located with the fifth annual US Ignite Application Summit, in Austin, Texas. The events will bring together NSF-funded researchers, technology leaders and community stakeholders to spur innovative technologies and services for communities across the U.S.
"NSF is working to foster deep and meaningful collaborations between academic researchers and community stakeholders, with the goal of connecting scientific and technological advances with local communities to address the challenges that these communities are facing," said Erwin Gianchandani, deputy assistant director for NSF's Computer and Information Science and Engineering Directorate. "Working together, our efforts can help to improve the functions of communities across the nation and, importantly, enhance individuals' quality of life."
The expo will feature more than 30 live demonstrations of advanced network applications that are impacting local communities throughout the country. Many of these demonstrations are part of the Smart Gigabit Communities (SGC) project, which NSF funded in 2015 with a three-year, $6 million grant to US Ignite, Inc.
Today, SGC is a network of more than 19 local communities working with researchers to extend gigabit solutions (solutions that utilize ultra-high speed networking) toward municipal challenges and residents' needs. Researchers spanning a range of disciplines -- computer and information sciences, engineering, social and behavioral sciences, geosciences and education -- teamed up with community stakeholders. Together, they worked to identify and pursue solutions that advance economic development, education and learning, energy, environmental quality, health and wellness, public safety, transportation and many other areas.
Expo demonstrations will display a range of advanced applications. For example, real-time, 3-D virtual reality is being used to deepen students' knowledge of a particular subject by connecting them with educators, experts and far-off places. Another demonstration shows how the gigabit speed network in Kansas City connects personal computers to enable supercomputing capabilities that power searches to accelerate cancer-focused research.
New to this year's event is a Researcher Summit for smart and connected communities. With NSF support, researchers, students and community stakeholders will convene on the first day of the conference to share findings and explore opportunities for future collaborations. In addition to research presentations, MetroLab Network, Mozilla Foundation and US Ignite, Inc. will share community engagement and municipality partnership models to enhance the impact of research in local communities.
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Media Contacts
Kim L. Silverman, NSF, (703) 292-4515, email: ksilverm@nsf.gov
The U.S. National Science Foundation propels the nation forward by advancing fundamental research in all fields of science and engineering. NSF supports research and people by providing facilities, instruments and funding to support their ingenuity and sustain the U.S. as a global leader in research and innovation. With a fiscal year 2023 budget of $9.5 billion, NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives more than 40,000 competitive proposals and makes about 11,000 new awards. Those awards include support for cooperative research with industry, Arctic and Antarctic research and operations, and U.S. participation in international scientific efforts.
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