Arden L. Bement Jr., director of the National Science Foundation will make opening remarks on Friday, Nov. 4 at the opening session of an NSF conference in Albuquerque. The purpose of the NSF Day, arranged by U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman, is to identify the most promising research opportunities and to hone New Mexico’s competitive edge in securing additional NSF research investments in areas of study that will help spur the state’s economy.
UNM President Louis Caldera and UNM Vice President for Research and Economic Development Terry Yates will also speak at the opening session. Representatives from all three New Mexico research universities are expected to attend.
The conference comes at a time when research universities are facing greater competition for research dollars, especially in the physical sciences. Medical research is experiencing more generous funding, but there has been increasing pressure from the NSF and other federal granting agencies to encourage research on short-term projects aimed at applications for research rather than long-term research into basic scientific questions.
Discussions will include the NSF proposal and merit review process, special interest and cross-disciplinary programs and EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) regional collaborations. Afternoon sessions include information about research possibilities in biological sciences, computer and information science and engineering, education and human resources, engineering, geosciences, mathematical and physical sciences, and social behavioral and economic sciences.
Contact: Karen Wentworth, (505) 277-5627