Chapter 6
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Developing Models for International Engagement David M. Stonner* Office of International and Integrative Activities, National Science Foundation, Arlington, Virginia 22230, United States *E-mail:
[email protected] The National Science Foundation (NSF) is the nations’ premier Federal agency for supporting basic research in all areas of science and engineering. As such, it has a growing interest in ensuring that our current and future science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workforce has opportunities to engage in research with colleagues from around the globe. The case for international engagement is clear: The world is becoming increasingly globalized, the research challenges we face transcend national boundaries, and research collaborations not only reduce duplication of effort, but they also enable research on a global scale that would be impossible at the national level. In recent years NSF has developed a number of approaches to increase opportunities for international engagement and to encourage students and young researchers to consider international collaboration as an integral part of their professional development.
Introduction For over 60 years the National Science Foundation (NSF) has served to support basic research in all areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Over the years NSF has instituted many new programs and modes of supporting research to accommodate changing circumstances. In addition to support for single investigator research grants and graduate research fellowships, which have been integral to NSF since its inception, the © 2014 American Chemical Society Cheng et al.; Vision 2025: How To Succeed in the Global Chemistry Enterprise ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2014.
Foundation has instituted programs to support large instruments, develop centers of excellence, encourage multi-university partnerships, and facilitate research by small businesses, to name just a few innovations that have been developed accommodated new research opportunities.
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Discussion While NSF has always encouraged partnerships with researchers outside of the U.S., only in recent years has the need to develop more effective mechanisms for international research collaborations moved to the forefront. This interest in international collaboration has been driven less by a call from headquarters than by a demand from the research community. Not only is the sheer number of publications resulting from international collaborations growing, but these collaborations that are having a disproportionate impact on all fields of research (1). Although this trend has been growing for several decades (2), for a host of political, cultural, bureaucratic, and economic considerations, it has been difficult for research-funding agencies to develop models that proactively encourage international collaborations. At NSF examples of dedicated mechanisms to engage international research communities include the Materials World Network and the International Collaborations in Chemistry programs. Not surprisingly, the community of U.S. chemists has been at the forefront in recognizing the value of international collaboration. An analysis of international engagement by U.S. scientists and engineers found that while only 16% of employed scientists and engineers reported international collaborations, the rate for chemists and chemical engineers was 31% and 43% respectively (2). But other fields have not done as well in developing international connections. During his tenure as NSF Director (2010-2013), Dr. Subra Suresh, launched a number of programs to encourage international engagement across all disciplines, both for students and young researchers, as well as established researchers and centers of excellence. These experiments in international engagement not only provide concrete mechanisms for international collaboration but also send a message to the research community that NSF expects researchers to look for ways to add value to their research by engaging their counterparts globally. Among the recent additions to NSF’s catalog of internationally focused activities are Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER), an alliance with U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to support researchers in developing countries who partner with NSF grantees; Graduate Research Opportunities Worldwide (GROW), an arrangement whereby NSF Graduate Research Fellows can conduct collaborative research for up to a year in a host country; the Belmont Forum, a mechanisms to support international partnerships on topics of global concern; and Science Across Virtual Institutions (SAVI) which matches NSF funded centers of excellence with counterpart centers abroad to jointly enhance their capabilities. Currently, more than three dozen programs across the Foundation are listed among those that highlight international collaboration (http://www.nsf.gov/od/iia/ise/index.jsp) 52 Cheng et al.; Vision 2025: How To Succeed in the Global Chemistry Enterprise ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2014.
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Despite these encouraging trends, much remains to be done. This is particularly true when it comes to providing students with opportunities for international research experiences. A recent survey of institutions of higher education found that while almost two-thirds of responding colleges and universities indicated that they offered international or global tracks or certificates for students, only 5% have international programs related to the STEM fields (3). NSF has a number of programs that enable U.S. undergraduates to have research experiences abroad, including International Research Experiences for Students (IRES); international Research Experiences for Undergraduates (iREU), and Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE). These, however, reach only several hundred students a year and NSF will never have sufficient resources to provide more than a small fraction of the need. We are now exploring ways to develop partnerships in the private sector and non-profit sectors to provide international research experiences for a larger proportion of STEM undergraduates. In the half century following World War II, the U.S. grew complacent with its preeminence in many areas of research. In recent years not only has the research capability of much of the world caught up, it has changed in many respects from a focus on national interests to an awareness of global concerns. The beneficiaries of greater internationalization of the U.S. research and education enterprise go well beyond the value to the participants themselves. If we are to continue to successfully compete in a global marketplace, it is absolutely imperative that we develop a STEM workforce with first-hand experience in different cultures, with different value systems, and different ways of solving problems.
References 1. 2.
3.
4.
Measuring Innovation: A New Perspective, 2012. OECD. http:// www.oecd.org/sti/measuringinnovationanewperspective.htm. Science and Engineering Indicators 2012; NSB 12-01; National Science Foundation, National Science Board: Arlington, VA, 2012.http:// www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind12/pdf/seind12.pdf. Falkenheim, J.; Kannankutty, N. International Collaborations of Scientists and Engineers in the United States; NSF 12-323; National Science Foundation: Arlington, VA, August 2012. http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/ infbrief/nsf12323/. 2012 Mapping Internationalization on U.S. Campuses. American Council on Education. http://www.acenet.edu/news-room/Pages/2012-MappingInternationalization-on-U-S--Campuses.aspx.
53 Cheng et al.; Vision 2025: How To Succeed in the Global Chemistry Enterprise ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2014.
