February 4, 2020
Dear Colleagues:
NSF seeks to further explore the pool of ideas submitted to the NSF 2026 Idea Machine, for the purpose of framing new potential areas for NSF investment. This Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) invites submission of proposals for Conferences, and EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGERs), following the themes that emerged in the top group of Idea Machine entries.
In 2016, the National Science Foundation (NSF) unveiled a set of "Big Ideas," 10 bold, long-term ideas that identify areas for future investment at the frontiers of science and engineering (see NSF's 10 Big Ideas). The Big Ideas represent unique opportunities to position our Nation at the cutting edge of global science and engineering leadership by bringing together diverse disciplinary perspectives to support convergence research. Investing in bold, foundational research questions that are large in scope, innovative in character, originate outside of any particular NSF directorate, and require a long-term commitment is the goal of NSF 2026, one of NSF's 10 Big Ideas. Framed around the year 2026, the Nation's 250th anniversary, NSF 2026 in turn launched the NSF 2026 Idea Machine, a prize competition seeking compelling ideas for fundamental research in science and engineering to be pursued in the coming years. The contest invited entrants to describe an emerging science, engineering, or learning research challenge that they thought should be addressed. It was open to the general public, inviting input from both experienced stakeholders and new and unconventional partners. The NSF 2026 Idea Machine received 800 entries from nearly every state in the country -- including submissions from established researchers, undergraduate and graduate students, teachers on behalf of their classes, and high school and middle school students. The entries were reviewed first by Program Officers and other staff from across NSF, then by the NSF 2026 Working Group and finally by a Blue Ribbon Panel of external experts. The resulting group of narrowed entries (listed individually as an appendix to this DCL) were each invited to submit a video pitch. The 33 ideas were selected for their timeliness, potential scientific and societal impacts, and potential for inter-agency, international, or public-private partnerships.
This DCL encourages the submission of proposals that engage interested stakeholders to enrich the research themes identified through the NSF 2026 Idea Machine and develop associated research agendas.
The submitted Idea Machine entries were in the form of short concept outlines and videos rather than full-length research proposals. To develop these conceptual descriptions into actionable research agendas that include sets of specific research questions, NSF seeks proposals for catalytic activities in the form of:
- Conferences that bring together those interested in shaping any or a group of these top 33 broad ideas into actionable research themes, or new long-term research programs.
- EAGER projects to extend, develop and test concepts from among the top 33 ideas that are ripe for early stage, transformative research.
Opportunities for participation by undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, K-12 students, industry representatives, and others are encouraged. NSF welcomes proposals that include efforts to broaden participation of underrepresented groups (women, minorities, and persons with disabilities) in the development of the research agendas. Reflecting the Idea Machine concept, NSF seeks proposals on topics that cross disciplinary boundaries.
Each proposal submitted in response to this DCL should be grounded in a compelling, cross-disciplinary research challenge in line with one or more of the top-ranked Idea Machine entries. The proposal should address the current state of the research challenge and describe an integrated strategy for addressing the challenge. Proposals must identify which concepts from among the 33 entries the activity proposes to enrich or extend.
Proposals and research concept outlines should be submitted by 5:00 PM submitterâs local time on the dates shown below:
- Conference proposals: March 15, 2020
- EAGER Research Concept Outlines: March 1, 2020
- EAGER proposals: May 15, 2020 (was April 30)