Current Issues Regarding Relationship/Barriers to an EfTective Relationship: 



» Public benefits from NSF research and education support: 



• How to maintain the vitahty of academic fundamental research and enhance other national goals, e.g., 

 quality of life and competitiveness; 



Need to encourage greater cross-sectoral and inter-institutional collaboration in science and engineer- 

 ing research and education programs; 



Improvement of quality of precollege, undergraduate and graduate education. 



Appropriate support to advance the knowledge base: 



Adequacy of funding to support current research and education responsibilities, including adequate 

 grant size and supjxjrt across core disciplines and for emerging opf>ortunities; 



Support for new faculty members. 



Adequate, appropriate research organization and physical infrastructure: 



Need for continued adaptation of the disciplinary organization structure of NSF and universities to 

 multidisciplinary research and emerging fields; 



Need to expand opportunities for access to increasingly expensive frontier research facilities and 

 equipment; 



Need to reduce the burden of the merit review process on the expert communities, particularly in small 

 fields; and 



Need for constructive management of conflict-of-interest in context of stronger university-industry 

 collaboration. 



Effects of NSF/RIU relationship on the health of the research and education enterprise: 



Need to reevaluate the principles and consequences of cost sharing by RIUs and NSF; 



Need to better understand the impact of NSF research funding on the balance between research and 

 education at RIUs. 



Elements/Characteristics of a Productive Future Relationship: 



• Enhanced public benefits of research and education support: 



• Continued excellence of U.S. science and engineering research and education; 



• Improved dissemination of knowledge within technical communities including academic researchers, 

 educators, government researchers, and high technology businesses; 



• Effective and productive cooperation in NSF supported research and education activities among 

 academic, government, and industry sectors; 



• Increased contributions by NSF supported research and education programs and projects to areas of 

 strategic importance to the nation. 



• Appropriate support to advancing the knowledge base: 



• An appropriate balance between disciplinary and multidisciplinary research; 



• Enhanced support of researchers through adequate award size, with special focus on new researchers 

 and emerging areas. 



• Adequate, appropriate research organization and physical infrastructure: 



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