Research and Leadership in the Modern Age
Eamon Kelly, Ph.D.
Background• Tulane University – President Emeritus/Professor
• Association of American Research Universities (AAU) – Board Chair
• National Science Foundation (NSF), USA – Board Chair
• National Center for Research on Advanced Digital and Information Technologies (Digital Promise) – Board Chair
• Global Center for Research on Advanced Digital and Information Technologies (Digital Promise – Global) – Board Chair
• National Science Commissions • Rwanda• Korea• Others
Basic Concepts
• Rationale of conference-• driving social forces
• Role of leadership
• Guiding research principles
• Setting research priorities
• Research management
Rationale
• Demographic forces
• Resource constrained
• Develop infrastructure• Human• Physical• Financial
• Allocate research funds
• Research management efficiency• Government- Political• Funding ministries and donors• Principle investigators
World Population
~ 3,000 in 75,000 BCE
1 billion in 18042 billion in 1927 (123 years later)3 billion in 1960 (33 years later)4 billion in 1974 (14 years later)5 billion in 1987 (13 years later)6 billion in 1999 (12 years later)7 billion in 2012 (13 years later)
Leadership
Leadership
Institutions• Habits of thought• Ways of doing things
Education• Science• Diplomacy• War• Corruption• Information Technology
Leadership
• Challenges• Equilibrium• Projecting needs and priorities• Challenge to leadership
Guiding Research Principles
Guiding Principles
• Development/ Applied Sciences Focus
• Interdisciplinary
• International
• Information technology
Information Technology
• Nanotechnology
• Moore’s Law
• Web-based research
• Closing digital divide• Silver bullet
Information Technology
• Collaboration 1) Local
2) Regional
3) Global
• Creation of “Labor Pools”
• Database• Investigators• Panelists/researchers• Visiting committees• M&E staff
Setting Research Priorities
Setting Priorities
• Government – national goals
• Funding agency – selects fields of investigation
• Institutional goals – areas of comparative advantage
• Principle investigator (PI) – project selection
Collaboration
• Continuing dialogue on priorities • Boards• Advisory Boards• Visiting Committees• Peer review panels• Program managers• Workshops• International contacts• Other
Criteria for Success in Priority Setting
• Autonomy of funding agency
• Academic freedom for the PI
• Collaborative approach
• Transparency
• Trust across the spectrum
NSF Priorities 1998-2002
• Health of the Sciences
• STEM education
• Environment
• Nanotechnology
• Information technology
• International science and technology
Research Management
• Allocation of Resources
Funding Agency
• Autonomous and independent
• Strategic planning
• Program design capabilities
• Careful development• Programs take time
• Systematic and comprehensive program evaluation
Principle Investigators
• Merit review process: 1) Well funded
2) Flexibility
3) Monitoring and evaluation
• High-level research objectives• International collaboration
Principle Investigators
• Principles for merit review:• Expert Assessment• Impartiality• Transparency in process• Integrity and Ethics
Strategic Planning
Strategic Planning Funding Agency
• Mission• National need• Comparative advantage
• Goals and objectives
• Resource development and allocation
• Overcoming constraints
• Role of Leadership
Strategic Planning Principle Investigator
• Your own strategic plan• Mission and Goals • Comparative advantage• Overcome constraints • Time• Financing• Other
Future Research
• Critical Role• Era of Science and Development• Era of huge population growth• Shortage of scientists• Overcome constraints • Era of global scientist