EPSCoR Leadership for Scientific Innovation, Collaboration and Enculturation
IMUA NSF Hawaii EPSCoR team proposes to host the 20th Annual NSF National EPSCoR Conference in Waikoloa, Hawaii. The overall aim of the conference is to enable more direct and integrative interaction between EPSCoR participants and the Directorates of the Foundation, especially in light of the organizational move of EPSCoR to the Office of the Director. The conference agenda will emphasize development of collaborative projects that will further the scientific competitiveness of the EPSCoR jurisdictions. Agenda topics include issues of particular importance to the EPSCoR jurisdictions, including science policy development, funding approaches with philanthropic organizations, use of cyber-infrastructure to advance STEM education and effective communication and evaluation skills. Anticipated participants include NSF officials, other federal agency representatives, public policy makers, EPSCoR project directors and administrators, researchers and graduate students. The proposal activities offer the opportunity to have positive impact on the EPSCoR program and support the EPSCoR's programmatic strategy to stimulate research that is fully competitive in STEM disciplines supported by the National Science Foundation.