NSF has extended the deadline for 2-page preliminary proposals to participate in an Ideas Lab related to harnessing data. The new deadline is March 4. See the NSF HDR Ideas Lab solicitation.

“Ideas Labs” are mentored interactions in which a group of 20 – 30 selected people come together to create new ideas or approaches to transform a field. This PLOS article does a good job describing the experience. See Sandpits and Ideas Labs by Knowinnovation for more information about Ideas Labs in general. (Note that “Sandpit” and “Ideas Lab” are synonyms.)

The Harnessing the Data Revolution solicitation involves three steps.

1. Select participants in the Ideas Lab. The first step is to submit a two-page preproposal to participate in the Ideas Lab. Page 1 summarizes your scientific background and (more or less) something you think would be important to work on. Page 2 answers questions about your experience working across disciplines, your ability to explain your research to non-experts, your creativity, and what you would gain from this experience.

If you are selected, you would come to NSF on April 22-26, 2019 and participate in the facilitated Ideas Lab workshop. NSF will cover your travel, housing, and per diem costs.

2. Ideas Lab: The ~30 Ideas Lab participants will self-organize into groups of investigators that will develop an idea for a full project that involves “harnessing the data revolution.” Each group will “pitch” their project idea at the end of the five-day Ideas Lab.

3. Invitations/submission of full proposals. NSF will invite the Ideas Lab groups with project ideas that NSF determines have the most potential to submit full proposals, which will be due on June 19, 2019. NSF expects to fund 10 – 15 of these proposals. These would be two-year awards to establish the viability of the idea. Future funding may be available to continue the work.