The National Science Foundation (NSF) established the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) as a way to promote scientific progress in states that have traditionally received lesser amounts of NSF research and development funding. The primary mechanism the NSF uses to achieve this goal is the Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII) program, which awards up to $3 million per year to eligible states on a competitive basis. NSF RII grants enable states like Kansas to develop their competitiveness for research funding. RII proposals are submitted by Kansas NSF EPSCoR on behalf of the program partners in the state. Other NSF EPSCoR mechanisms are Co-funding and Outreach.
Kansas joined NSF EPSCoR in the early 1990’s and has since received five RII awards. The most recent RII award EPS-0553722, Understanding and Forecasting the Ecological Consequences of Environmental Changes, began April 1, 2006. The project links researchers at The University of Kansas, Kansas State University, and Fort Hays State University in a study of changes occurring in the climate, land-use, biogeochemistry, hydrology and biodiversity along the Kansas River Basin.
Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation (KTEC) serves as important Kansas NSF EPSCoR partner, committing state resources to each RII award. Other partners include Kansas State University, The University of Kansas, and Wichita State University.
Some of Kansas NSF EPSCoR’s accomplishments in Kansas include:
- Promoting collaborative research across disciplinary and institutional boundaries
- Facilitating large-scale research projects
- Encouraging outreach to public audiences, including K-12 schools
- Providing start-up funds for new research faculty
- Providing funds for scientific instruments and equipment
- Enabling undergraduate and graduate students to participate in cutting-edge research
- Encouraging university-industry partnerships
- Increasing the participation of women and minorities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics