NSF EPSCoR Exploring EPSCoR Ecosystems Workshop
With the implementation of the EPSCoR Collaborations for Optimizing Research Ecosystems Research Infrastructure Improvement (E-CORE RII) (NSF 23-587) and EPSCoR Research Incubators for STEM Excellence Research Infrastructure Improvement (E-RISE RII) (NSF 23-588) programs, EPSCoR jurisdictions have an opportunity to greatly expand their research ecosystems in order to further develop their jurisdictional research capacity and broaden the participation of all individuals within the research ecosystems. Shifting to a research ecosystem approach is not trivial, and NSF EPSCoR understands that it will require a revision for each EPSCoR jurisdiction based on its own unique strengths, challenges, and opportunities. It is not within NSF EPSCoR’s purview to dictate how this should be achieved for each jurisdiction, given the complex nature of the research ecosystem that is unique to each jurisdiction.
A series of workshops is designed to allow jurisdictions to connect both individually, and cross sectors and geographies, to work together to identify challenges and opportunities unique to each jurisdiction and then elucidate intersectional best practices to build their respective ecosystems. The workshop series is divided into three phases:
- Phase 1 (April 17-18, 2-6 pm ET): This is a two-part highly interactive virtual workshop series designed to allow broad participation across jurisdictions and sectors. The output of this phase is the collection of opportunities and challenges of the E-CORE RII and E-RISE RII ecosystem, as well as proposed outcomes and best practices. Register Early! Space is limited to the first 950 registrations.
- Phase 2 (May 22-23): This is a two-day in-person workshop, to be held at NSF in Alexandria, VA, where the output of the virtual workshop series will be further developed. This phase requires a separate, competitive application and is limited to 130 participants.
- Phase 3 (June 20, 2-6 pm ET): This phase will include a final virtual session which will be part of the EPSCoR Live! webinar series open to the general public. This virtual session will include a discussion on the results of the Phase 2 in-person workshop and dissemination of the developed resources available for each jurisdiction.