ONR Global: Cooperative Scientific Research Efforts with Africa
Monique Beaudoin, PhD Associate Director, Office of Naval Research Global
For: Global Science Collaboration: Science Capacity Building & the Implications for the Development Process
Addis Ababa, June 27, 2013
Office of Naval Research (Public Law 588, 1946) “…plan, foster, and encourage scientific research in recognition of its paramount importance as related to the maintenance of future of naval power, and the preservation of national security…”
Transitioning S&T (Defense Authorization Act, 2001) “…manage the Navy’s basic, applied, and advanced research to foster transition from science and technology to higher levels of research, development, test, and evaluation.”
Naval Research Laboratory (Appropriations Act, 1916) “[Conduct] exploratory and research work…necessary …for the benefit of Government service, including the construction, equipment, and operation of a laboratory….”
Thomas Edison
Josephus Daniels
The Office of Naval Research
Harry S. Truman
Vannevar Bush
Office of Naval Research - London Office (1946) “…reporting on the latest developments and to assist visiting American scientists to make contact with their colleagues in Europe…”
Distribution Statement A: Approved for Public Release
Research & Research Support Grants • ONR & ONR Global work together to synergize
international science activities when possible • Grants fund foreign partners from academia, industry,
and non-governmental organizations • Grants do not fund US institutions/individuals, or foreign
military/governmental entities • If US performers collaborate/want to collaborate with international
researchers, ONRG can help fund them/add them to an existing project.
• Grants are for Basic Science and early phase Applied Science Research
Distribution A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited
ONR Global Science Program Tools
Collaborative Science Program (CSP) – Support non-US engagements of Naval interest – In 2012, 152 conferences were held in 44 countries
for a total of $1.8M
Visiting Scientist Program (VSP) grants – Support travel of non-US scientists to US to socialize
new S&T ideas or findings with NRE – In 2012, 68 grants were awarded to 27 countries for
a total of $194k
Naval International Cooperative Opportunities Programs (NICOP)
– Support insertion of innovative, international S&T into core ONR, NRE, & DoD S&T Programs
– In 2012, 120 new NICOPs were started in 32 countries for a total of $9.3M
Liaison Visits (Not a Grant) – ONRG technical staff visit international institutions to
develop access and discover cutting edge S&T
ONRG provides initial (seedling) funding for innovative research
CSP
Liaison Visit
VSP NICOP
Proposal
NICOP
Distribution A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited
ONR Objectives: Ghana • Projects led by
Associate Director Augustus Vogel, PhD (ONRG Santiago, Chile)
• Aims – Stimulate published
research on tropical deltas and coastlines
– Develop new contributors to the coastal geoscience community
– Collaborate with existing US Navy outreach activities in the region
Distribution Statement A: Approved for Public Release
First Projects
• Remote Sensing • Modeling • Beach Surveys • Ocean Data
Distribution Statement A: Approved for Public Release
Initial Outreach • West and Central
Africa: – Identified
promising university departments in the region
– Awarded 3 Visiting Scientist Program (VSP) grants for attendance at relevant conferences
• Researchers also proposed initial workshops to discuss science more in detail
• April 2008- Collaborative Program in Ghana Distribution Statement A:
Approved for Public Release
Meteorological Research • Modeling workshops
– Senegal – Nigeria
• APS classroom programs – Marine Meteorology – Hub countries – Senegal Navy program
• Ship-based data collection – Aerosol data for US Naval Research Lab
APS met training, 2009
APS met training, 2010
Modeling workshops
Distribution Statement A: Approved for Public Release
Oceanography Work • National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) and Academia collaboration
• Data analysis training programs with Nigeria
• Intensive training – Africans associated with courses – At US and EU institutions – Joint research cruises
• Buoy deployments – Argo floats and global drifters – West and East
Buoy deployments, 2008/9
Buoy deployments, 2010
Training, 2008/9
Training, 2010
Distribution Statement A: Approved for Public Release
Unique Challenges with Research Buoys
• The Wave Buoy: Purchased from DataWell
• Deployed August 2010 for 2 days … cut free by local fishermen
• Saved at Togo border
• Sensitization campaign to educate
• Deployed November 2011 for 2 weeks … cut free by local fishermen
• Found in the house of a fisherman at Elimina
Distribution Statement A: Approved for Public Release
Collaborations and Ghanaian Objectives
• National Planning for Coastal Zone Management
• Elizabeth City State University
• Undergraduate Research Experience in Ocean, Marine, and Polar Science;
• Continued Participation in IGARRS
• http://code.google.com/p/icode-mda/wiki/Home
Distribution Statement A: Approved for Public Release
Computers & Infrastructure • Establishment of
Scientific Computer Lab with 6 quadcore computers
• Working to improve internet speed (currently 96M/s for entire university)
• In 2013: US Navy reservist program to train users in basic coding
Distribution Statement A: Approved for Public Release
Visiting Scientist Program • South African researcher to NRL Stennis
(Nov 2010) • South African oceanographers to MRU
Oceans conference (May 2011)
Distribution Statement A: Approved for Public Release
Collaborative Science Program • DOS/Joint Services/CSIR S&T Workshop (Pretoria,
South Africa: September 2011) • Chapman Conference on the Agulhas Current
(Stellenbosch, South Africa: October 2012) • Space Weather (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: November
2012) • Water Research (Tanzania: January 2013) • Plasma Physics (Gabarone, Botswana: March
2013) • Evolutionary Equations (Cape Town, South Africa:
July 2013) • Africon (Mauritius: September 2013) • Global Virtual Conference on MDA Tech (TBD)
Distribution Statement A: Approved for Public Release
Middle East/North Africa
Distribution Statement A: Approved for Public Release
http://www.onr.navy.mil/en/Science-Technology/ONR-Global/funding-opportunities/NICOP.aspx
Example topics for Basic Science research projects for MENA: Agricultural science, Environmental Science, Information Technology
Tips for non-US proposals
• Step 1: Email the relevant Associate Director at ONRG – Brief description of project – Why it’s novel (Know the state of the art and why your approach is
new/superior) • Step 2: White Paper
– One to two page proposal summary • Background (including relevant references) • Statement of work • Project duration and approximate funding needed
• Step 3: Liaison visit by ONRG or VSP for researcher • Step 4: Full Proposal Proposals meant to minimize time spent on preparation Successful proposals complement/enhance existing ONR programs
Distribution A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited
Thank you Monique E. Beaudoin, PhD Associate Director – Middle East/North Africa Office of Naval Research Global London, UK [email protected] www.onr.navy.mil/Science-Technology/ONR-Global.aspx