The RII Proposal is funded for 3 years!

August 20: Review the Proposal as a Whole September: CSYS Group meets to recruit the database/programmer, postdocs, and grad students and to begin the modeling work Streams Group meets to organize, and eventually purchase small equipment and materials VT EPSCoR begins IF awards RFP, Communication Plan and other activities October 12: Strategic Planning meeting with Jim Gosz We know what was funded, and now we need to detail how we will implement the grant.

OVERALL PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Complex Systems Modeling for Environmental Problem Solving 1. Introduction Vermont’s Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (VT EPSCoR) proposes for the next phase of its Science and Technology (S&T) infrastructure building to partner with the University of Vermont (UVM), the State, and private sector to enhance science and engineering in the State to focus on Complex Systems Modeling for Environmental Problem Solving. Through very intensive work by VT EPSCoR and its governing board, a new State Science and Technology (S&T) Plan will guide S&T infrastructure investments for economic growth in Vermont. This proposal is integral to this state-wide strategic plan and the proposal’s theme has been carefully chosen for its State, regional and national importance. This proposal has three main components: development of a research group in Complex Systems; a Streams Project for Outreach for STEM education enhancement and service to the broader community; and Outreach to the Private Sector with incentives for innovation.

Table 1 Strategic Plan Overview for VT EPSCoR RII in Complex Systems InputsOutcomesImpacts - Value Added for State and NSF Support a Research Group in Complex Systems Mature group competitive for grants; collaborations; expertise; innovations in modeling and computation; models of Lake watershed; testing hypotheses about watershed sources of pollution in Lake Champlain A brand new State resource for innovation, technology transfer, and environmental stewardship; collaborative group poised to contribute to NSF initiatives in environmental research (e.g. NEON, FIBR) Support an Outreach Streams Program Data sets and models; teacher and student training and motivation; publication of educational outcomes Better informed State policies and investments based on complex systems models; Collaborations competitive for NSF educational grants Awards to Private Sector for Innovative Research Pilot data for SBIR Phase 0, I and II; insights into Innovation awards (IF Awards) New businesses and jobs in S&T; help meet State S&T goals for innovation and technology based businesses; innovative research for federal SBIR Phase I and II programs

Research Component Who? What? How?

Who?? CSYS Group (Eppstein, Rizzo, Bongard, Stevens, Goodnight, Molofsky, joined by P. Bierman) Science Leaders (Watzin, Gotelli, Bowden, Hession) 4 graduate students 3 postdocs External Advisory Committee Bar Yam, Brown, Reckhow

Research: Fundamental Research Questions to be Addressed by the Complex Systems (CSYS) Core using multiple Complex Systems Approaches Overarching Question: How do physical, chemical, and biological processes that operate on different temporal and spatial scales interact to affect watershed ecosystem function? Question 1. How do non-linear processes generate spatial and temporal dynamics in phosphorus loading to surface waters in the Lake Champlain Basin? Question 2. How can watershed patterns of biodiversity be explained and forecast by complex systems models of nutrient inputs and disturbance regimes? Question 3: How much model complexity is necessary to usefully explain and predict the behavior of linked landscape-river-lake ecosystems?

What?? Modeling of the identified datasets Collaborative Projects (Pilot Grants) Collaborative Proposals in future No educational efforts are promised Long term outcomes will include a collaborative group for modeling, tests of hypotheses, and resources for the State Short term outcomes – see Logic Model

Budget Summary Complex Systems Research PersonnelYear 1Year 2Year 3 New Faculty Member (TBH)TBH Bowden10% Gotelli10% Watzin10% Hession10% Goodnight1 month Hoffmann1 month Stevens1 month Rizzo1 month Eppstein1 month Bongard1 month Bierman1 month MolofskyTBD Postdoctoral Associates (3)$0$111,000$115,440 Systems and Database Specialist$60,000$62,400$64,896 Graduate Student Assistantships for CSC (4)$120,000$124,800$129,792 HOW??

Other Direct Costs Pilot Grants for CSC Group Members$75,000 Group Building/Retreat$45,000 Set up for New Faculty Member (non-equipment)$0$75,000 Postdoctoral Associate Recruitment$10,000$0 External Advisory Committee Costs (Travel, etc.)$5,000 Equipment Complex Systems Core Computers (in the VACC)$100,000$0 Set up for New Faculty Member$0$100,000$50,000 Support for Complex Systems at Large Graduate Student Assistantships for Complex Systems (CS) (2)$60,000$62,400$64,896 Pilot Grants for CS$40,000 $30,000

Streams Project: An education outreach, community based research project in service of the State of Vermont Who? Sallie Sheldon, Declan McCabe, Charles Goodnight, TBH oversight (quality, constancy), an army of students and teachers and faculty ANR Staff as available What? Sampling; Phosphorus, fecal coliform ribotyping and macroinvertebrates identified from as many sites on streams and rivers for 3 full years Database development, web based community research effort

Outreach A. Educational Outreach Streams Project PersonnelYear 1Year 2Year 3 Streams Project Coordinator (TBH) Streams Project Education (McCabe)2 months Streams Project Education (Sheldon)2 months Streams Project Modeler (Goodnight)1 month Streams Consultant (Watzin)1 month High School Teachers$23,744 Other Project Expenses Baccalaureate College Interns (Summer)$50,000 UVM Student Internships (4 summer and 4 academic year)$40,000 McNair Scholars Undergraduate Interns$20,000 Vermont High School Teams$30,000 New York High School Teams$30,000 Baccalaureate College Faculty Research$75,000 Governor's Institutes of Vermont$40,000 Outreach Operating$20,000 Streams Private Sector Complementary Awards$30,000$0

B. Private Sector Outreach Innovation Fund Awards$75,000 SBIR/STTR Phase (0)$125,000 Private Sector Use of UVM Facilities$10,000 $5,000 Private Sector Outreach

For Us Strategic Planning = Assessment Plan Our assessment plan is a Logic Model and Output Time Line We are ahead of other states in our strategic planning because we have had a Logic Model and Time Line from the beginning. The NSF EPSCoR Director has said that our Logic Model and Output Time Line will serve as an excellent nucleus for our planning and planning meeting. Kelvin Chu and Joy Livingston

Mission of VT EPSCoR Vermont EPSCoR builds science and engineering infrastructure. We are dedicated to STEM education, to developing the workforce for the STEM academic and private sector research in Vermont and contributing to the economic well-being of the state and region. We are guided by the State Science &Technology Plan that considers ways in which academic research and the private sector can interact. Approach: invest in physical facilities and faculty at UVM work with high school and undergraduate students with their teachers assist small technology businesses. Goals: increase competitiveness of faculty and small businesses for federal funds encourage students to enter STEM majors and careers. train STEM teachers to enhance their teaching

Vision of Vermont EPSCoR VT EPSCoR builds science and engineering infrastructure in Vermont by investing in human and physical resources for academic and private sector research and development. We envision that with each phase of NSF EPSCoR funding that we move to a new level of infrastructure in the State that supports science and engineering, STEM education and the private sector. In the current phase of VT EPSCoR our vision is to: develop a complex systems modeling capacity for the state apply complex systems approaches to the Lake Champlain watershed have a broad impact on the students and teachers in Vermont enable transformative research and support technology businesses in Vermont