First Auburn University NSF Partner Event a success

Numerous faculty members and researchers from areas campus-wide were able to provide a basic outline of their work for visiting National Science Foundation (NSF) representatives during the recent Auburn University NSF Partner Event, held on campus in October. 

The event, the first of its kind at Auburn, was organized through the efforts of Taffye Benson-Clayton, vice president and associate provost for diversity and inclusion; Steven Taylor, senior vice president for research and economic development; Edward Thomas Jr., dean of the College of Sciences and Mathematics; and Marilyn E. Strutchens, the Emily R. and Gerald S. Leischuck Endowed Professor and Mildred Cheshire Fraley Distinguished Professor in the College of Education, as well as the chair since 2018 of the advisory committee of NSF’s Directorate for STEM Education. In addition to Strutchens’s committee chairmanship, all four have extensive past experience with the NSF.

NSF representatives who visited Auburn for the presentation included James L. Moore III, assistant director of the NSF’s Directorate for STEM Education (EDU), and Sandra Richardson, section head for the NSF’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) in the Office of Integrative Activities. Both Moore and Richards gave presentations for the attendees on NSF funding opportunities and STEM education and EPSCoR initiatives.  

In return, the NSF team was able to hear several short presentations on Auburn research projects from faculty and graduate students from a number of different colleges and departments on campus. The visitors also got a first-hand look at STEM education initiatives underway in a mathematics class partnership between Auburn and Dadeville High School. In addition, they visited AU’s Interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Manufacturing Systems. 

“The presentations given by Dr. Moore and Dr. Richardson were very informative and inspiring,” said Strutchens of the day’s activities. “I also think Dr. Moore enjoyed interacting with the students at Dadeville High School. And faculty members from across the campus were excited to share their projects and project concepts.

“Faculty members found it informative to hear about what others are doing across the campus as well. And researchers from across the state of Alabama were excited to interact with the NSF representatives and learn about possible funding opportunities.”

“In the final analysis, the day was really all about how we can provide access to the best and latest math and science education for Alabama students,” added Taylor. “We also wanted to highlight the importance of the NSF’s EPSCoR program, which was established in part to stimulate competitive research and to provide more funding in states that have traditionally not received as much.”

The event was a win-win for everyone involved, from the NSF to Auburn faculty researchers to the university’s research partners across the state, according to Clayton.

“Real highlights of the visit for me,” she said, “were the opportunity to showcase Auburn’s faculty researchers during the ‘one-slide summary research pitch’ presentations on day one, along with the opportunity to engage Auburn’s research partners from across the state during day two.”

In fact, the first Partner Day was so successful that the members of Auburn’s NSF visit planning team were unanimous in their hope that it will become an annual event.

“I would hope to see events like this continue and perhaps eventually include several different funding agencies,” said Thomas.

“Auburn’s faculty researchers indicated a desire to engage more routinely in settings like those experienced during the NSF visit,” agreed Clayton. “They want to continue to learn from one another and share research ideas. Dr. Taylor is discussing several ideas generated by faculty members who participated that will sustain the level of engagement following this visit. There’s no question the faculty was energized and inspired by the NSF statewide partnership visit on our campus.”