Planning for the Next NSF Track-1 Proposal

South Dakota EPSCoR is conducting meetings to initiate planning for South Dakota’s next NSF EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII) Track-1 proposal.

The focus of the NSF Track-1 proposal is on using Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning to aid research with a focus on reducing the carbon footprint.

Objectives are to aid in the reduction of carbon utilization of the state’s agriculture and related sectors through advances in research and artificial intelligence; strengthening the STEM workforce and industrial base; educational and outreach activities within our institutions of higher education, business, rural and tribal communities.

The first kickoff session was Wednesday, Oct. 12, at the SDSU Foundation Jerome J. Lohr Building (815 Medary Ave.) on the SDSU campus in Brookings.

Upcoming Sessions

If you did not attend the kickoff session on Oct. 12 and wish to be part of upcoming discussions, please complete this form.

The next round of discussions to identify the scientific/research direction of the next NSF Track-1 proposal are listed below. All meetings will be held via Zoom, as well as recorded for later viewing.

1) Precision Agriculture: was Tuesday, Oct 25; please complete this form for access to the recorded Zoom discussion.
2) Carbon Reduction: Thursday, Oct 27; 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. CDT (10 a.m. to 12 noon MDT)
3) Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning: Tuesday, Nov. 1; 10 a.m. to noon CDT (9 – 11 a.m. MDT)

Objectives for these discussions:

• Integration: identify 1-2 thrusts that will integrate well across the other areas; for example, the precision ag discussions should identify 1-2 areas of research that would integrate well into carbon reduction with an AI/ML component.
• Intellectual Merit: the work is novel, hypothesis-driven, sustainable, and important to South Dakota.
• Impact: Implementation is likely without major barriers (e.g., technical, economic, regulatory, etc.)
• Broader Impacts: Activities can be pursued across many SD colleges and universities and of interest to tribal and other underrepresented communities.

About NSF RII Track-1 Awards

Research Infrastructure Improvement Track-1 (RII Track-1) awards provide up to $4 million per year (for up to five years) for projects critical to the jurisdiction’s science and technology plan by the jurisdiction’s EPSCoR steering committee as having the best potential to improve future R&D competitiveness of the jurisdiction.

The South Dakota Science and Innovation Strategic Plan proposes seven South Dakota-specific initiatives that will build the solid base of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) knowledge and infrastructure needed to support and grow target industry sectors over the next several decades.

The research focus of the current SD EPSCoR RII Track-1 project is biofilms with a goal to develop the South Dakota 2-Dimensional Materials for Biofilm Engineering, Science and Technology (2D-BEST) Center.