Carnegie Mellon CS Chair (and CRA Government Affairs Chair) Peter Lee and Berkeley’s Randy Katz have been doing some thinking about the sorts of problems in computing it might be useful for a future DARPA Director to understand. Their inspiration comes from a book written by Katz’s colleague, Richard Muller, called Physics for Future Presidents, which describes the “science behind the headlines — the tools of terrorists, the dangers of nuclear power, and the reality of global warming.” Katz and Lee want to know: “Shouldn’t there also be a computer science (or, more broadly, an IT) version of this book?”
They believe there should and have proposed one that
summarizes key IT technology trends that most urgently affect the national defense,
analyzes IT technology roadmaps that are nearing their end, and the consequences of that end, and
attempts to identify areas of possible “technological surprise” that is, soft points in the defense IT research portfolio.
They’ve generated some interest in such a project from the agency and are looking for further input from others within the community.
I think this is a great idea and hope you’ll visit Lee’s blog and add your thoughts. The time to produce something that might be useful to the new administration is very short, obviously, but the opportunity to get the attention of the new agency leadership (whomever it may turn out to be) focused on important, compelling issues in computing makes it worth the effort.
Google hosted a town hall style panel discussion today at its Washington, DC office. The discussion was based on technology policy in 2009 with a new Administration and Congress but focused almost exclusively on broadband deployment and a smart electric grid. The panel had six speakers: Gigi Sohn (President, Public Knowledge), Jennifer Canty (CEO, Dyscern), Ben Scott (Policy Director, Free Press), Stephen Ezell (Senior Analyst, ITIF), Harry Wingo (Policy Counsel, Google), and Michael Oldak (Senior Director, Edison Electric Institute). Questions were taken from a moderator, from the audience, and from online submissions through Google Moderator.
The consensus seemed to be that broadband availability needs to improve throughout the country but that broadband adoption by consumers was also a large issue that needed to be tackled. Additionally, regulations need to be implemented to keep the Internet as an open system without false controls.
The other topic discussed was the need for a smart, efficient electricity infrastructure that uses alternative, renewable energy sources and that has the ability to regulate energy use during peak times.
The discussion was recorded and is supposed to be available on YouTube, however, it does not seem to have been posted yet. Well provide the link when it becomes available.
CRA member Google Inc.’s CEO Eric Schmidt gave a speech yesterday in DC regarding government and technology. Schmidt is a member of President-elect Obama’s transition team but he focused more on issues that the technology community (including CRA) has been talking about for years, including research funding. The Washington Times has all the details but here’s a brief quote on research:
Mr. Schmidt said the government has an important role to play in funding research, noting that businesses “by law have to serve their shareholders” and therefore are not going to “fundamentally invest at the level of pure research.”
“It takes government policy. That model works,” he said, citing a pledge by Mr. Obama to double basic spending on scientific research, which declined this year.
Science Magazine recently published an editorial by Wen Jibao, (sub. reqd.) Premier of Chinas State Council on Chinas science and technology initiatives. Weve been saying here for years that China is very serious about becoming a world leader in science and technology. The editorial states China is now engaged in a modernization drive unprecedented in the history of humankind. Other important highlights include:
The future of Chinas science and technology depends fundamentally on how we attract, train, and use young scientific talents today. Thus, at the core of our science and technology policy is attracting a diverse range of talents, especially young people, into science and providing them with an environment that brings out the best of their creative ideas.
I firmly believe that science is the ultimate revolution. At a time when the current global financial turmoil is dealing a heavy blow to the world economy, it has become all the more important to rely on scientific and technological progress to promote growth in the real economy. Economic and social development must rely on science and technology, and science and technology must serve economic and social development. We will rely on science and technology to promote economic restructuring, transform development patterns, safeguard food and energy security, and address global climate change. We are confident that China will reap a rich harvest in science and technology and that this will have positive and far-reaching effects on human civilization and the well-being of humankind.
This is a good editorial to read to understand Chinas commitment to science and technology and its willingness to follow through on its rhetoric even at a financially difficult time.
The Computing Community Consortium is looking for help with a brainstorming exercise. Here’s what they have in mind:
Identify about a dozen game-changing advances from computing research conducted in the past 20 years. Heres what we mean:
The advance needs to be “game changing,”in the sense of dramatically altering how we think about computing and its applications.
The importance of the advance needs to be obvious and easily appreciated by a wide audience.
There needs to be a clear tie to computing research (or to infrastructure initiatives that build upon research and were sponsored by computing research organizations).
We’re particularly interested in highlighting the impact of federally-funded university-based research.
To start the conversation, they’ve picked four examples:
The Internet and the World Wide Web as we know them today
Search
Cluster Computing
Computational Science
Agree? Disagree? Have others to suggest? You can do it all by heading to the thread on the CCC Blog and adding your two (or more) cents.
Today, as part of CRA’s mission to improve public and policymaker understanding of the importance of computing and computing research, we’re pleased to announce the launch of a new feature on the CRA and CCC web pages: the Computing Research Highlight of the Week. Each week, we’ll highlight some of the exciting and important research results recently generated by the computing community.
Our first highlight features a new algorithm developed by researchers at the Jacobs School of Engineering at UC San Diego that promises to significantly boost the efficiency of network routing.
We hope to accomplish a few things with these highlights. First, we want to show off the good work being done in our community in a way that is accessible to the general public. One model for this is the very popular Astronomy Photo of the Day, where each day a new photo or graphic (or video) having something to do with astronomy is featured along with a succinct description. We hope to do the same for computing. Second, we hope to build up a good database of examples of the vibrancy of the computing fields that we can use in our advocacy efforts with Congress, the Adminstration, and federal agencies. Having a collection of easily accesible and digestable research “nuggets” helps us immeasurably when trying to make the case for computing research to policymakers. And thirdly, we want to make sure our members of our own community are aware of some of the wide variety of interesting research results that are being generated across the various sub-disciplines of computing, and perhaps even make connections to their own work.
We’ve tried to make it easy for you to keep track of the current weekly highlight with an RSS feed, an email notification system, and even embed code that allows you to feature the highlight of the week on your own web page. Each week’s highlight also features prominently on both the CRA and CCC home pages.
So how do you get your own work featured as a Computing Research Highlight of the Week? It’s easy: just submit it! From those submissions CRA and CCC staff and volunteers chose a new highlight each week. We’re pleased that so many answered our call last July for your research highlights, but we want more. So submit your interesting and important research results today!
As weve discussed here before, DARPA has shifted its research strategy from high risk, high reward to bridging the gap under Director Tony Tethers leadership since 2001. This week the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) held a breakfast with Dr. Erica Fuchs of Carnegie Mellon University who discussed research she had done regarding DARPAs research agenda.
Dr. Fuchs began by talking about her original research in optoelectronics and how she started looking into DARPA as a technology innovator. She went through the history of DARPA and talked about the basic model of DARPA brainstorm a new idea/direction, gain momentum around the idea, build a community, validate the idea with funding from other agencies or industry, and then let others take over the technology as DARPA was not meant to sustain technologies. Dr. Fuchs discussed the change under Tether to 12-18 month reviews with go/no go decisions and that universities are often shut out of the research or must partner with industry to get involved. Dr. Fuchs ended with the shift from Old DARPA with high risk, high reward, open ended research mostly at universities to the New DARPA characterized by “Bridging the Gap” and coordinating the commercialization of research and asked who is/will fund the earliest basic research at universities going forward?
Unfortunately, Dr. Fuchs slides are not posted online at this time. If they become available, we will add a link to the post.
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
The fiscal year 2009 budget request for DARPA is $3,285,569,000, an increase of $326,493,000, more than 10 percent, over the fiscal year 2008 appropriated program of $2,959,076,000. In recent years, DARPA has repeatedly underexecuted its funded program level, executing a fiscal year 2005 program that was nine percent below the appropriated program and a fiscal year 2006 program that was twelve percent below the appropriated program. Based on program execution to date, DARPA will likely continue that trend for the fiscal year 2007 and 2008 programs. While DARPA’s continued underexecution can partially be explained by its fiscally responsible management approach of withholding funds from projects that fail to demonstrate progress, doubts exist about DARPA’s ability to responsibly manage such a large increase. Therefore, the bill provides $3,142,229,000, a reduction of $143,340,000 from the request. The Director of DARPA is directed to provide to the congressional defense committees not later than 60 days after enactment of this Act a report that details by program element and project the application of undistributed reductions made in this Act….
Great DOD S&T Video on the Importance of Basic Research
/In: General /by Peter HarshaGreat tagline… “The Science of Victory”
(via Defense Tech)
Computer Science for Future DARPA Directors?
/In: Research /by Peter HarshaCarnegie Mellon CS Chair (and CRA Government Affairs Chair) Peter Lee and Berkeley’s Randy Katz have been doing some thinking about the sorts of problems in computing it might be useful for a future DARPA Director to understand. Their inspiration comes from a book written by Katz’s colleague, Richard Muller, called Physics for Future Presidents, which describes the “science behind the headlines — the tools of terrorists, the dangers of nuclear power, and the reality of global warming.” Katz and Lee want to know: “Shouldn’t there also be a computer science (or, more broadly, an IT) version of this book?”
They believe there should and have proposed one that
They’ve generated some interest in such a project from the agency and are looking for further input from others within the community.
I think this is a great idea and hope you’ll visit Lee’s blog and add your thoughts. The time to produce something that might be useful to the new administration is very short, obviously, but the opportunity to get the attention of the new agency leadership (whomever it may turn out to be) focused on important, compelling issues in computing makes it worth the effort.
Google Talks: Tech Policy
/In: Events, Misc., Policy /by MelissaNorrGoogle hosted a town hall style panel discussion today at its Washington, DC office. The discussion was based on technology policy in 2009 with a new Administration and Congress but focused almost exclusively on broadband deployment and a smart electric grid. The panel had six speakers: Gigi Sohn (President, Public Knowledge), Jennifer Canty (CEO, Dyscern), Ben Scott (Policy Director, Free Press), Stephen Ezell (Senior Analyst, ITIF), Harry Wingo (Policy Counsel, Google), and Michael Oldak (Senior Director, Edison Electric Institute). Questions were taken from a moderator, from the audience, and from online submissions through Google Moderator.
The consensus seemed to be that broadband availability needs to improve throughout the country but that broadband adoption by consumers was also a large issue that needed to be tackled. Additionally, regulations need to be implemented to keep the Internet as an open system without false controls.
The other topic discussed was the need for a smart, efficient electricity infrastructure that uses alternative, renewable energy sources and that has the ability to regulate energy use during peak times.
The discussion was recorded and is supposed to be available on YouTube, however, it does not seem to have been posted yet. Well provide the link when it becomes available.
Google CEO Speaks On Government and Technology
/In: CRA, People, Policy, R&D in the Press /by MelissaNorrCRA member Google Inc.’s CEO Eric Schmidt gave a speech yesterday in DC regarding government and technology. Schmidt is a member of President-elect Obama’s transition team but he focused more on issues that the technology community (including CRA) has been talking about for years, including research funding. The Washington Times has all the details but here’s a brief quote on research:
Check out the article for more on what Schmidt talked about or listen to the speech at the New America Foundation (mp3 format download).
Science Magazine Editorial by Wen Jibao
/In: American Competitiveness Initiative, Diversity in Computing, Funding, Misc., Policy /by MelissaNorrScience Magazine recently published an editorial by Wen Jibao, (sub. reqd.) Premier of Chinas State Council on Chinas science and technology initiatives. Weve been saying here for years that China is very serious about becoming a world leader in science and technology. The editorial states China is now engaged in a modernization drive unprecedented in the history of humankind. Other important highlights include:
This is a good editorial to read to understand Chinas commitment to science and technology and its willingness to follow through on its rhetoric even at a financially difficult time.
CCC Looking for “Game Changers” in Computing, Picks Four of its Own
/In: Computing Community Consortium (CCC) /by Peter HarshaThe Computing Community Consortium is looking for help with a brainstorming exercise. Here’s what they have in mind:
To start the conversation, they’ve picked four examples:
Agree? Disagree? Have others to suggest? You can do it all by heading to the thread on the CCC Blog and adding your two (or more) cents.
Announcing the Computing Research Highlight of the Week
/In: Computing Community Consortium (CCC), CRA, R&D in the Press, Research /by Peter HarshaToday, as part of CRA’s mission to improve public and policymaker understanding of the importance of computing and computing research, we’re pleased to announce the launch of a new feature on the CRA and CCC web pages: the Computing Research Highlight of the Week. Each week, we’ll highlight some of the exciting and important research results recently generated by the computing community.
Our first highlight features a new algorithm developed by researchers at the Jacobs School of Engineering at UC San Diego that promises to significantly boost the efficiency of network routing.
We hope to accomplish a few things with these highlights. First, we want to show off the good work being done in our community in a way that is accessible to the general public. One model for this is the very popular Astronomy Photo of the Day, where each day a new photo or graphic (or video) having something to do with astronomy is featured along with a succinct description. We hope to do the same for computing. Second, we hope to build up a good database of examples of the vibrancy of the computing fields that we can use in our advocacy efforts with Congress, the Adminstration, and federal agencies. Having a collection of easily accesible and digestable research “nuggets” helps us immeasurably when trying to make the case for computing research to policymakers. And thirdly, we want to make sure our members of our own community are aware of some of the wide variety of interesting research results that are being generated across the various sub-disciplines of computing, and perhaps even make connections to their own work.
We’ve tried to make it easy for you to keep track of the current weekly highlight with an RSS feed, an email notification system, and even embed code that allows you to feature the highlight of the week on your own web page. Each week’s highlight also features prominently on both the CRA and CCC home pages.
So how do you get your own work featured as a Computing Research Highlight of the Week? It’s easy: just submit it! From those submissions CRA and CCC staff and volunteers chose a new highlight each week. We’re pleased that so many answered our call last July for your research highlights, but we want more. So submit your interesting and important research results today!
Computerworld Articles on US Innovation, Technology, and the Next President
/In: American Competitiveness Initiative, Funding, FY09 Appropriations, People, Policy, R&D in the Press, Research /by MelissaNorrComputerworld has published a great couple of articles this week regarding the next Administration, technology, and US innovation. They feature a number of folks well-known in the CS community and are definitely worth checking out.
US Innovation: On the Skids
Dear Mr. President: Lets Talk Tech
ITIF Breakfast with Dr. Erica Fuchs
/In: American Competitiveness Initiative, Events, Funding, FY09 Appropriations, People /by MelissaNorrAs weve discussed here before, DARPA has shifted its research strategy from high risk, high reward to bridging the gap under Director Tony Tethers leadership since 2001. This week the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) held a breakfast with Dr. Erica Fuchs of Carnegie Mellon University who discussed research she had done regarding DARPAs research agenda.
Dr. Fuchs began by talking about her original research in optoelectronics and how she started looking into DARPA as a technology innovator. She went through the history of DARPA and talked about the basic model of DARPA brainstorm a new idea/direction, gain momentum around the idea, build a community, validate the idea with funding from other agencies or industry, and then let others take over the technology as DARPA was not meant to sustain technologies. Dr. Fuchs discussed the change under Tether to 12-18 month reviews with go/no go decisions and that universities are often shut out of the research or must partner with industry to get involved. Dr. Fuchs ended with the shift from Old DARPA with high risk, high reward, open ended research mostly at universities to the New DARPA characterized by “Bridging the Gap” and coordinating the commercialization of research and asked who is/will fund the earliest basic research at universities going forward?
Unfortunately, Dr. Fuchs slides are not posted online at this time. If they become available, we will add a link to the post.
DARPA’s Tether Continues to Lose His Fight with Congress
/In: Funding, FY09 Appropriations, Policy, R&D in the Press /by Peter HarshaFrom the explanatory statement for the Continuing Resolution that will fund government agencies until March 6, 2009:
Wired’s Noah Shactman, writing for the Danger Room blog, has more.