E Reports from the Breakout Session Groups
A key component of the Workshop on Materials and Manufacturing was the breakout sessions that allowed for individual input by workshop participants on questions and issues brought up during the presentations and discussions. Each color-coded breakout group (red, yellow, green, and blue) was assigned the same set of questions as the basis for its discussions. The answers to these questions became the basis for the data generated in the breakout sessions. After generating a large amount of suggestions and comments, the breakout groups attempted to organize and consolidate this information, sometimes voting to determine which topics the group decided were most important. After each breakout session, each group reported the results of its discussion to the entire workshop.
The committee has attempted in this report to integrate the information gathered in the breakout sessions and to use it as the basis for the findings contained herein.
SESSION 1:CONTEXT AND OVERVIEW
No Breakout Session was held.
SESSION 2:DISCOVERY
Breakout questions: What major discoveries or advances related to materials have been made in the chemical sciences during the last several decades? What is the length of time for them to show impact? What are the societal benefits of research in the chemical sciences? What are the intangible benefits, for example, in health and quality of life? What problems exist in the chemical sciences? Has
there been a real or sustained decline in research investment in either the public or the private sector? Has there been a shift in offshore investment?
Red Breakout Group
• Communications and information technologies are based on chemical processes or reactions and materials (microelectronics, photonics):
Optical fibers and materials, LiNbO3, erbium-doped amplifiers
Optoelectronic polymers
Compound Semiconductors
Magnetic materials
Photoresists
High critical temperature (Tc) semiconductors
Chemical vapor deposition, etch processes
Ultrapure materials
• Engineering materials for advanced performance have been impacted by chemical processes and syntheses:
Composites
Paintings, coatings, and adhesives
Teflon, polyolefins
Silicones
Block copolymers
Living polymerization products and methods
Metal complexes for polymerization
Fibers—clothing
• Advances in processing technologies have led to new materials and formulations:
Combinatorial materials discovery
Supercritical processing
Cryogenic processing
Genetic engineering
• Electrochemical processes and devices underlie advances in energy and power systems:
Electrochemical materials
Batteries
Fuel cells
• New materials and fabrication proceses have enabled new sensors and technologies for rapid analyses.
Yellow Breakout Group
Polymers
-
Conductive polymers (no commercial impact yet: products are being developed)
-
The discovery of plastic and crystalline materials that have promising transistor properties will likely impact future electronics (1972: conducting organic crystals; 1997: conducting polymers; 1990-ish: transistor sexithiophene)
-
The discovery of light-emitting diode (LED) properties in conjugated polymers and organic molecules will probably impact new low-cost electronics (~1972: conducting organic crystals; ~1977: conducting polymers; ~1990 polymer LEDs)
-
Semiconducting polymers: show promise for printable plastic electronics (not yet commercial)
-
Chemically modified conductive polymers, optimized as gas sensors (impact: still small, prototype and R&D stage)
-
Chemically processible conjugated polymers for semiconducting properties (“discovered”: 1991; impact: poised 2001-2002; “commercial”: 2002-2003; ~+13 years)
Catalysis
-
Mesoscopic materials (e.g., the mesoporous molecular sieve MCM-41) discovered by Mobil in the early 1990s, many microporous materials developed over the last decade
-
Zeolites have had an important impact on the chemical industry, and they hold significance as hosts for growth of opticoelectronic materials—zeolite catalysts in petroleum processing
-
Nanostructured catalysis (e.g., zeolites, pillared clays, monodispersed metal particles [impact: zeolites for cracking of oil]), discovery: ~1970s, technical implementation: ~10 years (new fluidized-bed reactor technology
-
Metallocenes give better control of polyolefins and higher productivities.
-
In 1986, industrial chemists were almost mocking the oligomerizing olefin catalysts being developed, now we have new plants based on these metallocence catalysts.
-
The catalytic converter has had a major impact on the quality of life.
-
Supported gold catalysis for low-temperature oxidation of CO was discovered in approximately 1930 but its relevance was not appreciated. It was
-
picked up by the Haruta group in the 1980s-early 1990s. The technical impact on a commercial scale was seen in the 1990s.
Biomedical Applications
-
Advances in chiral synthesis allow manufacture of entantiopure pharmaceuticals with reduced side effects.
-
Drug exploration using combinatorial synthesis
-
Encapsulation has allowed controlled release for drug delivery systems.
-
Biodegradable materials as drug delivery devices (1997)
-
Polymers for biomedical applications (drug delivery, tissue engineering)
-
Tissue engineering—the combination of engineering, polymer chemistry, and medicine—has rapidly advanced from a pure scientific curiosity to the market and may replace tissue, skin, etc. New synthetic methods in polymer chemistry have led to a huge array of new materials (cross-coupling radical control).
Instrumentation
-
Scanning probe microscopy has enabled understanding of interfacial phenomena.
-
Scanning tunneling microscopy was discovered in ~1984 and showed impact in the 1990s (~10-15 year time line).
-
The inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy has become a pervasive analytical tool with broad impact.
-
Giant magnetic resistance (GMR) for spin-sensitive memory (information techonology) was discovered in ~1990 (?) and implemented in ~3-4 years, with impact around 1995.
-
Materials processing: molecular beam epitexy (diode lasers)
Electronics
-
Photonic band gap materials for photonics. Not yet commercialized due to no processing methods
-
Photoresist-enabled integrated circuit and computer technology.
-
Chemically amplified photoresists, discovered in 1979, had commercial implementation in the 1990s. It is fundamentally important for the large-scale manufacturing of microelectronic devices with smaller feature sizes (continuation of Moore’s law).
-
The concept of “chemically amplified resists” was developed in ~1980 and first implemented ~1990. It was accepted in general manufacturing around 1995.
-
Low-K dielectric materials were identified as a need in the 1990s and
-
were implemented in 2001-2002. These were required for the continuation of Moore’s law.
-
Soft lithography—imprinting: early 1990s; commercial implementation: 2002 (?); cheap way to make integrated circuits
Combinatorial Chemistry
-
Combinatorial chemistry has revolutionized drug discovery and catalyst development.
-
Combinatorial chemistry has revolutionized drug discovery in the pharmaceutical industry.
Macromolecules
-
Buckyballs—quantum dots and wires
-
Carbon nanotubes—no commercialization because no cost effective processing
-
Dendrimers—discovered in 1985, commercialization in 2000; synthetic globular macromolecule as a scaffold-template for sensors (Army), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) agents, porous structures
Computational/Modeling
-
Density functional theory (DFT) allows understanding of reactivity at the atomic level, for complex systems; this was previously limited by computer power and accuracy.
-
Computational capability and software have enabled molecular design in organic synthesis.
-
Molecular modeling over the last decade enables materials characterization and understanding of materials growth mechanisms previously limited by lack of reliable intermolecular potentials and computer power.
Superconductors/Telecommunications
-
High-Tc superconductors, discovered mid-1980s; no impact yet
-
High-Tc superconductors in communication shielding; benefits: cell phones
-
High-purity optical fibers (erbium-doped optical fibers)
-
“Sol-gel” processing for telecommunication-optical fiber applications; initial research ~1985 (?); implementation: ~2000
Other
-
Manhattan Project—the basic chemistry of plutonium (redox, separation, materials, etc.) enabled the nuclear age.
-
Self-assembly materials (surfactants, block polymers, etc.)
-
Synergistic properties of multiple components of material system (i.e., composites)
-
Supercritical CO2 processing; discovered in the 1980s; facilitates the synthesis of fluoropolymers (2000).
Green Breakout Group
• Low volatility organics and adhesives
Volatile organic compounds and water-based
1950-1960s: emulsion polymerization
Particle engineering
Coatings, surface treatments
Weatherability
Paints
Reflective powder paints
Adhesives
• Inorganic electronic materials
Zone refining-1950s; semiconductors
Hydrothermal synthesis—1950s and 1960s
Picoelectric
Thermoelectric materials
SiO2 dielectrics
Optoelectronics
Other inorganic electronic materials and applications
Self-assembly processing
Microcontact printing for use in lab on a chip
Self-assembled monolayers: microcontact printing
Spatially addressable synthesis has spawned Symyx, Affymax, Affymetrics
Copper processing techniques for ICs (deposition, patterning, etching); impact: late 1990s
Porous silicon nanocrystalline behavior; research 1990s
Metelorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) processes for materials—GaAs, InP
Sol-gel glass research: early 1980s; commercialization: late 1990s (~15 years)
Nanocrystalline TiO2 —sunscreen
GMR read heads for high-density data storage; impact: 2000
Gallium nitride epitaxy-ready on sapphire for blue lasers; commercialization: ~ 10 years (~2000)
Semiconductor lasers wide-band gap
High-quality low-loss silica optical-fiber manufacturing; impact: telecommunications
Thermoelectrics: refrigerants, energy for space probes, portable coolers
• Active organic materials
Liquid crystals: 1800s
Conducting polymers 1970s
Organic semiconductors—transistors
Low LED displays: 1990s +
Other active organic materials and applications
Liquid-crystal polymers (e.g., zylon); impact: late 1990s
Polymer LEDs for displays; impact: today
Organic LEDs; commercialization: ~2000; impact: lower cost, better visual display
• Reinforced composites
Fiber-reinforced composites; basic work on carbon and composite fibers
• Electrochemical devices
ferrocenes
lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries; impact: 1990s
• Homo- and heterogeneous catalysis
Organometallic chemistry-1950s
1950s—mesoporous materials (e.g., MCMs)
Catalytic converter
Other catalysts
Metallocene catalysts, ~1990
Living polymerization has been used to make block copolymers and other materials previously inaccessible:
Glycopolymers
Peptide polymers
Site-selective porous inorganics (zeolites) for control of catalytic activity; impact: petroleum and plastics industry
Organometallic chemistry, 1950s: first homogeneous catalysis; 1950s-1970s: catalysis with asymmetric induction-chiral drugs
Well-defined homogeneous living polymerization catalysis: ring opening metathesis polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization
Catalysis for olefin polymerization at low pressure; Ziegler-Natta: 1950s, single-site metallocene: 1990s; designer polyolefins—better garbage bags and car bumpers, etc.—could replace polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in many areas
• Thin films and coatings
Chemical vapor deposition (CVD)
1950s Diamond-like carbon thin films
1970s Chemical vapor deposition widespread (thin films, coatings, coatings for memory)
Plasma chemical vapor deposition
Combustion chemical vapor deposition
1980s Wear resistance
1990s Heat dissipation (thin films, coatings)
Other Thin Films and Coatings
CVD diamond
1970s—Russia, Japan
1990s—Impact
CVD coatings
Magnetic disk/tribology
Diamond-like carbon coatings for low friction
Diamond-like films; impact: coating of tools, thermal management
• High critical temperature superconductors
1911 Low temperature superconductors – magnets 1960s
1986-1988 High critical temperature cuprate superconductors
Processing
Volume, scaling
1990s Filters: niche power applications
2000s Transformers
• Other breakthroughs or advances
Scaffolds for tissue engineering
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Utility as refrigerants
Demonstrate that chemists response to environmental challenge
Substitutes for Freon (new chlorofluorocarbons)
Refrigeration, air conditioning, cleaning solvents
Benefit: efficiency of Freon without the environmental impact
Advanced positive photoresist (I-line, deep ultraviolet, etc.)
Photolithography (chip production)
~1980 for fundamental work
~1990 for I-line use
1995 for deep ultraviolet
Benefit: computing
Power and computer-active memory increases that have enabled powerful personal computers and servers, liquid crystal displays
Quasi-crystalline metal films (hard, corrosion-resistant coatings); impact: late 1990s
Advanced ion-exchange resins
Original work 1950s, but improvements continue today
Benefits: cheap clean water, water pure enough for semiconductor manufacture
Longer-lived boilers, catalysts
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and related molecular biology techniques have been used to engineer organisms to overproduce commodity polymers (polyhydroxylalkanoates) as well as produce highly organized peptide materials.
Catalytic converters for autos, 1970s; impact: cleaner air
Single-walled nanotube
Blue Breakout Group
• Analytic techniques—enablers for miniaturization
Instrumentation
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)
Synchrotron
Spot profile analysis (SPA), atomic force microscopy (AFM)—1980 to now
Emissions control—also relied on new chemical understanding of the impact of emissions on air quality, etc.
• Materials
Intrinsically conducting polymers: around 1971
Nylon—invented: 1933; commercialized: 1939; impact: 1944
Teflon—invented: 1938; impact: 1945
Electrochromic materials: late 1970s
Polyethylene, high-density polyethylene
Thermoplastics— Lexan, etc.: about 20 years from innovation to profitability
Alloy development—shape memory, superalloys
Photographic film; phosphors; organic light-emitting polymers
Catalysts—homo, hetero, zeolites, organic templates
Block copolymers
Quantum materials: quantum dots, buckyballs
Composites
• Processing and synthesis
Sol-gel processing
Semiconductor metallization—electrochemical processing
Petroleum refining, catalytic cracking
Direct process for synthetic rubber; silicone polymerization
Synthesis of inorganic solids (mesoporous oxides, zeolites)
Hydrothermal solid-state synthesis
Ziegler-Natta catalysts
Single-site catalysis
Living polymerization
Total synthesis
Combinatorial approaches
Self-assembly
Purification of (elemental) silicon: led to silicon-based electronics
Photolithography; first mention: 1880s, with chromate; 1960s, practical for microelectronics
Controlled morphology
SESSION 3:INTERFACES
Breakout questions: What are the major discoveries and challenges related to materials at the interfaces between chemistry or chemical engineering and areas such as biology, environmental science, materials science, medicine, and physics? How broad is the scope of the chemical sciences in this area? How has research in the chemical sciences been influenced by advances in other areas, such as biology, materials, and physics?
Red Group
• Chemistry Biology, Medicine
Met: |
Implantable devices Implantable power Separation technologies Commodity production of biocatalysts, monomers, polymers |
To meet: |
Devices for functional metabolism In situ drug production Artificial organs (lungs, skin, ligaments, etc.) Nanocellular systems Human integrated computing |
• Chemistry Materials Science
Need: |
Ultrahard materials Cementitious materials (not CO2 producing) High temperature materials for power and propulsion Multifunction materials Construction Energy production Technology to reduce corrosion losses |
• Chemistry Physics
To Meet: |
Quantum computing Magnetic computing Photonic computing |
Self-organization of structures
Biomolecular structure organization
Yellow Group
• Multifunctional materials
Self-reporting materials
Smart materials and learning materials
Self-healing materials
Interdisciplinary materials
Multicomponent compounds with properties of ceramics and plastics
• Environment
Low volatile organic compound materials and coating
Solvent-free catalysis—green catalysis
Membranes—water purification
Disassemble or disable and recycle materials
Self-cleaning materials
Green chemistry for materials synthesis
Link behavior of biocatalysts and inorganic catalysts
New catalysts for a cleaner environment
Environmentally friendly materials
• Health
Medical and environmental diagnostics
Materials for improved human performance
Biocompatible materials
Materials for human-computer interface
Artificial organs
Tissue engineering and adding biological functions to materials
• Supporting technologies
Controlled architecture of multicomponent materials
Harnessing biological systems to prepare nonnatural materials
Chain folding of polymers
Prediction of materials properties from structure
Better multiscale modeling
• Other suggestions
Photovoltaics
Better portable power
Understanding mobility of charge carriers
Advanced chemical power sources
Fuel processors for fuel cells
Nanomagnetic materials
All-optical network
Materials for computing
Corrosion-resistant structural materials
Macroglobal-scale issues
Replacements for metals—high-performance materials, microfluidics
Report to Plenary Session
• Why invest in materials?
• Materials that improve health
Tissue engineering
Biosensors
Biofunctional materials
Living materials
• Materials that improve environment
Disassemble (e.g., tires)
Permanence (e.g., concrete)
• Materials that perform multiple functions
Failure reporting and triggered healing
Biosensing—responses
• Barriers – areas of science and technology that if addressed would enable the above
Interfacial science
Multiscale modeling and prediction of structure and architecture
Controlled synthesis of predictable structured materials (e.g., photonics)
Incorporating the power of biology, biosynthesis of materials, and synthesis of biomaterials
Green Group
-
Medicine and health—biocompatible materials (implants, dental, neuroprosthesis, synthetic muscles); sensors, diagnostics (instrumentation, contrast agents)
-
Structural materials—alloys-metallurgy, housing, roads, coatings, concrete and asphalt, composites, polymers-rubber, corrosion inhibition, amorphous materials, sealant, composites, recycled materials, transparent materials, insulation, functional materials, self-repairing and diagnosing materials, amorphous materials, fasteners
-
Art and literature—e-paper, inks/paints, conservation, paper science, coatings, archival media, entertainment, displays
-
Agriculture and food services—delivery, packaging, sensors, animal health diagnostics, bioengineered materials, processing or separations, soils, refrigeration
-
Space and national security—lightweight materials, sensors, high-temperature materials, multifunctional materials, reliability and robustness, electronic materials, armor, advanced textiles, coatings, energetic materials
-
Textiles—synthetic fibers, waste reduction, dyes, fibers or plastics, coatings (multifunctional), composites, Gortex, synthetic elastomers, superabsorbents (diapers), velcro and fasteners, processing
-
Personal hygiene—shampoos and conditioners, soaps and detergents, hair sprays, sunscreen, diapers, cosmetics, tooth brushes and toothpaste, colorants
-
IT and communication—optical fibers and coatings, optoelectronics, microelectronics, displays, RF and microwave, portable communications, storage, hard copy and printing, packaging, processing, personal electronics, reduced waste stream in processing, amorphous materials
-
Environment—PVC pipe, water purifications, catalytic converters, waste treatment, sensors, fuel cells and photovoltaics, coatings, green processing and green materials, nuclear waste separation and containment
-
Transportation—tires, roads, lightweight materials, coatings, corrosion-resistant or reflective paints, ceramics, strength-temperature-wear, sensors, fuels
Blue Group
• Biology-Medicine
Biomedical engineering
Tissue engineering
Bone scaffolding
Biomimetics
Protein engineering
Biofabrication
Biosensors
Medical diagnostics
Medical imaging
Rapid DNA screening
Microfluidics
Solid-phase synthesis
Templating
Genomics
Genetically modified organisms
• Physics
Liquid crystals
Surface chemistry (monolayers)
Spin glasses
Electron-phonon coupling
• Materials
Ceramics
Magnetic materials
High-temperature materials
Semiconductors
Conducting polymers
High-temperature superconductors
Microphotonics
High temperature sensors
Imaging
Quantum devices
Nonlinear optics
Data and storage
Theory and modeling
How broad is the scope of the chemical sciences in this area? The nature of the interaction is driven by the nature of the problem.
-
Superparamagnetic effect: higher storage density
-
Molecular electronics: new modes of logic
-
Materials design from first principles and modeling
-
Biological sensing detection: advanced imaging
-
Complex synthesis (many different scales): protein templates
-
Advanced micro- and nanofabrication
-
Crystal growth and engineering
-
Combinatorial synthesis
-
Protein folding
-
Self-assembly
How has research in the chemical sciences been influences by advances in other areas? Dynamics of processes:
-
Selective catalyst design
-
“Impossible” materials
-
Global climate change
-
Energy of recapture
-
Advanced battery and fuel cells (alternative energy)
-
Emergence
-
Transport phenomena
-
Funding
SESSION 4:CHALLENGES
Breakout questions: What are the materials-related grand challenges in the chemical sciences and engineering? How will advances at the interfaces create new challenges in the core sciences?
Red Group
• Understanding and manipulating chemistry at interfaces
Solid-solid
Solid-liquid
Functional integration of linking cells and biomolecules to materials
• Sustainable routes to materials
Energy efficiency
Materials efficiency (e.g. recycle—whole polymers or component monomers)
No toxics
No emissions or greenhouse gases
Also: maximization of limited resources; molecular recycling
• Materials by design
Process control and property prediction across 18 orders of magnitude in length and time
Also: modeling to design; structure and property process control at molecular level
• Materials for energy generation, storage, and conservation
Hydrogen, solar, photovoltaics
Improved handling of materials for nuclear fuel-power cycle
• Diagnostic tools for intelligent processing: instrumentation for real-time, atomic-level resolution, high-sensitivity, high-chemical-specificity, nondestructive analysis
• Infrastructure issues—education funding, interfaces within chemistry departments, communicating between disciplines
• Also: large parallel synthetic matrix experiments
Yellow Group
Grand Challenges
• Address:
Water
Energy
Food
Air
(Must be revolutionary)
-
Use chemistry to decouple environmental impact from a worldwide standard of living.
-
Alleviate diminishing resources.
-
Remediate existing environmental problems.
-
Find replacements for strategic materials.
-
Decentralize the power supply.
-
-
Apply chemistry to harness the power of biology for materials science.
-
Spatial and temporal control of chemistry
-
Self-assemble on a macroscale
-
Build a multifunction sensor in a single step.
-
Dot Votes for Challenges
Pill to stop AIDS (7 votes)
Miniaturization of medical sensor systems (5 votes)
High-performance materials—easy to process (4 votes)
Self-scaling materials (bio-inspired vs. biomimetic) (4 votes)
Safe storage of H2 (4 votes)
Make materials disassembly friendly (3 votes)
Optical computing, photonic circuits (2 votes)
Room-temperature fixation of N2—100 percent selective catalysts (2 votes)
Scaling (understanding, manufacture) (2 votes)
Chemistry-materials alleviation of diminishing resources
Green Group
What are the materials-related grand challenges in the chemical sciences and engineering? How will advances at the interfaces create new challenges in the core sciences?
Three Challenges
1. Putting it together (and processing)
• Arrangement at the atomic and other length scales
• Control (kinetic versus thermodynamic)
Weak bonding
Assembly (directed, templated, mechanical)
• Hierarchical construction with feedback
Bioinspired
Catalysis
2. Analysis
• Understanding what we make
Structure (over all length scales)
Function (over all length scales)
• Defects and impurities
• High resolution 3-dimensional element-specific mapping
Nondestructive, real time
Noncrystalline, multiple length scales
3. What to make
Modeling
Application Driven |
Capital |
Structure (length scales) |
Theory
• Accurate a priori design of materials and a road map of how to make them
Blue Group
Seamless manipulation of matter and information from molecular to macrosize scales: (1) interconnects (2) synthesis (3) dynamics:
• Interconnections at all length scales
Understanding and modeling transitions between nano- and microscales
Nano- or micro fabrications in all dimensions
Photonic materials
Transition from electronics to photonics
• Control matter at all scales
Harness capabilities and power of nature
Self-assembly and crystallization
Understanding nonequilibrium steps and structures
Understanding all steps in self-assembly
Understanding protein folding
• Materials that enable unlimited clean energy
High-capacity reversible energy storage
Alternative energy sources—unlimited
New recyclable and biodegradable materials
• Restoration and enhancement of function of living materials
Nanostructures and bioapplications
Expression of human genome
Restoration of lost organ function
Human computer interface
• What are the challenges for the next few decades?
Particle science and engineering
Understanding complexity
Understanding scale-up
Investigation of larger-scale, more realistic systems
Influence of fields
Detecting hydrogen in metals (local analysis)
Effects of “impurities” in alloys and metals
Understanding scattering effects
Accelerated testing methods
Visualizing nanoscale interactions
Miniaturization
Developing principles and theory for aggregation (self-assembly) of materials
Broadened parallel investigations
Increased computational power and tools
• Other answers that were not completely related:
Redefining the scientific method
Student education
New instrumentation: development and access
SESSION 5:INFRASTRUCTURE
Breakout questions: What are the materials-related issues in the chemical sciences, and what opportunities and needs result for integrating research and teaching, broadening the participation of underrepresented groups, improving the infrastructure for research and education, and demonstrating the value of these activities to society? What returns can be expected on investment in chemical sciences? How does the investment correlate with scientific and economic progress? What feedback exists between chemical industry and university research in the chemical sciences? What are the effects of university research on industrial competitiveness, maintaining a technical work force, and developing new industrial growth (e.g., in polymers, materials, or biotechnology)? Are there examples of lost opportunities in the chemical sciences that can be attributed to failure to invest in research?
NOTE: There was no Blue Group for the last Breakout Session.
Red Group
What parts of the infrastructure ARE working well?
-
Industrial/academic/national lab internships
-
Major instrumentation laboratories
-
Quality of the graduate students and their love of science
-
Steps toward interdisciplinary research
-
Research centers (where they exist)
-
Startups or options for graduate students
-
Technology transfer (at large universities)
-
Motivation and incentives
-
National Science Foundation (NSF) Grant Opportunity for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI)-type programs
What parts of the infrastructure are NOT working well?
-
Support for research centers
-
NSF funding for university research
-
Servicing of funding
-
Lack of long term research funding (>5 years)
-
Outreach
-
Science education structure (K-12)
What payoffs are expected from having a healthy infrastructure?
-
Laypersons’ better understanding of science and technology
-
Improved quality of life
-
Science education feeds a logically thinking workforce
-
Feed the competitive engine
-
Development of new areas of research, new fields
-
Defense
Yellow Group
Infrastructure elements
-
Instrumentation—maintenance funding, extent of utilization, staffing issues (considered service jobs), poor support for “medium” size
-
Buildings—age of manufacturing plants, decaying infrastructure
-
Academic department and tenure structure
-
Legal system—intellectual property limitations, intellectual property benefits
-
People—right number, right skills, chores of professional staff, refocusing of chemistry undergrads from chemistry
-
R&D funding system
Good and bad
• People
Good: Industry is getting the people it needs; universities are sustaining themselves
Bad: Shortage of number of people in some areas
Unnecessary and trivial responsibilities for professionals
Changing goals of students
Lack of training in some areas
• Instrumentation and faculty issues
Good: Centers pool resources and enable larger investment; research centers foster collaboration, provide bridge between disciplines
Bad: |
Funding for maintenance and staffing Underutilization Support for “medium” size |
• Payoff of (good) infrastructure
Greater range of possible research
Greater amount of research possible in given time
Shorter time from idea to product
Shorter time to degree
Green Group
What works (numbers refer to votes)
Center grants (7)
Major user facilities (7)
Graduate fellowship programs (6)
Private donations to universities (6)
Number and quality of graduate students and graduates (4)
Funding for single principal investigators (PIs) and departmental instrumentation (4)
Junior faculty awards (4)
Single PI system (2)
Postdoctoral fellowships
Connectivity
Database access
Research parks (industry-university)
Startups are generating jobs
Peer review system
Multiple funding sources
Problems
Timeline for funding too long; funding cycle too short (8)
Capitization (7)
Education—K-12 and undergraduate (6)
Too few U.S. students (5)
Traditional academic department structure (5)
Top universities—diversity of faculty and graduate students and mentoring (5)
Grants not able to support enough personnel (2)
Too few graduate fellowships (2)
Major user facilities—need to inform prospective users and make user friendly (1)
Not enough support for centers (1)
Globalization of R&D and manufacturing
Lack of databases (e.g., thermodynamics and kinetics)
Entrepreneurial initiative
Intellectual property—university-industry interface