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1 Introduction
Pages 1-10

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From page 1...
... Workshop goals included • fostering shared understanding among academic, industry, gov ernment, and foundation leaders of the culture of convergence; • mapping incentives and disincentives in research and funding policies and analyzing misalignments that impede the culture of convergence; • identifying strategies and practices that support effective cultures of convergence; and • forming and strengthening networks of leaders who propel convergence. 1  The workshop agenda may be found in Appendix A and the list of participants in A ­ ppendix B
From page 2...
... However, existing career and institutional incentives do not always align with the goals of convergence and these misalignments inhibit the ability to establish and support cultures in which convergence thrives. By convening participants to discuss their experiences, successes, and challenges, the workshop aimed to generate fresh momentum and effective actions that the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (the National Academies)
From page 3...
... In this representation, interdisciplinary research is a fruit salad combining contributions from individual, distinct disciplines while transdisciplinary research is a blended smoothie.
From page 4...
... Working Party on Biotechnology, Nanotechnology and Converging Technologies (BNCT) .4 Reflecting the significant attention being paid to the idea of convergence and, more generally, in response to interest among researchers and institutions in how to foster new knowledge that combines seemingly disparate disciplinary perspectives, the National Academies undertook Convergence: Facilitating Transdisciplinary Integration of Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Engineering, and Beyond (NRC 2014a)
From page 5...
... A STEM-focused prize, now in its fifth year, was also established by the National Academies to recognize scientific leaders whose achievements were possible only through "integration of two or more of the following disciplines: mathematics, ­ hysics, chemistry, biomedicine, biology, astronomy, earth sciences, p engineering, and computational science."5 Subsequent reports from the National ­ cademies continue to reference the term when discussing activ A ities that support the creation of new realms of knowledge. For example, a recent report encouraged engineering research centers to draw on convergent engineering, "distinguished by resolutely using team-research and value-creation best practices to rapidly and efficiently integrate the ­ unique contributions of individual members and develop valuable and innovative solutions for society" (NASEM 2017, p.
From page 6...
... 6 FOSTERING THE CULTURE OF CONVERGENCE IN RESEARCH TABLE 1-1  Summary of Recommendations from Convergence: Facilitating Transdisciplinary Integration of Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Engineering, and Beyond (NRC 2014a) Actors Actions Desired Outcomes National •  Foster coordination on •  ccelerated innovation and A vision- convergence economic growth setting body •  Build public and professional •  national infrastructure that A awareness of convergence as can solve emerging problems a catalyst of new scientific that transcend traditional and technical knowledge and boundaries applications Funder of •  Identify problems that would •  Expanded mechanisms for science and benefit from convergence funding convergent research technology approaches •  Collaborative proposal review innovation •  ddress barriers to effective A across funding organizations convergence, both within and when needed across institutions Academic •  ddress barriers to effective A • Recruitment practices, costleader convergence partnerships, recovery models, and research both within and across support policies that facilitate institutions convergence, including catalytic •  Develop policies, practices, seed funding and guidelines to support • Promotion and tenure policies and evaluate convergent and that recognize the importance disciplinary research equally of convergence and have unique •  Utilize the expertise of evaluation criteria for those economic, social, and faculty behavioral sciences, as well • Evidence-based practices as program management for facilitating convergence and strategic planning fields effectively when planning an initiative • More convergence efforts, partnerships, synergies, and collaborations, particularly at small universities and institutions that serve traditionally underrepresented groups Government • Develop partnerships, • Evidence-based practices laboratory synergies and collaborations for facilitating convergence with colleagues across effectively institutions and from a wide • New products and services range of fields derived from convergent • Facilitate efficient transfer of research technologies derived from convergence research
From page 7...
... , while Seoul National University and Gyeonggi Provincial Government of South Korea established the Advanced Institutes of Convergence Technology.7 The previous examples reflect only a partial summary of how the concept of convergence has evolved among research communities, universities, and the National Academies over the past decade. The term "convergence" captures a common idea that significant opportunities are possible when cultures are established that foster the ability to integrate areas of knowledge in creative ways.
From page 8...
... Meanwhile, the recent NSF convergence solicitation invites projects that are "driven by a specific and compelling problem ... whether it arises from deep scientific questions or pressing societal needs."8 A related concept raised during the workshop stems from the Stokes classification of research along two different dimensions: fundamental versus applied and curiosity-driven versus use-inspired (Stokes 1997)
From page 9...
... INTRODUCTION 9 This proceedings was prepared by workshop rapporteurs as a summary of what occurred at the workshop. The views contained in the proceedings are those of individual workshop participants and do not necessarily represent the views of all workshop participants, the planning committee, or the National Academies.


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