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5 Addressing Programmatic Issues
Pages 38-52

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From page 38...
... While this is a large number, the estimated space, Earth, and biological and physical sciences science research community is much larger.2 The committee did not develop specific conclusions concerning the allocation of research funds between hard and soft funding, but visibility between directed funding and competed funding would be of interest to the communities of scientists assessing the state of the profession in the decadal surveys. For FY2020, 92 percent of NASA's budget came from congressional appropriations, either for the current year or from prior years.3 External funding for NASA comes from revenue agreements.
From page 39...
... Funding the Space and Earth Sciences Research Community While essentially all SMD research funding is allocated by competitive merit review, SMD has two acquisition models for space and Earth sciences mission and research selection -- directed and competed. Directed missions are typically more expensive missions directed to a specific NASA center to meet strategic goals and are most often the larger missions that reflect the guidance of the decadal surveys and other advisory groups based on high value science targets.
From page 40...
... SMD solicits basic and applied research through AOs for specific spaceflight missions, and the annual omnibus NASA Research Announcement (NRA) , Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES)
From page 41...
... The ratio of directed dollars allocated to community-competed research is an important metric and guidance for grants by science discipline is covered in the decadal surveys, with increased grant funding tied to the important role it plays in development and sustainment. ROSES grants are awarded annually and generally last for 3-5 years.
From page 42...
... Key data to include are the ratio of directed to competed research dollars, numbers of grants per PI/Co-I/Science PI, grant award success rates per PI/Co-I/Science PI, numbers of supported research contracts per PI/Co-I/Science PI and/or hours per week expected to support specific research contracts. IMPROVING THE PROCESS FOR SOLICITATION AND REVIEW OF HIGH-QUALITY PROPOSALS NASA's R&A programs represent a major source of support for the U.S.
From page 43...
... Strong competed mission and research grant processes ensure development of not only current and future research leadership but also ensure a healthy and vibrant supplier base capable of providing key technologies -- for example, sensors, optical comms, coronagraphs, sample return, computing, and data management, etc., to complement, support, and drive the accomplishments of the research community. Much like the importance of broader impacts in an NSF proposal, it is important to recognize that training, of both undergraduate and graduate students, in these key technologies is an important aspect of competed mission and research grant proposals.
From page 44...
... This would also allow SMD to adopt the mantra used by NASA Space Ops, "Constancy of Purpose," when they were seeking to gain congressional support for the Commercial Human Space Flight Program. Data visualization has proven effective for decision making, strategic focus and assessment of unintended consequences, particularly when actions include social implications (Kerzner 2017; Sarikaya et al.
From page 45...
... / Science PI, grant award success rates per PI/Co-I/Science PI, numbers of supported research contracts per PI/ Co-I/Science PI and/or hours per week expected to support specific research contracts. Because SMD's budget is driven by the president's budget request and congressional authoriza tion and appropriations, SMD should develop an integrated dashboard of annual priorities and budget allocations across all decadal science categories and SMD programs and projects to show at-a-glance investments and progress against science planned missions and the scientific results they deliver.
From page 46...
... .10 These programs that require open access to data represent an additional opportunity to engage and grow a larger science community. Consistently providing access to data remains a priority captured by the SMD Strategy 10  NASA, "Citizen Science Projects," https://science.nasa.gov/citizenscience.
From page 47...
... However, a simple indicator of the trend of the partnerships in each of these areas may provide an indicator of overall health. Recommendation: NASA's Science Mission Directorate should define, collect, and report metrics of collaboration and partnership in each of the areas of international collaboration, inter-agency col laboration, commercial partnerships, and citizen science as indicators of a healthy and growing science community.
From page 48...
... The committee considered other options, such as relying on agency-level initiatives, encouraging better coordination and communication between the Office of the Chief Scientist and SMD, and allowing individual science mission areas to proceed as they individually felt was appropriate, following the guidance of their individual discipline State of the Profession decadal reports. However, the committee concluded that an SMD directorate-level initiative was appropriate, with 14  Nicholas Skytland in the OCHCO led the Future of Work Initiative.
From page 49...
... This person would also be responsible for use of this data to ensure SMD is meeting the DEIA goals contributing to the health and vitality of the community. Recommendation: NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD)
From page 50...
... Management of a Data Stream Review and Criteria Against Which to Evaluate Outcomes: Data Collection and Analysis NASA Human Resources gathers extensive information on its workforce through the NASA Office of Human Capital Management. The Workforce Strategy Division provides information, updated biweekly, on multiple dimensions -- work location, occupations, grades, salaries, demographics, and trends.15 See Figure 5-5.
From page 51...
... is required of all NASA grantees. The form provides valuable information on specific requirements under the four civil rights laws NASA administers."
From page 52...
... Continued assessment of this subject by subsequent state of the profession panels in each discipline area will evolve final recommendations for SMD overall. 18  NASA, 2021, "State of the Profession SMD Initiatives," NASA Science Mission Directorate, https://science.nasa.gov/science-pink/s3fs public/atoms/files/Sheth_APAC%20March%202021.pdf.


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