In cased you missed it, the National Science Foundation posted a “Dear Colleague Letter” (DCL) late last week seeking input on needs for the next generation of cyberinfrastructure to support science and engineering. “With this DCL, NSF seeks input that provides a holistic view of the future needs for advanced cyberinfrastructure for advancing the Nation’s research enterprise,” states the letter.

Here is a excerpt from the DCL:

“The National Science Foundation (NSF) embraces an expansive, ecosystem view of research cyberinfrastructure – spanning advanced computing resources, data and software infrastructure, workflow systems and approaches, networking, cybersecurity and associated workforce development – elements whose design and deployment are motivated by evolving research priorities as well as the dynamics of the scientific process.

“The critical role of this broad spectrum of shared cyberinfrastructure resources, capabilities and services – and their integration – in enabling science and engineering research has been reaffirmed by the National Strategic Computing Initiative, which was announced in July 2015, and in the National Academies’ 2016 report on Future Directions for NSF Advanced Computing Infrastructure to Support U.S. Science and Engineering in 2017-2020. While these efforts are computing-centric, they expose the inherent inseparability of computing from the larger cyber ecosystem. With this DCL, NSF seeks input that provides a holistic view of the future needs for advanced cyberinfrastructure for advancing the Nation’s research enterprise.”

NSF asks responders to answer three guiding questions:

• Question 1 (maximum 1200 words) – Research Challenge(s). Describe current or emerging science or engineering research challenge(s), providing context in terms of recent research activities and standing questions in the field.
• Question 2 (maximum 1200 words) – Cyberinfrastructure Needed to Address the Research Challenge(s). Describe any limitations or absence of existing cyberinfrastructure, and/or specific technical advancements in cyberinfrastructure (e.g. advanced computing, data infrastructure, software infrastructure, applications, networking, cybersecurity), that must be addressed to accomplish the identified research challenge(s).
• Question 3 (maximum 1200 words, optional) – Other considerations. Any other relevant aspects, such as organization, process, learning and workforce development, access, and sustainability, that need to be addressed; or any other issues that NSF should consider.

“We invite you to step outside of the immediate demands of your current research and to think boldly about the opportunities for advancing your discipline in the next decade. We look forward to your contribution to our plans for the future of advanced cyberinfrastructure for the NSF-supported community,” states the DCL. For questions concerning this effort and submission of input, please contact William Miller, Science Advisor, NSF Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure, at the following address: [email protected].

Full directions are included with the letter: https://www.tacc.utexas.edu/-/national-science-foundation-dear-colleague-letter