Ohio State engineering faculty play key role in new NSF organization, Juhas co-chair of working group

Engineering Research Visioning Alliance to facilitate high-impact research

The Ohio State University is a core partner in a new national organization established to help the United States stay at the forefront of research and innovation — and maintain its leadership in the global economy.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Engineering today launched the Engineering Research Visioning Alliance (ERVA), the first organization of its kind. Funded with a five-year, $8 million award from the NSF, the initiative convenes, catalyzes and enables the engineering community to identify nascent opportunities and priorities for engineering-led innovative, high-impact, cross-domain, fundamental research that addresses national, global and societal needs.

Dorota Grejner-Brzezinska, associate dean for research at the College of Engineering, is the organization’s principal investigator and played a key role in assembling its collaborators.

“ERVA is an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be a part of something truly transformative,” noted Grejner-Brzezinska, who on May 1 will begin serving as interim vice president for Knowledge Enterprise at Ohio State. “The solutions to the most complex research, technological and societal challenges cannot be accomplished entirely within one academic discipline; they require contributions from neighboring disciplines as well.”

Engineering research impacts the nation in a variety of areas, from improved vaccine distribution to better smartphone cameras to the recent Mars rover landing. ERVA brings the engineering community together to envision high-impact solutions to society’s biggest challenges and to spark new research directions for a more secure and sustainable world.

ERVA was created to provide the engineering community with a process for identifying bold and societally impactful engineering research directions. It is an engaged, inclusive, multilayered partnership, providing a diverse array of voices with the opportunity to impact national research priorities.

“Engineering has the power to transform people’s lives, especially when it brings to bear a diversity of knowledge, perspectives and experience to solve important problems,” says NSF Assistant Director for Engineering Dawn Tilbury. “With NSF’s support, the Engineering Research Visioning Alliance will enable the engineering community to mobilize and make a difference in our country’s future.”

Deborah Hernandez and Mary Juhas, both associate vice presidents in Ohio State’s Office of Research, also played key roles in ERVA’s formation. According to Grejner-Brzezinksa, Hernandez and Research Development Office colleagues were essential in proposal writing and preparing the entire team for an NSF visit. Juhas serves as co-chair of the ERVA working group on government relations. Additionally, Ohio State Executive Vice President Grace Wang serves on ERVA’s Advisory Board, while Spine Research Institute Executive Director is a member of ERVA’s Standing Council.

ERVA stakeholders from academia, industry, government, professional societies and foundations, and the general public will be invited to participate on topic-based task forces and to offer insight for new research directions. A 10-member Advisory Board provides oversight, and a 35-member Standing Council provides input for visioning activities.

Professional societies and associations with aligned goals have a role to play in ERVA and may become ERVA Affiliate Partners. Individuals are also invited to participate as ERVA Champions, especially those with an interest in the future of engineering research, including: the general public; students at all levels; researchers, faculty and deans in small and large college engineering programs; and interested parties in industry, from engineers to CEOs.

Alliance co-PIs are: Anthony Boccanfuso, president and CEO of the University Industry Demonstration Partnership, an ERVA founding partner; Barry W. Johnson, the L.A. Lacy Distinguished Professor of Engineering at the University of Virginia; Charles Johnson-Bey, senior vice president at Booz Allen Hamilton; and Edl Schamiloglu, distinguished professor of electrical and computer engineering and associate dean for research and innovation for the school of engineering at the University of New Mexico.

Additional founding partners are members of the Big Ten Academic Alliance and the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research/Institutional Development Award Foundation.

Story by Matt Schutte, Ohio State News contributor, schutte.9@su.edu