Request for Information (RFI) -
Visioning Event Co-Host, Virtual
The Role of Engineering in Addressing Climate Change
the inaugural Visioning Event of the Engineering Research Visioning Alliance (ERVA)
December 7 and 8, 2021
Response requested by: October 7, 2021
Background
The National Science Foundation-supported Engineering Research Visioning Alliance (ERVA) seeks to identify event co-hosts for virtual visioning events in support of its mission. As co-hosts, selected organizations work with ERVA staff and volunteers to create and execute visioning events that convene top researchers from various sectors and other interested parties. During these invitation-only sessions, an interdisciplinary group of experts from the public and private sectors will identify bold and transformative new engineering research directions with the goal of catalyzing the engineering community's pursuit of innovative, high-impact research that benefits society.
Engineering and Climate Change
The theme for ERVA’s first visioning event is The Role of Engineering in Addressing Climate Change. As outlined in the recent White House priorities memo for the FY2023 Budget, “the United States and the world face a profound climate crisis with a narrow moment to pursue action to avoid the most catastrophic impacts and to seize the opportunities that tackling climate change presents.” Unsurprisingly, respondents to ERVA’s initial survey of the engineering community identified combating climate change: disaster resilient infrastructure and carbon neutrality: alternative fuels, energy storage, and enhanced carbon management as the highest priority themes for ERVA to explore. The goal of this inaugural visioning event will be to identify less-explored, basic and use-inspired research lines within this broad theme that are ripe for multi-disciplinary contributions from the engineering research community. Events in early 2022 will delve deeper into identified areas.
Date/Location
The visioning event will be held virtually over two days on December 7 and 8, 2021, from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET. The selected organization/organizations will act as a co-host on ERVA’s chosen virtual platform.
Co-Host Benefits
Co-hosting a virtual visioning event with ERVA will bolster your organization’s reputation as a thought leader in the role of engineering in addressing climate change and promote your organization as a driver of new ideas and collaboration. Co-hosts recommend sessions, speakers, and content of interest, as well as have the potential to deepen existing partner relationships and develop new ones.
Co-Host Responsibilities
As a visioning event co-host, your organization will work with ERVA staff (who are responsible for overall event logistics), our Executive Committee, and a Thematic Task Force on:
- Agenda development. Develop an agenda that will result in actionable recommendations.
- Participant recruitment. Identify subject matter experts from relevant sectors (academia, companies, government, and nonprofits).
- Welcoming remarks. Deliver the greeting and set the tone to bring visibility to your organization.
- Report development and writing. Create a report that reflects the current research and development environment and shares actionable recommendations that can be evaluated by government funding agencies for adoption.
Visioning Event Report Writer(s)
This role is vital to ERVA’s successful completion of our report output that is sent to NSF and shared with the community. The visioning event report writer(s) will draft the initial drafts and a final report in collaboration with other thematic task force members and upon multiple rounds of editing from ERVA staff, PIs, and volunteer leadership. ERVA partner Elsevier will assist in the development of the research intelligence report one week after the visioning event concludes. Co-hosts are asked to identify individuals with the requisite technical and communication skills to draft a report. Please include a CV with each candidate’s expertise and experience with your submission.
Eligibility
Eligible organizations include:
- U.S.-based colleges and universities
- Non-profit organizations such as professional associations/societies
- Companies with an operational presence in the United States
- National labs or other research institutes
ERVA seeks solutions through collaboration across different sectors by creating an environment for the engineering community to speak with one voice while addressing the nation’s greatest challenges. Therefore, we encourage submissions that partner multiple organizations (and ERVA may later pair proposers together) to demonstrate ERVA’s commitment to convergence, diversity of ideas, and inclusion.
Critical Review Elements
When considering proposals, ERVA will evaluate the proposers’ ability to provide:
- Knowledge: selected organizations will possess in-depth knowledge of the visioning theme
- Commitment: staff availability during the two-day virtual event, December 7 and 8, 2021
- Administrative support: designated note-takers for each session
- Report writer(s): recognized scholarship and demonstrated experience with similar reports
Submission Process
In your response, please provide:
- a signed cover letter indicating your desire to host and confirming availability for the virtual event on December 7 and 8, 2021 and
- responses to the critical review elements and any additional information that will assist us in making a determination.
ERVA will conduct a proposer conference on October 1, 2021, from 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. ET to allow interested parties to ask questions regarding the co-hosting opportunity. RSVP to info@ervacommunity.org to receive joining information. Follow-up with finalists will be conducted, as needed, after the submission deadline. Submitters will be notified of ERVA’s decision by October 25, 2021. Applications will be filed for consideration for related virtual and in-person events to be held in 2022 and beyond.
Response Deadline
Please submit responses by October 7, 2021, to receive full consideration. Send complete responses or any questions to info@ervacommunity.org.
About ERVA
The Engineering Research Visioning Alliance (ERVA) is a neutral convener that helps to identify and develop bold and transformative new engineering research directions, directly supporting the nation’s ability to compete in a rapidly changing global economy. Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Engineering, ERVA is a diverse, inclusive and engaged partnership that enables an array of voices to impact national research priorities. The five-year initiative convenes, catalyzes and empowers 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.
ERVA Role
The engineering research community is the target audience for this event. We will work with the host and members of the steering committee (comprised of senior research officers, company representatives and others) to develop a high-impact program and ensure that the event delivers value to the host and participants.
Good Faith Statement
All information provided by ERVA is offered in good faith. Specific items are subject to change based on business circumstances. ERVA does not guarantee that any item is without error. ERVA will not be held responsible or liable for use of this information or for any claims asserted therefrom.