Finalists Named in IU’s Grand Challenges Program
The program is being managed by IU Vice President of Research Fred Cate and his office.
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowFive finalists have been selected in Indiana University’s Grand Challenges Program. IU President Michael McRobbie chose the finalists who will submit full proposals for what the university is calling its most ambitious research program in its history.
The program launched in September and will invest up to $300 million over five years to address what the university says are some of the most urgent challenges facing Indiana and the world. IU Vice President for Research Fred Cate says these proposals will take on big problems that require big solutions that aren’t going to come from anyone discipline or field of study.
"The key things things that mattered were, first of all, impact. Are you addressing a problem that will really affect the public?" says Cate. "The second is showing that there’s we can actually do about it and the third is showing that it’s an area in which Indiana University brings strengths that would be relevant to addressing the problem."
Each team will work over the next four months to develop full proposals to submit to McRobbie. Cate says they will have help in creating the strongest proposals possible.
"It’s a big deal putting together a proposal for $50 or $60 million over five years," says Cate. "It involves a lot of hiring. It might involve new physical facilities in which to put these people and so it’s something which we’re working on collaboratively with the faculty taking the lead (and) with the administration helping to supply budget information (and) facilities information."
The full proposals are due April 18 and McRobbie is expected to announce one or two proposals to be funded in June. Click here to view the information on all five finalists.
IU Vice President for Research Fred Cate.
