Emerging Research Opportunities Research Articles

New Earth Science Research Opportunities: Committee Seeks Input

In 2001, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) published Basic Research Opportunities in the Earth Sciences, which helped define the priorities for the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Division of Earth Sciences (EAR) over the past decade. Motivated by this report, EAR funded key components of the EarthScope initiative, established a network of Critical Zone Observatories, and expanded its postdoctoral fellowship programs.Ten years later, again at the behest of NSF, NAS has assembled the Committee on New Research Opportunities in the Earth Sciences at the National Science Foundation. The committee will, among other things, identify high‐ priority new and emerging research opportunities in the Earth sciences over the next decade, including surface and deep Earth processes and interdisciplinary research with fields such as ocean and atmospheric sciences, biology, engineering, computer science, and social and behavioral sciences. The committee also will identify key instrumentation and facilities needed to support these new and emerging research opportunities.

Transitions into dementia and Alzheimer's across time: Emerging research opportunities in the use of longitudinal survey data in the public domain

Transitions into dementia and Alzheimer's across time: Emerging research opportunities in the use of longitudinal survey data in the public domain

Internal audit independence and objectivity: emerging research opportunities

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the recent literature on internal audit independence and objectivity and discuss opportunities for future research. The topics examined are the organizational status of internal audit, the internal auditor's dual role as a provider of assurance and consulting activities, internal audit's involvement in risk management, outsourcing and co‐sourcing of internal audit activities, and the use of internal audit as a training ground for managers.Design/methodology/approachThe approach used in this paper is a review of the literature followed by an identification of further research opportunities.FindingsThe paper summarizes the existing body of knowledge relating to internal audit independence and objectivity and identifies gaps in the literature where further research is needed.Originality/valueThe paper provides researchers with a useful summary of the literature on internal audit independence and objectivity and stimulates them to engage in further research in the area.

Human-Centered Computing: Defining a Research Agenda

Three National Science Foundation (NSF) programs—Human–Computer Interaction, Universal Access, and Digital Society and Technologies—were recently combined into one new cluster called “Human-Centered Computing” (HCC). Two workshops were held to share information about this new cluster with researchers, provide guidance to researchers who are early in their research careers and have yet to receive NSF funding, and provide feedback to NSF from the affected research communities regarding topics that are considered particularly important by this community. Continuing and emerging research opportunities identified included privacy and security issues in HCC context, intelligent user interfaces, universal access including research for different populations such as children and older adults, mobile and ubiquitous computing, and social computing, among others. Various issues concerning interdisciplinary research opportunities were also raised, including understanding the disciplines, promotion and tenure concerns, administrative overhead, and where to publish. Education discussions produced a list of curricular recommendations and a number of opportunities to enhance the education of future HCC practitioners and researchers.

Fifty Years of Farmland Protection Legislation in the Northeast: Persistent Issues and Emergent Research Opportunities

Over the past fifty years, several different types of publicly sponsored programs have been devised by state and local governments for the express purpose of encouraging owners to maintain land in an agricultural use. Although these units of government can, and do, wield considerable police power or regulatory influence, most attention has been given to voluntary, incentive-based approaches. First-generation programs were developed beginning in the mid-1950s, with state legislation centered on the provision of direct cash benefits via reduced property tax levies on farm real estate (Tremblay et al. 1987).

Emerging Research Opportunities for Doctoral Students in B-to-B Marketing

ABSTRACT Marketing is a contextual discipline. Therefore, as its context changes, it creates new research opportunities for doctoral students. I have identified six major contextual trends relevant to B-to-B marketing. They are: Internet revolution; inorganic growth through mergers and acquisitions; breakup of vertical integration; rise of emerging economies; privatization of public enterprises; and globalization of markets. Numerous potential areas of research are identified in this paper. However, it also suggests that the traditional survey research of key informants and its analysis using LISREL to test hypotheses anchored to behavioral and managerial theories will be inadequate for the emerging research opportunities. The doctoral students are encouraged to study more macro theories in economics, sociology, and political science. In addition, they are encouraged to use archival studies, simulation, Internet based experimental research, and virtual bazaars as new research methodologies.

Decision Sciences Research in China: A Critical Review and Research Agenda—Foundations and Overview*

ABSTRACTThis article focuses on decision sciences research in China, providing an overview of current research and developing a foundation for future China‐based research. China provides a unique research opportunity for decision sciences researchers, owing to its recent history, rapid economic development, and strong national culture. We examine recent economic reforms and their impact on the development of research questions in the decision sciences, as well as discuss characteristics of the diverse regions in China and their potential as sites for various types of research. We provide a brief overview of recent China‐based research on decision sciences issues relating to national culture, supply chain management, quality management, production planning and control, operations strategy, and new product development and discuss some of the unique methodological challenges inherent in China‐based research. We conclude by looking forward to emerging research opportunities in China.

Landfalling Tropical Cyclones: Forecast Problems and Associated Research Opportunities

Abstract The Fifth Prospectus Development Team of the U.S. Weather Research Program was charged to identify and delineate emerging research opportunities relevant to the prediction of local weather, flooding, and coastal ocean currentsassociated with landfalling U.S. hurricanes specifically, and tropical cyclones in general. Central to this theme are basicand applied research topics, including rapid intensity change, initialization of and parameterization in dynamical models, coupling of atmospheric and oceanic models, quantitative use of satellite information, and mobile observing strategies to acquire observations to evaluate and validate predictive models. To improve the necessary understanding ofphysical processes and provide the initial conditions for realistic predictions, a focused, comprehensive mobile observing system in a translating storm-coordinate system is required. Given the development of proven instrumentation andimprovement of existing systems, three-dimensional atmospheric and oceanic d...

Promoting Innovation and Creativity

Government research organizations vary, but share a number of common problems. Though not specific to any one agency, here are some nagging problems that may inhibit the effectiveness and productivity of research organizations: * Poor public perception of goals or mission. * Inflexible program development processes. * Fragmentation of broad problems along functional lines. * Inflexible program-funding guidelines. * Inability to acquire funds to capitalize on emerging research opportunities. * Excessive paperwork and administrative burdens that distract scientists from the primary function of research. * Inflexible recruitment and hiring practices that make it difficult to compete for the-best people. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service, recognizing the value of a creative and innovative work environment, initiated a pilot test program to explore ways to enhance these qualities in two of its research stations. The Northeastern Forest Experiment Station at Broomall, Pennsylvania, and the Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station at Berkeley, California, both participated in this pilot program, which began in 1985. The two stations were given wide latitude for restructuring and changing their organizational and operational procedures. The only top-down parameters were that changes must be legal and within basic policy bounds. Therefore each station decided independently what changes to make and how and when to implement them. Employee-Driven Program In the Northeastern Forest Experiment Station, the pilot test was implemented as an employee-driven program and was kcpt as informal and nonbureaucratic as possible. To the station director (chief executive officer) was left, however, a foremost and critical task: The need to create a climate of trust and commitment so that all employees would get the signal that new thinking and behavior would be OK. The station director assured employees they would not be penalized for any type of idea or opinion submitted to the pilot program, nor would any proposal for change be adopted if it would result in an adverse personnel action. The organization worked hard to develop a climate of mutual respect for individual difference and to encourage employees to share freely ideas for change. By these actions, the station began to lay the cultural groundwork for the program changes to follow. Procedures for carrying out the pilot program were easy and direct. Proposals for change were written in simple, direct form or dictated by phone to a pilot coordinator. They were then reviewed and acted upon (adopted, not adopted, or sent to the chiefs office for action) by a team composed of the station director, members of his staff, and field or project representatives. Adopted proposals were put into action immediately. To start the ball rolling, the following questions were asked of each employee: * If you were operating the Forest Service as a personal business, what change would you make in operating procedures? * What regulations, processes, and reports would you eliminate? * How would you improve customer satisfaction? * What perks or benefits would you give to your employees? Initial employee response was overwhelming and revealed a wealth of pent-up ideas just waiting for an opportunity to be released. Following this initial questionnaire, a blank survey form was circulated to capture employee proposals for change in an unstructured way. Again, a large number of ideas came pouring in, ranging from a simple change in office layout to a major redesign for developing research program proposals. Implementing the pilot test at the Pacific Southwest Station included many of the same features described above -- an environment encouraging risk-taking and a simple informal process for reviewing proposals. In addition, several brainstorming sessions were used initially to generate a wide range of ideas covering all facets of station management, organization, planning, and operations. …