Goal: To strengthen observation-based research at
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory by increasing the Institutional capacity to
design and develop innovative field and laboratory instrumentation.
Strategy: Increase
the number and extent of field and instrumentation development projects at the
Observatory through a) enhanced and coordinated engineering and technical
support of instrument development and field activities b) provision of seed
money to stimulate new projects for instrumentation development that are likely
to generate new external funding.
Background: This
initiative will be supported by endowment income yielded by the generous gifts
of PGI Inc and Jerome M. Paros, which together constitute the
Jerome
M. Paros-Palisades Geophysical Institute Fund for Engineering Innovation in
Geoscience Research.
Operation:
1.
The OTIC Manager identifies
and arranges for available, appropriate technical
personnel to assist researchers in preparation of technical and instrument
development components of observational based proposals for external support.
The technical person is paid with OTIC funds for the proposal writing
assistance [estimate: from 1 day to up to 2 weeks per proposal, as
needed]. Objective:
better proposals lead to more funds for fieldwork and innovative instrument
development or application, which then
strengthen the Observatory’s engineering and technical capabilities.
2.
The OTIC serves as a clearinghouse for matching on-campus technical/engineering expertise to projects in need of less than one FTE of
technical and engineering support. The need may range from providing advise to possible participation in the project. The OTIC
Manager directs such requests to appropriate technical/engineering
personnel within the Observatory. The assistance will
be rendered on a cost-recovery basis. If on-campus talent is not available, the
OTIC can assist in out-sourcing. As OTIC success leads to increased technical/engineering capacity out-sourcing would diminish Objective: Networking of Observatory engineering and technical
talent leads to enhanced capability.
3.
The OTIC runs a yearly competition for innovative technical/engineering projects, at the $10-20K cost/project. A separate document describes the OTIC annual
proposal competition. One project, maybe 2, deemed worthy would be funded with
OTIC funds. There may not be a winner every year. Objective: encourage and enhance instrument development and
observational based programs.
Comment: The
OTIC will maintain a web site that facilitates coordination of the needs and
talent for Observatory technical/engineering activities.
OTIC Steering Committee,
James Gaherty,
David Ho,
William Smethie,
Ajit Subramaniam,
Maya Tolstoy,
Andreas Thurnherr,
Bruce Huber, OTIC Manager