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Foundations of Data and Visual Analytics (NSF 09-525) - FAQs

What is the Foundations of Data and Visual Analytics grant opportunity (NSF 09-525)?

It was a discretionary research grant program led by the National Science Foundation (NSF), in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The program focused on advancing the basic science behind visual analytics, especially where computational analysis and interactive visualization are combined to help people make sense of very large, fast-changing, messy, and sometimes contradictory data.

What was the main purpose of the program?

The central goal was to push forward foundational research in visual analytics so that decision makers can move beyond simply storing and retrieving information and instead convert overwhelming digital data into understanding that supports sound, timely decisions.

What problem did the solicitation frame as the core challenge?

The solicitation framed the problem as decision makers "drowning" in digital information. The real need was described as turning data into actionable understanding, not just improving data storage or retrieval.

What is meant by "visual analytics" in this solicitation?

Visual analytics was described as the combination of computational analysis and interactive visualization used together to support human reasoning about complex data.

Which fields or domains were mentioned as being affected by the problem this program addresses?

The solicitation described the challenge as cutting across multiple domains, including science and engineering, finance, medicine, and national security.

Why did the program emphasize crossing traditional research boundaries?

The solicitation argued that meaningful progress requires integrated, cross-disciplinary work, rather than treating visualization as a stand-alone graphics problem. It highlighted the need to combine multiple disciplines to create systems that are analytically sound and aligned with how people actually reason and detect patterns.

Which disciplines were explicitly highlighted as important for integrated research?

The program specifically mentioned:

• Statistics and mathematics (for sound inference)
• Knowledge representation and data management (for structuring and organizing information)
• Cognitive, perceptual, and decision sciences (to ensure interactive systems match human reasoning and perception)

What does it mean to "detect the expected" and "discover the unexpected"?

The solicitation described a key theme: systems should support both (1) "detect the expected," such as confirming known signals or monitoring for defined events, and (2) "discover the unexpected," such as surfacing anomalies, novel relationships, or emergent behaviors in massive datasets.

What types of data were within scope for the program?

The opportunity explicitly referenced massive datasets, including streaming and dynamic sources, and data that may be large, fast-changing, messy, and sometimes contradictory.

Did the program want application-specific tools or broadly reusable research outcomes?

The solicitation emphasized fundamental, widely reusable advances rather than narrow, one-off applications. Proposals were expected to produce generalizable methods, models, and system concepts applicable across scientific, commercial, and government settings.

How did the program balance foundational research with relevance to real systems?

While the program prioritized foundational contributions, it also stated that these advances should remain clearly relevant to real visual analytics systems. It encouraged work where algorithmic and analytical advances connect to how users explore, interpret, and act on information.

What research emphasis was specifically highlighted?

The solicitation specifically highlighted novel data transformations as an important research emphasis.

What kinds of visual analytics components were encouraged in addition to analytical methods?

The program encouraged a concrete visual analytics component, mentioning areas such as visualization techniques, human-computer interaction (HCI), and cognitive psychology, so that computational advances are tied to interactive use and human understanding.

Who led the program and who partnered on it?

The National Science Foundation led the program, in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security.

What was the estimated total funding available and how many awards were expected?

The opportunity estimated a total of about $1.725 million and anticipated roughly five awards.

What was the expected size (range) of individual awards?

Individual awards were anticipated to range from a floor of $300,000 to a ceiling of $500,000.

Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. The program stated that cost sharing or matching was not required.

Which NSF assistance listing categories were associated with this opportunity?

The listing referenced categories tied to Mathematical and Physical Sciences (47.049) and Computer and Information Science and Engineering (47.070), reflecting the program's dual emphasis on analytical foundations and computational/interactive system development.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was described as unrestricted, meaning proposals could come from any type of applicant organization, subject to any additional eligibility notes in the full solicitation text.

When was the opportunity posted and what were the proposal deadlines mentioned?

The opportunity was originally posted on January 6, 2009, with an initial full proposal deadline of April 2, 2009. The listing also referenced a January 20, 2010 deadline and then a recurring schedule of the third Wednesday in January annually thereafter.

Is this grant opportunity still active?

No. The listing ultimately became archived, with an archive date of September 26, 2010.

Where were the official details provided for applicants at the time?

The official details were provided through the NSF publication referenced in the announcement (NSF Publication 09-525).

Were there support contacts for application or access issues?

Yes. The announcement noted that support contacts were included for access or linking issues through Grants.gov and NSF channels.