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Multipaper

Research, Technology, and Development Evaluation

Evaluating Research Infrastructure: Definitions, Examples and Lessons Learned

Stream: Government and Public Policy

Thursday, October 24, 2024
10:15 AM - 11:15 AM PST
Location: G129-130
Abstract Information: As advances in research and development (R&D) become ever more reliant on complex physical, human and digital research infrastructures, policy makers and funders are faced with increasing demand for investment in large-scale research instrumentation and infrastructure. Such initiatives often require significant financial outlays over many years and serve stakeholders across multiple differing institutions. Therefore, evaluating the impact of these facilities on both the research enterprise and society presents important considerations for standard research evaluation theory and practice. In this multi-paper panel, we present several different examples of R&D infrastructure and instrumentation along with the approaches used to evaluate them, highlighting the challenges encountered and lessons learned. Examples to be discussed include an infrastructure program that provides laboratory screening, statistical and data science services for human environmental exposure research; infrastructure to increase equity and diversity in community engagement in environmental health research; and major research instrumentation such as the International Space Station and the NIST Center for Neutron Research.