Informatics dean to offer expertise

The National Science Foundation advisory committee gained its newest member this week.

IU School of Informatics Dean Bobby Schnabel will offer his expertise as a member of the Advisory Committee for the Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering.

Schnabel will give information and advice about the impact of support policies and programs on computers, as well as issues relating to the information science and engineering communities.

Schnabel will provide oversight for program management and performance, according to a press release.

His responsibilities also include forming ad hoc subcommittees to carry out necessary studies.

“The importance and centrality of our discipline continue to grow, and this environment provides both exciting scientific opportunities and major policy challenges for our directorate,” said Farnam Jahanian, who made the appointment and is the NSF assistant director of computer, information science and engineering.

“NSF relies heavily on the advice received from its advisory committees, thus the deliberations and recommendations from the advisory committee have been and will continue to be a core part of CISE’s strategic planning and policy formulation process.”

Schnabel agreed to serve as cochair of the CISE Education and Workforce Development Advisory Subcommittee.

The subcommittee is designed to assist the CISE directorate through means of overseeing activities in education, workforce development and efforts to broaden participation.

In December, Schnabel was one of 12 individuals  honored at the White House as a “Champion of Change,” commencing his efforts to recruit and retain girls and women in science, technology, engineering and math fields.

“The CISE directorate of NSF is the primary source of research support for the computing community and an influential leader in developing new national directions in computing research and education,” Schnabel said.

“I am honored to have been asked by Director Jahanian to join an illustrious group that provides advice to CISE, as well as to provide advice in the areas of education, broadening participation and workforce development, which have been major emphases in my career.”

— Michael Majchrowicz