NSF Convergence Accelerator, Microscopy and Characterization Suite (MaCS), and NSF Engines Program 4th Multidisciplinary International Symposium on Disinformation in Open Online Media
After three successful editions, the Multidisciplinary International Symposium on Disinformation in Open Online Media (MISDOOM) returns for a 4th edition, this time hosted as a hybrid conference by Boise State University on October 11-12, 2022.  Depending on the pandemic status, the conference may move to online.
The symposium brings together researchers from multiple disciplines, including communication science, computer science, computational social science, political science, psychology, journalism, and media studies, as well as industry and practitioners in journalism and online media.
The symposium has a strong multidisciplinary character and aims to cater to the habits of different disciplines.
Symposium Topics
- Participants can discuss and contribute to the following (non-exclusive list of) topics:
- Cross-platform campaigns and their impact (e.g., diffusion of disinformation and manipulation, observations of campaigns and strategies, communication strategies, hate speech)
- Approaches to studying misinformation (e.g., qualitative approaches, case studies, quantitative approaches, experiments)
- User involvement with misinformation on various platforms (e.g., engagement, viewership)
- Counter-measures on mis- and disinformation and manipulation (e.g., censorship policies, behavioral changes, education, professional codices, legal actions)
- Factors that lead to belief in misinformation and correction of those false beliefs (e.g., political polarization, motivated reasoning, confirmation bias)
- Social networking platforms, censorship policies, and impacts (e.g. policies to counter hate speech, health misinformation)
- Trending topics in mis- and disinformation research (e.g., health-related misinformation)
- Automated fact-checking and misinformation detection
- Argumentation reasoning for misinformation detection
- Models for misinformation diffusion
- Robustness of automated fact-checkers (e.g., AI-generated misinformation, generating adversarial examples for automatic fact-checkers, transparency, and explainability)
- Human computation approaches for misinformation detection (crowdsourcing, human-machine interaction)
- Information quality (information quality dimensions, metrics, ethics of information quality)
Industry is also invited to participate in the conference by submitting a contribution describing their approach to countering or detecting misinformation.
Submission Instructions:
Given that we welcome both social scientists and computer scientists, and that the publication strategies of these fields differ, we solicit two types of contributions that, upon acceptance, result in the same opportunity to present at MISDOOM:
Full papers:
Full papers to be published with Springer LNCS proceedings. Up to 15 pages (including references) in Springer Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS) format describing original unpublished and new research. The work should be structured like a research paper, and cover the context of the problem studied, the research question, approach/methodology, and results in 6 to 15 pages. It should be formatted according to the LNCS Word or LaTeX template. Such submissions will be judged based on scientific quality and relevance for the MISDOOM symposium.
Extended Abstracts:
Authors can also choose to submit an Extended Abstract instead of a full paper. This extended abstract should be up to 500 words (not including references), and should briefly describe the work that will be presented. The extended abstract can be based on previously published work, ongoing work in progress, or even a new research idea or agenda. No template is provided, but at least the title, authors, their affiliation, the text of the extended abstract, and, especially in the case of previously published work, reference(s) should be included. Submissions are non-archival, and not formally published. Authors should also submit an abstract for the conference program of up to 150 words.
More Information:
E-mail:Â info@misdoom.org
Submission Deadline: May 14, 2022
Notification: July 15, 2022
The NSF Convergence Accelerator
The NSF Convergence Accelerator has issued a new funding opportunity for three new research track topics aligned to the 2022 cohort. Researchers and innovators have two submission pathways to submit their proposals: Solicitation, NSF-22-583, and Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), NSFBAA-CA22-02.
The funding opportunity track focuses include:
- Track H: Enhancing Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities
- Track I: Sustainable Materials for Global Challenges
- Track J: Food & Nutrition Security
Participating in the NSF Convergence Accelerator
Selected teams begin in phase 1, participating in an accelerated 12-month planning effort, with grant funding up to $750,000.  Phase 1 teams participate in the program’s innovation curriculum designed to strengthen each team’s convergence approach and to further develop the solution concepts. At the end of phase 1, teams participate in a formal NSF pitch and proposal evaluation. Selected teams advance to phase 2 to continue developing sustainable, impactful solutions. Teams are eligible to receive up to $5 million of funding during phase 2.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DETAILS
Letter of Intent (required):Â May 31, 2022
Full Proposal Deadline: July 20, 2022
INFORMATIONAL WEBINARS
Join an NSF Convergence Accelerator webinar to learn about the program and the current funding opportunity. During the webinars, participants will learn about the program’s model and fundamentals, including the program’s phased approach and innovation processes used to accelerate basic research into practice; and the solicitation opportunity and the research track focuses, required Convergence Accelerator fundamentals, and important submission information. The goal of these webinars is to bring awareness of this exciting opportunity to develop use-inspired solutions to have a positive impact on national and societal challenges.
- May 4, 2022, from 1 – 3 p.m. ET
- May 5, 2022, from 3 – 5 p.m. ET
Register for webinar on the NSF Convergence Accelerator’s Eventbrite page.
Direct questions to: Convergence-Accelerator@nsf.gov
Center for Advanced Energy Studies
Microscopy and Characterization Suite (MaCS) Seed Grants
The Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES) is pleased to announce the MaCS Seed Grant Program. With support from Boise State CAES, Idaho State CAES, and the Boise State Micron School of Materials Science and Engineering, this grant program provides opportunities to staff scientists, faculty and students at CAES Consortium members to utilize the equipment and expertise in the CAES Microscopy and Characterization Suite (MaCS). We aim to promote research in all science fields, as well as increase the MaCS user base.
Congratulations to the following awardees:
- David Pearson, Department of Geosciences, Idaho State University
- Elton Graugnard and Jake Soares, Materials Science and Engineering, Boise State University
- Peter Mullner and Shane Palmer, Materials Science and Engineering, Boise State University
Interested in Applying?
Awards are open to any researcher from the CAES Consortium in any discipline. The lead PI should be a faculty member at Boise State University or Idaho State University. Co-PIs from all CAES Institutions are encouraged.
Access MaCS Seed Grant Program Information and Application Here
For questions related to this program please email yaqiaowu@boisestate.edu with the subject line: Your Name, MaCS Seed Grant Program.
NSF Engines Program Webinar
he National Science Foundation is pleased to announce a bold, new initiative called the NSF Regional Innovation Engines, or NSF Engines (view website), program and funding opportunity. Jumpstart your region’s innovation ecosystem with up to $160M of NSF funding for up to 10+ years.
The NSF Engines program is seeking regional teams of industry, academia, government, nonprofits, civil society and communities of practice to catalyze and foster innovation ecosystems across the U.S. to:
- Advance critical technologies
- Address national and societal challenges
- Promote and stimulate economic growth and job creation
- Spur sustainable, regional innovation and nurture diverse talent
The NSF Engines funding opportunity is a unique opportunity to drive economic growth in regions that have not fully participated in the technology boom of the past few decades. Engines will embed a culture of innovation, form coalitions comprising a diverse set of sectors and organizational types—such as small businesses, two-year colleges, and minority-serving institutions—as well as demonstrate a strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.
Webinar:
Join us on May 17 from 1-3 p.m. EDT to hear about the NSF Engines program and BAA funding opportunity. Visit the NSF Regional Innovation Engines Program’s Eventbrite page to learn more and register.