Planning Grant Workshop

Information and Knowledge for Decision-Making

An NSF I/UCRC Workshop for Research Site Expansion for the
Center for Visual and Decision Informatics (CVDI)

December 2-3, 2015
RENCI & Sheraton Chapel Hill Hotel
Chapel Hill, NC

Hosted by
The Renaissance Computing Institute
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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The Renaissance Computing Institute is pleased to host a Planning Grant Workshop for UNC-Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) to join the Center for Visual and Decision Informatics (CVDI). CVDI is a National Science Foundation (NSF) Industry/University Cooperative Research Center driving continuous innovation through knowledge share among partners, leading to invention and commercialization of decision support technologies. UNC-CH has proposed to NSF to join CVDI as a new research site that will incorporate and augment UNC-CH faculty research expertise in data sciences, “big data,” and visual analytics for decision making.

The workshop goals are to:
1) provide potential industry members with a research vision of the center and the new research site (UNC-CH) in particular
2) to describe the benefits and opportunities for cooperative research
3) to present specific research proposals of interest to industry
4) to gain insight from NSF on the research scope, proposed projects, and interest level of industry.

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Short presentations will cover I/UCRC mechanics and benefits to industry, with research proposals focused on UNC-CH faculty’s latest research into data and visual informatics for decision making. Breakout sessions will target industry benefits and research relevance, quality, scientific merit and innovation of research, and modification of proposed research to better meet industry research needs. The workshop will provide many opportunities for informal interactions between industry and UNC-CH faculty and students, including a research poster session.

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Research Topics Include:
Analytics for Business Operations
Fraud Detection in Big Data
Healthcare Data Analytics
Dynamics of Crowds
Geospatial Data and Technologies
Mining Big Data in the Urban Context

For questions, please contact:

Shannon McKeen: shannon_mckeen@kenan-flagler.unc.edu
Brian Blanton: bblanton@renci.org

NSF I/UCRC Workshop
Creating a New Research Site of the I/UCRC
Center for Visual & Decision Informatics
Chapel Hill, NC | December 1-3, 2015

Tuesday, December 1
6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Sheraton Chapel Hill Hotel | Terrace & Bar
Local participants or those flying in early are invited to a cocktail reception.

Wednesday, December 2

RENCI | Biltmore Conference Room

8:00 – 8:30 a.m.
Registration/Networking/Breakfast

8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
Welcome:
Dr. Barbara Entwisle, Vice-Chancellor for Research, UNC Chapel Hill
Introductions:
Ashok Krishnamurthy, Deputy Director, RENCI, UNC Chapel Hill

8:45 a.m.- 9:15 a.m.
Vision, Capabilities, and Value Proposition of the Center
Dr. Noel Greis, Kenan Flagler Business School, Director, Center for Logistics and Digital Strategy,
Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise
Dr. Larry Alexander, Drexel University, College of Computing and Informatics, Drexel University Site Director for CVDI

9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
NSF I/UCRC Presentation

10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
I/UCRC Project Proposal Evaluation Mechanism
Dr. Don Price, University of Florida, NSF Evaluator for CVDI

10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Break

10:45 a.m. – 11:15 p.m.
Overview of UNC Research Focus and Connections to CVDI
Dr. Noel Greis, Kenan Flagler Business School, Director, Center for Logistics and Digital Strategy,
Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise
Dr. Vijay Raghavan, Center Director, University of Louisiana at Lafayette

11:15 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Project proposal presentations, section 1

12:45 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Lunch

1:45 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Project proposal presentations, section 2

3:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Break

3:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
Industry Breakout

4:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Review of evening and Day 2 activities

6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Reception, dinner, and poster session at the Sheraton Hotel Venetian Room

Thursday, December 3

RENCI | Biltmore Conference Room

8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Breakfast and Networking

8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Discussion of project feedback

10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Break

10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
NSF closed session with industry participants

11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Closing remarks and action items
Dr. Noel Greis, Kenan Flagler Business School, Director, Center for Logistics and Digital Strategy,
Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise

12:00 p.m.
Boxed lunches will be served

Workshop Location Overview

The workshop will take place at the Renaissance Computing Institute, located on the fifth floor of the Europa Center, in the Biltmore conference room and atrium, Suite 590.
Directions to RENCI

The Sheraton is within easy walking distance of RENCI and only a 10-12 minute drive from RDU airport. Tuesday and Wednesday evening receptions will be held here.
Directions to the Sheraton
Reserve a room online or call 1-800-325-3535 (mention “I/UCRC workshop”)
There is a group rate of $119 per night. Reserve before November 9, 2015 to lock in this rate.