Convergence Accelerator

Convergence Accelerator is sponsored by NSF. Funds transdisciplinary teams to co-design and co-create technology advances that solve societal and economic challenges.

NSF 23-590: NSF Convergence Accelerator Phases 1 and 2 for the 2025 Cohort | NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation Archived funding opportunity This solicitation is archived. Important information for proposers and award recipients All proposals must be submitted in accordance with the requirements specified in the funding opportunity and in the Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) and its supplements .

All NSF grants and cooperative agreements are subject to the applicable set of NSF award terms and conditions . NSF has updated its research security policies for NSF funded projects. NSF 23-590: NSF Convergence Accelerator Phases 1 and 2 for the 2023 Cohort - Tracks K, L, M To save a PDF of this solicitation, select Print to PDF in your browser's print options.

National Science Foundation Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships Letter of Intent Due Date(s) (required) (due by 5 p. m. submitting organization’s local time): Letter of Intent (required for Phase 1 Full Proposals only) Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.

m. submitting organization’s local time): Phase 2 Full Proposals, only Phase 1 awardees are eligible to submit Important Information And Revision Notes A key aspect of Convergence Accelerator projects is the innovation curriculum that requires a significant time investment and frequent participation of all partners such as academia, industry, non-profit, government, and other sectors under the guidance of coaches (see section V).

The curriculum includes a team science and human-centered design approach that rapidly moves projects towards deliverables in both Phase 1 and Phase 2 that will have broad scale national impact. This solicitation and the corresponding BAA support both US-only proposals and proposals with international partnerships.

For Track L only, this solicitation includes a collaboration with the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet) and Vinnova, Sweden's Innovation Agency.

Participants who would like to qualify for Vetenskapsrådet/Vinnova funding will submit their proposals as a single proposal, with the US Lead PIs submitting to NSF and the Swedish Participants sharing information with Vetenskapsrådet/Vinnova as described in the solicitation and the corresponding BAA.

Any proposal submitted in response to this solicitation should be submitted in accordance with the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) that is in effect for the relevant due date to which the proposal is being submitted.

The NSF PAPPG is regularly revised and it is the responsibility of the proposer to ensure that the proposal meets the requirements specified in this solicitation and the applicable version of the PAPPG. Submitting a proposal prior to a specified deadline does not negate this requirement.

Summary Of Program Requirements NSF Convergence Accelerator Phases 1 and 2 for the 2023 Cohort - Tracks K, L, M The National Science Foundation (NSF) Convergence Accelerator program addresses national-scale societal challenges through use-inspired convergence research .

Using a convergence approach and innovation processes like human-centered design, user discovery, and team science and integration of multidisciplinary research, the Convergence Accelerator program seeks to transition basic research and discovery into practice — to solve high-impact societal challenges aligned with specific research themes (tracks).

NSF Convergence Accelerator tracks are chosen in concordance with the themes identified during the program's ideation process that have the potential for significant national impact. The NSF Convergence Accelerator implements a two-phase program. Both phases are described in this solicitation and are covered by this single solicitation and corresponding Broad Agency Announcement.

The link to the corresponding Broad Agency Announcement can be found at https://sam. gov/opp/0c859c722d1148a983447287ccd81c61/view . The purpose of this parallel funding opportunity is to provide increased opportunities for proposals that are led by non-academic entities.

Proposals that are led by Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs), non-profits, independent museums, observatories, research labs, professional societies and similar organizations should respond to this solicitation. Proposals led by for-profit or similar organizations should respond to the BAA.

Phase 1 awardees receive resources to further develop their convergence research ideas and to identify important partnerships and resources to accelerate their projects. Phase 2 awardees receive significant resources leading to deliverable research prototypes and sustainability plans.

This solicitation for FY 2023 invites proposals for the following Track Topics: Track K: Equitable Water Solutions The objective of the NSF's Convergence Accelerator Track K: Equitable Water Solutions is to build upon foundational knowledge and advancements in environmental sciences, geosciences, engineering, computing, social and behavioral sciences, as well as other areas to develop viable solutions for water quality, quantity, and equity issues.

Track L: Real-World Chemical Sensing Applications The overarching goal of NSF's Convergence Accelerator Track L: Real-World Chemical Sensing Applications is to develop novel energy-efficient and miniaturized or portable biological and chemical sensors for tangible applications. It must be evident how the proposed work will be integrated to achieve success of the entire track.

Each proposal should include a description of how the proposed project will contribute to an integrated environment that will deliver beneficial outputs for the track. It should also be clear how the projects will convergently align with the overarching goal of each track rather than as independent projects. Proposers are required to submit a Letter of Intent in order to submit a Phase 1 Full Proposal.

The information required in the Letter of Intent is described in Section V. Letters of Intent should identify a team with the appropriate mix of disciplinary and cross-sector expertise required to build a convergence research effort. Letters of Intent must identify one or more deliverables, how those research outputs could impact society at scale, and the team that will be formed to carry this out.

Phase 1 proposals must describe the deliverables, a research plan, and the process of team formation that will help lead to a proof-of-concept during Phase 1.

If selected, Phase 1 awards may receive funding up to $750,000 for 12 months duration, of which nine months includes intense hands-on activities, centering around the Program's innovation curriculum, and three months of other activities, such as participation in the NSF Convergence Accelerator Pitch Presentations.

During the nine-month intensive planning phase, teams will participate in a curriculum that will assist them in strengthening team convergence and accelerating the identified idea toward Phase 2. The curriculum provides modules on innovation processes, including human-centered design, user discovery, team science, and integration of multidisciplinary partnerships.

Teams will also be provided with coaches who will support them in Phase 1 and who may continue with them into Phase 2 if the teams choose to continue with the same coach. Alternatively, the teams can request to work with a different coach. Only awardees of Phase 1 awards under this solicitation may submit a Phase 2 proposal.

Phase 2 proposals must outline a 36-month research and development plan that transitions research into practice through convergence activities, multi-sector partnerships, and collaboration with other partners and end-users.

If selected for Phase 2, teams will be expected to apply program fundamentals and innovation processes gained in Phase 1 to enhance partnerships, develop a solution prototype, and build a sustainability model to continue societal impact beyond NSF support. Phase 2 awards may be up to $5 million for 36 months. Phase 2 proposals must clearly describe deliverables that will be produced within 36 months.

The Phase 2 teams must include partnerships critical for success and end-users (e.g., industry, Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs), non-profits, government, and others), each with a specific role(s) in deliverable development and facilitating the transition of research outputs into practical uses.

Successful Phase 2 proposals will be funded initially for 12 months, with subsequent years being provided on the basis of an assessment of performance (see below). Each Phase 2 team's progress will be assessed during the year through approximately four virtual and/or in-person meetings with NSF program staff.

At the end of 12 months, overall progress will be evaluated based on a report and presentation that the team presents to a panel of internal and/or external reviewers. The review panel will include NSF reviewers and staff, and competing teams only. Phase 2 teams that show significant progress during the first year in accordance with the agreed timetable of milestones and deliverables will receive funding for subsequent years.

Phase 2 teams must plan on completing the effort within 36 months. No-cost extensions are not permitted except under clearly documented exceptional circumstances. Grantees must first contact the cognizant Program Officer prior to submitting a request.

The NSF Convergence Accelerator program is committed to research that derives expertise from and provides broad benefits to everyone. The program places a very strong emphasis on broadening participation by encouraging proposals from, and partnerships with, minority-serving institutions (see U.S. Department of Education ). Cognizant Program Officer(s): Please note that the following information is current at the time of publishing.

See program website for any updates to the points of contact. Douglas Maughan, telephone: (703) 292-2497, email: dmaughan@nsf. gov Aurali E.

Dade, telephone: (703) 292-7049, email: adade@nsf. gov Pradeep P. Fulay, telephone: (703) 292-2445, email: pfulay@nsf.

gov Jemin George, telephone: (703) 292-2251, email: jgeorge@nsf. gov Linda Molnar, telephone: (703) 292-8316, email: lmolnar@nsf. gov Michael Pozmantier, telephone: (703) 292-4475, email: mpozmant@nsf.

gov Michael Reksulak, telephone: (703) 292-8326, email: mreksula@nsf. gov Catherine O'Reilly, telephone: (703) 292-7934, email: coreilly@nsf. gov Christopher Sanford, telephone: (703) 292-8132, email: csanford@nsf.

gov Edda Thiels, telephone: (703) 292-8421, email: ethiels@nsf. gov Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s): 47. 084 --- NSF Technology, Innovation and Partnerships Anticipated Type of Award: Standard Grant or Cooperative Agreement Estimated Number of Awards: 36 to 48 NSF expects to make up to 48 Phase 1 awards across all topics as a result of this solicitation and the corresponding BAA.

NSF expects to make up to 6 Phase 2 awards for each topic as a result of this solicitation and the corresponding BAA. Anticipated Funding Amount: $36,000,000 Anticipated funding for $36,000,000, pending availability of funds, to support Phase 1 awards. Proposers may request up to $750,000 for Phase 1.

The estimated funding level for Phase 2 awards depends on the availability of funds and the number of Phase 1 awards. Phase 2 proposals may request up to $2,000,000 for year 1, up to $2,000,000 for year 2, and up to $1,000,000 for year 3, for up to $5,000,000 in total for the 36-month Phase 2 project.

Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) - Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members.

Special Instructions for International Branch Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal includes funding to be provided to an international branch campus of a US institution of higher education (including through use of subawards and consultant arrangements), the proposer must explain the benefit(s) to the project of performance at the international branch campus, and justify why the project activities cannot be performed at the US campus.

Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies and similar organizations located in the U.S. that are directly associated with educational or research activities. For-profit organizations: U.S.-based commercial organizations, including small businesses, with strong capabilities in scientific or engineering research or education and a passion for innovation.

The PI and any co-PIs must hold an appointment at an organization that is eligible to submit as described under "Who May Submit Proposals." At least one PI or co-PI from a Phase 1 award must be included as a PI or co-PI on a Phase 2 proposal based on that Phase 1 award. The same individual who served as PI for the Phase 1 award does not have to be PI for the Phase 2 proposal.

Any change of PI and co-PI should be fully explained in the proposal. Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization: There are no restrictions or limits. Limit on Number of Proposals per PI or co-PI: An individual may serve as PI or co-PI on no more than two Phase 1 proposals.

Submissions to the BAA are included in this number. However, it is unlikely that multiple Phase 1 awards would be made to organizations that include the same PI or co-PI on separate proposals. Anyone may serve as a PI or co-PI on only one Phase 2 proposal.

This limitation includes PIs and co-PIs listed for the proposing organization or any subaward submitted as part of the proposal. There are no restrictions or limits on serving as other Senior Personnel. See section IV.

below for additional eligibility information. Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions A. Proposal Preparation Instructions Letters of Intent: Submission of Letters of Intent is required.

Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information. Preliminary Proposal Submission: Not required Full Proposals submitted via Research. gov: NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) guidelines apply.

The complete text of the PAPPG is available electronically on the NSF website at: https://www. nsf. gov/publications/pub_summ.

jsp? ods_key=pappg . Full Proposals submitted via Grants.

gov: NSF Grants. gov Application Guide: A Guide for the Preparation and Submission of NSF Applications via Grants. gov guidelines apply (Note: The NSF Grants.

gov Application Guide is available on the Grants. gov website and on the NSF website at: https://www. nsf.

gov/publications/pub_summ. jsp? ods_key=grantsgovguide ).

Cost Sharing Requirements: Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited. Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations: Other Budgetary Limitations: Other budgetary limitations apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.

Letter of Intent Due Date(s) (required) (due by 5 p. m. submitting organization’s local time): Letter of Intent (required for Phase 1 Full Proposals only) Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.

m. submitting organization’s local time): Phase 2 Full Proposals, only Phase 1 awardees are eligible to submit Proposal Review Information Criteria National Science Board approved criteria. Additional merit review criteria apply.

Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information. Award Administration Information Additional award conditions apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.

Standard NSF reporting requirements apply. Research is often driven by a compelling societal or scientific challenge; however, it may take the researcher community years to develop a solution.

To deliver tangible solutions that have a societal impact and at a faster pace, the NSF Convergence Accelerator brings together multiple disciplines, expertise, and partnerships from academia, industry, non-profit, government, and other sectors together to develop solutions to solve national grand challenges through convergence research.

Convergence Research is a critical mechanism for solving many vexing research problems, especially those stemming from complex societal and/or scientific challenges. In this NSF Convergence Accelerator Phase 1 and Phase 2 solicitation for the 2023 cohort, NSF seeks to support and facilitate research that advances ideas from concept to deliverables within each of the convergence research topics (tracks).

The NSF Convergence Accelerator Phases 1 and 2 for the 2023 Cohort - Tracks K, L, M solicitation consists of three tracks as follows: Track K: Equitable Water Solutions Track L: Real-World Chemical Sensing Applications The NSF Convergence Accelerator seeks to support use-inspired research and enable the accelerated transition of that research into benefits for society through a two-phase process.

Phase 1: Learning Applying the Convergence Accelerator Fundamentals, Convergence Research Planning Phase 1 funding is up to $750,000 for 12 months duration. It supports nine months of planning effort to further develop the initial concept, identify new team members and partners, participate in the program's innovation curriculum, and refine an initial prototype.

The innovation curriculum consists of training with professional experts and coaches in human-centered design, team science, inter-team communications, storytelling, and pitch preparation – all of which are essential components of the Convergence Accelerator's model.

Phase 1 efforts will focus on research plan development as well as team formation leading to a proof-of-concept and will include NSF-organized convenings for training and cross-cohort collaboration. The Phase 1 innovation curriculum is a significant time investment with weekly participation of all partners. A sample of the program's Innovation Curriculum schedule can be found here .

In addition to weekly engagement, over the course of seven months of the curriculum, teams will also be expected to complete milestone assignments and deliverables, which include conducting and synthesizing user interviews, creating low-fidelity prototypes and obtaining feedback from stakeholders, developing a Collaboration Agreement amongst all partners, and designing marketing and communication materials including presentations, logos, informational videos, and pitch presentations.

A sample of the program's Innovation Curriculum deliverables schedule can be found here . After nine months of effort, Phase 1 teams participate in a proposal and pitch presentation process, which is used in selecting teams for Phase 2.

Phase 2: Continued Application of the Convergence Accelerator Fundamentals, Prototyping and Sustainability Planning Selected teams from Phase 1 will proceed to Phase 2, with potential funding of up to $5 Million as a cooperative agreement for 36 months.

Phase 2 teams will continue to apply Convergence Accelerator fundamentals, including identifying new team members and end-user partnerships to further develop solution prototypes and to build a sustainability model to continue impact beyond NSF support.

Teams will also participate in an execution and sustainment curriculum that includes product development, intellectual property, financial resources, sustainability planning, and communications and outreach. At the 12-month mark of Phase 2, the Convergence Accelerator will review the team projects to assess whether each team is working towards the expected deliverables.

Assessments from the reviewers will be shared with the team along with the guidance/decision for the next steps. At the end of Phase 2, teams are expected to provide/demonstrate outcomes/solutions that were part of the proposal and which impact societal and economic needs and challenges at scale and are sustainable beyond NSF support.

This NSF Convergence Accelerator Phase 1 and Phase 2 for the 2023 Cohort - Tracks K, L, M solicitation seeks to address the topics described in the convergence tracks identified above and detailed below. Phase 1 awards are grants for planning and preliminary prototyping of projects that leverage basic research investments.

Phase 2 awards are cooperative agreements for projects that build upon the Phase 1 efforts, leading to rapid research advances to deliver useful results and impactful solutions to society.

The guiding rationale of the NSF Convergence Accelerator is that a high level of interdisciplinarity and engagement with multiple diverse stakeholders, including researchers and the ultimate users of research products, is essential to deliver progress on scientific challenges of societal relevance — such as those embodied by the three tracks in this solicitation.

Successful NSF Convergence Accelerator proposals are expected to have four important characteristics: 1) convergence research approach; 2) strong, multi-organization partnerships involving researchers, users, and other stakeholders; 3) high probability of successful deliverables within a 36 month period that will ultimately benefit society (such as those discussed under the Tracks in Section II, Program Description), and 4) strong alignment with the track goals as described in this solicitation.

Track K: Equitable Water Solutions The objective of NSF's Convergence Accelerator Track K: Equitable Water Solutions is to catalyze convergent partnerships in pursuit of engaged and sustainable solutions that address water quality, quantity, equity and policy.

This track was selected based on an urgent need to develop solutions to the significant challenges facing freshwater systems in the United States, and the world, and draws upon the results of two NSF-funded workshops: Managing Water for a Changing Planet and Climate Resilience and Water Resources .

Proposals in this track should build upon foundational knowledge and advancements in environmental sciences, geosciences, engineering, computing, social and behavioral sciences, as well as other areas to develop viable solutions for water quality, quantity, and equity issues.

Access to fit-for-purpose freshwater is one of the major challenges facing growing populations as climate change continues to drive changes in regional precipitation patterns, according to the United Nations' article Water – at the center of the climate crisis . In some cases, this means reduced availability and access to drinking water.

In other cases, water is overabundant, causing deleterious impacts on human populations, agricultural activities, ecosystems, and infrastructure.

Additionally, even where water is accessible, there are major ongoing concerns about water quality, especially in areas with historic and ongoing water contamination and saltwater intrusion due to rising sea levels, as noted in a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report on the Flint water crisis . These changes and challenges to water systems have been thoroughly described by international and US experts.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6: Ensuring Access to Water and Sanitation has been a critical topic. The report from a working group of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report (2022) further highlights the key impacts that climate change is having on freshwater systems.

There is evidence that temperatures are rising in lakes and streams, surface ice is less prevalent, and melting is occurring earlier in the spring season leading to ongoing concerns about water quality, quantity, and equity. There are often related challenges of infrastructure upgrades to public services, including drinking water and waste water.

The lack of access to clean, safe water has the potential to impact many elements of thriving communities. As access to these resources is reduced, populations must be able to adapt and respond to this reduced access. Populations that are under-resourced have the least capacity to respond to these challenges and therefore are a special focus of this track.

The US has launched a National Nature Assessment which recognizes the significant and interconnected role of nature in climate change and the need to value nature to engage and also utilize the outputs of this work. While this is a recent effort, it may be an opportunity for researchers to engage.

There are also organizations, such as the US Water Alliance, that are developing resources that provide examples of the type of multi-sector partnerships that the NSF Convergence Accelerator is championing. Environmental changes have a significant impact on human health and wellbeing, especially for vulnerable and exposed populations that rely upon diminishing drinking water resources.

Water security is a key factor in resilience planning for most US population centers, especially in the western half of the country, which is highlighted as a critical geographical area of concern internationally ( US Department of the Interior Report ).

The quality of drinking water is impacted by scarcity due to warmer and dryer weather patterns, but also negatively impacted by extreme storm events where contaminants are washed into community water systems and infrastructure.

Additionally, agriculture, which is estimated to use 42-64% of freshwater resources in the US ( USGS Estimated Use of Water in the United States ), is significantly impacted by the changing climate with many regions experiencing dryer and hotter seasons, leading to additional use of already stretched water resources.

Producers are utilizing adaptive strategies, such as planting drought and heat tolerant species that require less water, but even with these strategies, agriculture continues to be the major use of freshwater resources. Other industries that rely on freshwater resources include the energy sector, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, but there are many others. Track K was developed with these factors and complexities in mind.

Successful proposals will acknowledge the complex, challenging systems that are driving lack of access to water as well as the complex systems that must work together for effective solutions beneficial to society-at-scale.

While it is not a requirement for a successful proposal, innovations from many NSF programs may be leveraged in pursuit of these goals including programs from various directorates and cross-cutting programs such as the Hydrologic Sciences Program (HS), Biodiversity on a Changing Planet (BoCP), Critical Aspects of Sustainability (CAS), Long Term Ecological Research (LTER), National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON), Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), Environmental Engineering and others.

Partnerships and Engagements Proposals submitted to this track should leverage not only national and international expertise, but also engage local communities to understand and address the most pressing challenges related to water access, equity, and security. Projects that partner with and enhance water access for under-resourced communities are encouraged.

Partnerships engaging key stakeholders within federal, regional, state, local, and tribal agencies outside of NSF that focus on water resources should be considered.

This could include investigator-initiated partnerships with a wide range of federal agencies such as, for instance, the US Geological Survey (USGS), the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the United States Bureau of Reclamation, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the Department of Energy (DOE) among other federal agencies, as well as regional, state, local, and tribal entities with responsibility for managing water resources.

Investigators are encouraged to connect with resources being developed through these more operational investments. Private for-profit and nonprofit partners are encouraged to participate in this track. Not only are many elements of water resources managed by private entities and individuals, but the private sector also has significant expertise in the development of tools and technologies to address water issues.

This track serves as a platform for multidisciplinary teams to develop real-world solutions that address environmental justice challenges with water distribution, the safety of the water supply, and inequalities in the allocation of water resources.

NSF is interested in solutions that leverage existing knowledge and infrastructure (physical and social) to address pressing water-related societal and economic challenges by developing novel solutions. Teams selected for this track will be expected to engage deeply with communities and decision makers in co-designing solutions.

Through the Convergence Accelerator Phase 1 innovation curriculum, teams will develop cohesive end-user driven solutions that leverage expertise while integrating feedback from various sources including end-users, experts, policy makers, and others. Solutions must be socially, economically and culturally appropriate in order to realize the goal of wide-spread adoption.

Because watersheds cross governance boundaries, successful solutions must have approaches to address disparate laws, policies, regulations, and infrastructure of various localities. Teams are encouraged to be transformative in their goals and include water literacy, education and workforce development efforts that lead to new and innovative solutions to the water crisis that are accessible to all.

The outcomes from this effort are expected to support sustainable, resilient water systems into the future. Ultimately, successful solutions will be able to be fully integrated into existing structures while addressing one or more challenges facing the future of water resource management, quality, supply, and equity. Broad topics within this track may include – but are not limited to – solutions that support.

Design of sustainable water supply systems by delivering novel, effective, unbiased data-driven decision support tools – leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning – and other novel technical solutions, e.g., filtration devices, and new materials for transportation and storage among others. Development of tools, technologies, and approaches to address watersheds as a whole.

Specifically in relation to water distribution, the safety of the water supply, and inequalities in the allocation of water resources are of interest, including new computational and technical as well as social and behavioral solutions to water sharing, such as quality and quantity projections and economic models.

Creation of equitable access and engagement with freshwater resources, including engagement through training and workforce development, new models, and new technical solutions. Creation of solutions to respond to disturbances and disasters involving freshwater supplies including solutions that enable access to drinking water and remediation solutions.

Track L: Real-World Chemical Sensing Applications This track focuses on development of use-inspired, innovative, robust, energy-efficient, miniaturized/portable biological and chemical sensors that demonstrate a clear potential for deployment in real-world applications.

The track builds on the wealth of foundational knowledge and recent advances in olfaction and chemical sensing, sensor technologies, digital olfaction, AI, neuromorphic systems, computational modeling, biomanufacturing, and robotics. The overarching track goal is to transform these scientific discoveries and technological innovations into practice with societal and/or economic benefits.

This includes accelerating the development of biological and chemical sensor systems for deployment in areas of environmental sensing, agriculture and food production, homeland security, and human health and wellness.

This topic was chosen based, in part, on two NSF-funded conferences: Frontiers in Chemical Sensing: Synthetic, Neuromorphic and Cyborg Systems , and Chemical Sensing with an Olfaction Analogue: High-dimensional, Bio-inspired Sensing and Computation .

Challenges related to environmental quality, natural resources, industrial agriculture, food safety and quality, disease and medicine, personal care and safety, and biological, chemical, and nuclear terrorism and other adversarial threats pose a burden for many sectors of the U.S. economy and society.

For instance, poor air quality is estimated to result in 100,000 premature deaths annually and costs the nation approximately $150 billion per year ( National Weather Service ). Thousands of chemical, gas, and oil spills occur on U.S. land and in its waters each year, and endanger human, animal, and plant health and the environment ( U.S. Environmental Protection Agency , National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency ).

Food spoilage is a principal driver of food loss and cost the nation about $162 billion in 2010 ( U.S. Department of Agriculture ; NASEM Report on National Strategy to Reduce Food Waste ), and each year, 48 million people get sick from food-borne illnesses, typically attributable to contamination by bacteria, fungi, or viruses ( Center for Disease Control and Prevention ).

Each of these challenges is associated with chemical signatures, but these signatures often are difficult to detect because they are dynamic and complex, present at very low concentrations, and embedded in complex chemical backgrounds. Solutions to the problem of robust, reliable, and efficient chemical detection and identification can be found in biological systems.

Many animals have evolved exquisite sensors, sensory representations, algorithms, and architectures to efficiently and reliably detect, decode, and make use of chemical signals across a wide concertation range in diverse, complex environments. The outstanding chemical sensing capabilities of animals are deployed regularly to address societal challenges.

For instance, dogs are used routinely at airports to screen for illicit drugs and explosives ( U.S. Transportation Security Administration ), and their capabilities to differentiate between chemical signatures emitted by patients with various types of cancer or communicable diseases, such as COVID-19, and healthy controls have been used in medical disease diagnostics.

However, the use of animals to accomplish the chemical detection, localization, and monitoring tasks faced by our nation is not cost-effective, cannot be applied to all situations, and does not lend itself to