From his third-floor workplace at Arizona State University, floor-length home windows give Sethuraman Panchanathan a surprising panorama of the sprawling Tempe campus.
But the view just isn’t new to Panchanathan, Professor of Technology and Innovation and former director of the National Science Foundation.
Before changing into director of the National Science Foundation in 2020, he labored at ASU for 22 years, the place he created the Center for Cognitive Ubiquitous Computing, based the School of Computing and Informatics and the Department of Biomedical Informatics, and served as the chief vice chairman of ASU’s Knowledge Enterprise and the chief analysis and innovation officer.
But it’s not the previous that has introduced Panchanathan again. It’s the long run, and the trajectory that he and ASU share: absolutely the perception and unwavering certainty that analysis issues.
“I’m very passionate about that from a personal perspective, from my own research interests and the amazing opportunities that are in front of us to unleash innovation and talent for global good,” mentioned Panchanathan, who is also a prolific inventor with a number of patents and copyrights, and a author with almost 500 printed papers in journals and conferences.
As director of the NSF, Panchanathan says his major focus was “to ensure that innovation thrives everywhere across our country, thereby leading to opportunities for everyone.”
He envisioned and launched the brand new Technology, Innovation and Partnerships Directorate, the primary new directorate in 31 years at NSF, which leverages and energizes basic discoveries to supercharge in-place innovation all through the nation. He launched the GRANTED program, which ensures that every one establishments are able to translating their concepts into profitable funded initiatives, and launched a worldwide facilities program with a number of initiatives centered on addressing shared international challenges with like-minded worldwide companions.
Also throughout his tenure at NSF, rising applied sciences corresponding to synthetic intelligence, quantum biotechnology, superior manufacturing and next-gen wi-fi have been strengthened and accelerated. For instance, beneath his management, NSF launched 27 AI institutes that centered on agriculture, climate, studying, superior supplies and astronomical sciences. These institutes span the nation with NSF and partnership investments exceeding half a billion {dollars}.
He additionally oversaw the event of the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource Pilot, an entry level for researchers and educators to advance analysis concepts in AI and practice the following era of AI expertise.
“Typically, frontier infrastructure is only available in industry,” Panchanathan mentioned. “It’s pretty expensive, and in some cases it’s also complex in terms of converging all of that for research and development. We therefore wanted to democratize access by bringing in partners, co-investing and making that available for researchers and students in various universities and community colleges so they can advance their ideas in AI.”
Panchanathan mentioned that what he did nationally whereas at NSF mirrors what he did at ASU, regionally and domestically, with enterprises like SkySong and MacroTechnology Works, which function labs, fostering collaborations with trade companions and startups.
ASU President Michael Crow mentioned the college is worked up to welcome again Panchanathan as he blazes new trails in AI, quantum, semiconductors and well being care.
“Panch and I have worked together for more than two decades to make ASU a pioneer in use-inspired research and to prepare our nation’s future innovation leaders,” Crow mentioned. “Panch’s vision, energy and global engagements were integral to ASU becoming a force in science and technology.”
Panchanathan mentioned that in the following 5 years, ASU will be on the forefront of setting the groundwork for a mannequin AI college/studying enterprise.
“I don’t even want to use the word university because that gives a connotation that somehow it’s about four-year degree programs and master’s degrees and PhDs and so on,” he mentioned. “It’s about how an AI enterprise can be built that can completely transform how people learn, live and contribute. Such an enterprise should advance AI literacy, AI competency and AI expertise.”
Another of Panchanathan’s targets for the college is continuous to strengthen the tutorial partnerships between ASU and India. ASU is the highest college dwelling in the U.S. for college students from India, and its Indian alumni community exceeds 12,600 alumni.
“The oldest democracy and the largest democracy working together can pioneer new models of discovery and learning that ensure good quality of life and prosperity for all at speed and scale,” mentioned Panchanathan, who in May was awarded the Padma Shri, an emblem of nationwide gratitude in India that’s awarded for excellence in the fields of artwork, schooling, trade, science, medication, social service and public affairs.
“Our students here and our research partnerships with industry in both nations is something that can continue to enrich students and set the stage for the future.”
Panchanathan mentioned his quick mission is to proceed the work he did on the NSF in advocating for the significance of science and know-how to American competitiveness.
“I’m a huge fan of democratization of talent, and ideas all across the country being energized, inspired, motivated, nurtured and brought to life,” he mentioned. “This will guarantee that we, as a nation, can outcompete by out-innovating.”