FQXi - Foundational Questions Institute

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TIME AND FOUNDATIONS:
2010 Request For Proposals

Download the official RFP document here.

The initial application process is now closed.

The Foundational Questions Institute (FQXi) is an independent, philanthropically funded non-profit organization.

Our mission is to catalyze, support, and disseminate research on questions at the foundations of physics and cosmology, particularly new frontiers and innovative ideas integral to a deep understanding of reality, but unlikely to be supported by conventional funding sources.

In the centuries since Galileo revolutionized human thought by insisting that physical phenomena be observed systematically and described mathematically, physics and cosmology have formed the bedrock of our understanding of the physical world, as well as the pre-eminent source of new insight into our deepest questions of reality. A few examples, now familiar but profoundly radical in their time, will suffice:

Newton showed that most motions of earthly and nearby heavenly objects were well described by simple equations and a clockwork conception of space and time.
Einstein realized that our conceptions of space and time must be fundamentally reworked, and that by doing so we may describe the structure of the entire observable universe within physical theory.
The creators of quantum mechanics produced equations explicating reality on the smallest scales, but were forced to dispense with or generalize prior notions of causality, repeatability, and objectivity, in ways we still may not fully appreciate.

At FQXi, we believe that similar paradigm-shifting discoveries may now be occurring in physics and cosmology. Our mission is to support the researchers and outreach specialists who are developing and interpreting these coming revolutions.

Indeed, many giants of modern science—and their colleagues—were passionately concerned with and inspired by the deep philosophical implications of the novel notions of reality they were engaging. Moreover, their bold discoveries expanded rigorous science to encompass many previously 'speculative' or 'philosophical' matters.

Nonetheless, some—now as then—dismiss such matters as meaningless philosophy or empty metaphysics, encouraging colleagues to eschew such thinking and focus on concrete calculations. Most grant-awarding and research organizations institutionalize this pragmatic approach, primarily funding incremental investigations using known methods and familiar conceptual frameworks, rather than the uncertain and often interdisciplinary methods required to develop and comprehend prospective revolutions in physics and cosmology.

In addition to curtailing the potential for discovery, this mode of thinking greatly diminishes the excitement and meaning of modern science in the public consciousness; partly as a result of this, many otherwise well-educated people maintain either a pre-scientific worldview, or one informed by outdated concepts.

Given this context, FQXi offers grants programs that serve a three-fold purpose:

To encourage and support rigorous, innovative, and influential scientific research and collaborations on foundational questions in physics and cosmology, which may have significant and broad implications for a deep understanding of reality
To redress incrementalism in research programming by establishing or expanding new 'islands' of understanding via flexible funding of high-risk, high-reward research in these areas
To provide the public with a deeper understanding of known and future discoveries in these areas and their potential implications for our worldview

In support of these goals, FQXi will offer grants of varying value to exceptional and rigorous scientific research proposals that meet the criteria described below.

FQXi will direct these grants through a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) at the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. FQXi will solicit and review grant applications, and on the basis of these reviews, FQXi will advise the DAF on what grants to make. After grants have been made by the DAF, FQXi will work with the DAF to monitor the grantee’s performance via grant reports. In this way, researchers will continue to interact with FQXi, while the DAF interacts mostly with the researchers’ institutes’ administrative or grants management offices.

FQXi’s programming encompasses both ‘open’ requests for proposals and more targeted programs in particular areas of thought. The current request for proposals targets research regarding “The Nature of Time”. Some funds will also be made available for more general proposals of exceptional quality, as described below.

The topic of Time is of both deep and broad interest for research in foundational questions in physics and cosmology. Science, and particularly physics, has produced dramatic insights into the nature of time. The theory of relativity is a striking example: engendered by thoughts of how to best synchronize moving clocks, it reveals that there is no unique notion of “now”. Careful consideration of time has likewise caused revolutions in physics, and may again do so. Indeed, the dramatically different treatments of time in quantum mechanics and in general relativity suggest to many researchers that a breakthrough in quantum gravity may require a new and deeper notion of time.

The concept of time is a crossroads at which thinkers of many backgrounds and disciplines meet, making it a topic that demands collaboration amongst researchers working in many different fields. FQXi can foster this collaboration using a concerted topical push into the subject area. Furthermore, a deep study and understanding of time’s nature is of widespread interest to the general public as well as the intellectual community. Deep or interesting research results could have significant impact on public thought, and will certainly provide a compelling lens through which to bring an understanding of foundational research to a wide audience. These points make clear that the nature of time is a perfect subject for FQXi support.

In our 2010 competition, grants totaling about $2.0M will be available to researchers in academic and other non-profit institutions for projects up to two years in duration, beginning January, 2011. Grant applications will be subject to a competitive process of external and confidential expert peer review similar to that employed by all major U.S. scientific funding agencies.

Proposals will be evaluated according to their relevance and impact.

Relevance: Proposals should be topical, foundational, and unconventional.
- Topical: This RFP is limited to research in physics (mainly quantum physics, high energy ‘fundamental’ physics, and gravity), cosmology (mainly of the early universe) and closely related fields (such as astrophysics, astrobiology, biophysics, mathematics, complexity and emergence, and philosophy of physics). Proposals will be accepted in one of two categories:
  1. Proposals of exceptional merit on all topics within the general FQXi purview, or
  2. Research bearing directly on The Nature of Time. Appropriate research topics in this category will address questions such as (a longer list of questions is given in Appendix B):
    - Can physics establish or deny the flow of time? If the flow of time is an illusion, how do we explain this illusion?
    - Are the laws of physics time-symmetric or time-reversible? If not, how does one explain the time symmetry of some physical laws and the asymmetry of others? Does the big bang explain the entropic arrow of time?
    - What do the theories of quantum mechanics and general relativity tell us about the nature of time? How do we reconcile their seemingly inconsistent conceptions of time?
    - Is the nature of time intrinsically different from that of space?
    - Can physical time be infinite?
- Foundational: This RFP is limited to research with potentially significant and broad implications for our understanding of the deep or "ultimate" nature of reality.
- Unconventional: This RFP is intended to fill a gap, not a shortfall, in conventional funding. We wish to enable research that, because of its speculative, non-mainstream, or high-risk nature, would otherwise go unperformed due to lack of available monies. Thus, although there will be inevitable overlaps, an otherwise scientifically rigorous proposal that is a good candidate for an FQXi grant will generally not be a good candidate for funding by the NSF, DOE, etc.—and vice versa.
Impact: Proposals will be rated according to their expected scientific impact per dollar, taking all relevant factors into account, such as:
- Intrinsic intellectual merit, scientific rigor and originality
- Potential for significant contribution to basic science relevant to the topic and a high product of likelihood for success and importance if successful (i.e., high-risk research can be supported as long as the potential payoff is also very high)
- The likelihood of the research opening fruitful new lines of scientific inquiry
- The feasibility of the research in the given time frame
- The qualifications of the Principal Investigator and team with respect to the proposed topic
- The part a grant may play in career development
- Cost effectiveness: Tight budgeting is encouraged in order to maximize the research impact of the project as a whole, with emphasis on scientific return per dollar rather than per proposal

Because of the unconventional nature of the FQXi mission, we encourage part-time work (15% to 40%), in parallel with the scientist's usual research, rather than full-time appointments or studentships. Acceptable use of grant funds include:

Student or postdoctoral salary and benefits for part of the academic year
Summer salary and teaching buyout for academics
Support for specific projects during sabbaticals
Assistance in writing or publishing books
Modest allowance for justifiable lab equipment, computers, publication charges, and other supplies
Modest travel allowance
Experimental equipment (keep in mind that while FQXi is very interested in experimental proposals, the total available funding means that funding for large equipment purchases will be unlikely.)
Development of large workshops, conferences, or lecture series for professionals (Note that small programs of this type, and others costing less than US $15K, are best supported by an FQXi Mini-Grant. Mini-Grant applications, however, are restricted to FQXi Members.)
Development of outreach or educational programs for laypeople that disseminate knowledge regarding foundational questions in physics and cosmology (The impact criterion, in this case, will be judged on the proposal's ability to disseminate knowledge rather than develop it. Note that small programs of this type are best supported by an FQXi Mini-Grant. Mini-Grant applications, however, are restricted to FQXi Members.)
Overhead of at most 15%

To aid prospective applicants in determining whether their project is appropriate for FQXi, the examples page lists sample projects that are possibly, and unlikely to receive funding according to the above criteria, as well as actual funded proposals from our earlier rounds.

Applications will be accepted electronically through a standard form on our website, fqxi.org, and evaluated in a two-part process, as follows:

1. INITIAL PROPOSAL—DUE June 14, 2010—Must include:

Specification of whether your proposal addresses the Nature of Time focus area, or the general FQXi purview
A 300–500 word summary of the project, explicitly addressing why it is topical, foundational and unconventional
A draft budget description not exceeding 200 words, including an approximate total cost over the life of the award and explanation of how funds would be spent
A Curriculum Vitae for the Principal Investigator, which MUST be in PDF format, including:
- Education and employment history
- A list of references to five previous publications relevant to the proposed research and five additional representative publications
- Full publication list

A review panel assembled by FQXi will screen each Initial Proposal according to the criteria in Section V. Based on their assessment, the Principal Investigator (PI) may be invited to submit a Full Proposal, on or about July 30, 2010, perhaps with feedback from FQXi on improving the proposal. Please keep in mind that however positive FQXi may be about a proposal at any stage, it may still be turned down for funding after full peer review.

2. FULL PROPOSAL—DUE September 30, 2010—Must Include:

Cover sheet
A 200-word project abstract, suitable for publication in an academic journal
A project summary not exceeding 200 words, explaining the work and its significance to laypeople
A detailed description of the proposed research, not to exceed 15 single-spaced 11-point pages, including a short statement of how the application fits into the applicant's present research program
A detailed budget over the life of the award, with justification and utilization distribution (preferably drafted by your institution's grant officer or equivalent)
Evidence of tax-exempt status of grantee institution, if other than a US university
Names of 3 recommended referees
Curricula Vitae for all project senior personnel, including:
- Education and employment history
- A list of references to five previous publications relevant to the proposed research, and five additional representative publications
- Full publication list
A list, for all project senior personnel, of all present and pending financial support, including project name, funding source, dates, amount, and status (current or pending)
For past awardees only: A 250-word statement explaining what was done with previous funding and how that ties in to the current proposal

Completed Full Proposals will undergo a competitive process of external and confidential expert peer review, evaluated according to the criteria described in Section V. A review panel of scientists in the relevant fields will be convened to produce a final rank ordering of the proposals, which will determine the grant winners, and make budgetary adjustments if necessary. Public award announcements will be made in early December, 2010.