Next Generation Social Science (NGS2) Proposers Day
 

Next Generation Social Science (NGS2) Program Objective and Description:

The NGS2 program seeks multidisciplinary teams to demonstrate tools and methods that enable new capabilities for rigorous, reproducible, experimental research at scales that are sufficient to test models and theories of emergent properties in social systems. To accomplish the goals of the NGS2 program, DARPA anticipates that performers will reflect a wide and diverse combination of disciplines and skill sets—to include social sciences but also physics, computer science, biology, game design, mathematics, and others. NGS2 performers will demonstrate their capabilities by seeking to determine fundamental measures and causal mechanisms that explain and predict the emergence of “collective identities” in their experiments. This effort to test different theories and models of “what matters most” for emergent social phenomena like collective identity presents an important and complex challenge through which to motivate and validate different NGS2 communities, tools and methods. Achieving these goals within the timeframe of the program may also require a fundamental reimagining of the social science research cycle. Note that while the NGS2 program will focus on collective identity formation as an exemplar research question, DARPA anticipates that successful NGS2 capabilities will have benefits for tackling other complex problems and topics, including (but not limited to): resilience in social networks and structures, changes in cultural norms or beliefs, emergence of cooperation/competitions, social influences on preferences and cognition, etc.

Registration Information

The NGS2 Proposers Day will be held on March 22, 2016 from approximately 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Westin Arlington Gateway (801 North Glebe Road, Arlington, VA). Agenda details can be found below. Note, all times listed in this announcement and on the registration website are Eastern Time. There is no registration fee for the Proposers Day or the webcast.

Registration opens: As of publication of this announcement.
Registration closes: March 18, 2016 at 12:00 PM or when capacity is reached, whichever comes first.

Advance registration is required for attending the Proposers Day via the physical meeting and for viewing the webcast. Advance registration is required in order to receive access to the webcast and is mandatory for every individual intending to view the webcast either alone or as part of a group. Interested parties must register through this website by clicking on the "New Registration" button.

Interested parties are encouraged to coordinate attendance internally within their organizations prior to registration. Physical attendance is limited to no more than two representatives per division/department, with a maximum of five attendees from any one organization.

  • Due to conference facility space limitations, physical attendance will be limited to the first 400 registrants.
  • Remote participation via webcast is limited to 500 participants.

Registrants in excess of the maximum capacity limitations (400 for physical attendance and 500 for the webcast) will be added to the waitlist. Individuals who are unable to register for in person attendance because the deadline has occurred or capacity has been reached will have the option of choosing to be added to the waitlist OR registering for attendance via webcast. If slots remain open after registration closes or become available due to cancellations, the slots will be filled on a first come, first served basis from the waitlist.


Eligibility

Attendance via the webcast or the physical meeting is open to individuals who are U.S. Citizens, U.S. Permanent Residents, and Foreign Nationals. Upon entry to the physical meeting, all attendees will be required to present valid, Government-issued photo identification.

All registrants who are not U.S. Citizens must complete and submit a DARPA Form 60 (U.S. Permanent Resident and Foreign National Visit Request) no later than 12:00 PM on March 18, 2016. This form and submission instructions are provided on the registration website and in the registration confirmation email.


Agenda

03/22/2016
8:00 am – 9:00 am Registration
9:00 am – 9:30 am Intro to DARPA/DSO Overview
9:30 am – 9:45 am BAA Overview and Contracting Management Office Briefing
9:45 am – 10:30 am Next Generation Social Science (NGS2) Overview
10:30 am – 10:35 am Attendees Submit Questions for Q&A Session
10:35 am – 11:00 am Break
11:00 am – 11:15 am Q&A Session
11:15 am – 12:30 pm Scientific Exchange (5 min. each)
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm Lunch (on your own / hotel will provide boxed lunches for $15)
1:30 pm – 3:20 pm Scientific Exchange continues (5 min. each)
3:20 pm – 3:40 pm Break
3:40 pm – 5:00 pm Scientific Exchange continues (5 min. each)


Contact Information

Registration questions contact Renee Besanson | 703-797-4584| email rbesanson@sainc.com. Programmatic questions email NGS2@darpa.mil. Please refer to the NGS2 Proposers Day in all correspondence.


Disclaimers and Important Notes

Attendance at the NGS2 Proposers Day or viewing the webcast is voluntary and is not required to propose to the anticipated NGS2 BAA. Interested parties to this notice are cautioned that nothing herein obligates the Government to issue a solicitation. The Proposers Day does not constitute a formal solicitation for proposals or abstracts. This announcement is issued solely for information and program planning purposes and is not a Request for Information (RFI). Since this is not an RFI, no submissions against this notice will be accepted by the Government. No classified, ITAR controlled, or proprietary information shall be included in submitted materials or shall be presented or discussed at the Proposers Day. DARPA will not provide reimbursement for costs incurred to participate in this Proposers Day. Recording the Proposers Day is not allowed.