3x3 Summary

3x3 Summary

Things we do well:

	Well organized
	RFP process was well organized, timely and well executed
	Collaboration efficiency is high, open dialog, cross fertilization is high
	Good visibility
	Good planning
	Open, supportive management style, well managed
	No entitlements, open critical reviews
	Video conferencing is a great glue, abstract ahead of time useful.
	Easy to participate in K-12
	Establish a bold attitude that we can make an impact in many areas.
	Good at identifying problems we can solve.
	Good use of shared equipment
	Great interactions and collaborations between chemistry and engineers.
	Manuscript reviews with student/post doc involvement is helpful (DeSimone group currently is the only one that does this….).
	Ask to bring active researchers together and to call them to think out of the box…
	“The Center is a ‘phenomenon’ and its success reflects the complementary interaction between three strong and cooperative personalities (DeSimone, Carbonell and Roberts).”

	“The video conferences worked so much better than I ever would have thought.” “I felt that the original vision of the center and its structure were excellent and the challenge would be to keep everyone engaged and involved.” (Stay the course – said several times).
	Student presentations at Group Meetings (very high quality)
	Collaboration between students and faculty at "home" institutions. (We could do better, but I think that the Center has promoted collaborations that never would have happened otherwise.)

Things we need to stop doing:

	“Nothing!”
	Delaying weekly meetings due to audio problems (Lot’s!)
	Too many talks scheduled on Thursdays.
	Focusing so much attention on the titles of the thrust areas and who is where. We’ve already stopped doing this to a great extent.
	Talks too formal.
	People not using approved PowerPoint templates.
	Too many surveys.
	“Stop assuming students are “on board” with management decisions.”
	Strategic planning as currently practiced may be too rigid
	At least 20% of the projects per year that have had S&T support for 2 years or more (Hopefully, half of the 20% would be "stopped" because funding became available from another source. As usual, "bridging" support would be provided to help students)

Things we need to start doing:

	More feedback on expectation of students, postdocs and faculty.
	Better advertisement for Center (press releases).
	Enhance courses with integrating CO₂ principles into existing courses, bring engineering to chemists and chemistry to engineers.
	“Prepare for the big one!” (i.e., renewal review with NSF)
	Systematic monitoring – more formalized review of programs with PI to demonstrate our resolve to keep on course and to provide documentation for corrective actions.
	Bring more practical experience to students/postdocs.
	Implement videoconference smart boards and desktop conferencing.
	Implement monthly staff meetings.
	Get faculty to talk at group meetings on occasion, encourage their attendance.
	More fun days/social events that include all participants.
	Make PDP workshops more like STC directors meeting in December.
	Solicit “challenges” from industry.
	Since 2 hours is allocated for group meetings, if talks are short, have a 4^th speaker ready as backup.
	Install a lounge that has smart board cameras in a lab at each university.
	Semiannual orientation meetings.
	Place more emphasis on student/postdocs in STC Review meetings.
	Redistribute funds from K-12 to Higher Education Outreach.
	Special topic workshop on a variety of topics such as industrial careers, academic careers, high pressure equipment.
	Proactive approach to enlarge pool of minorities considered for faculty openings.
	Major upgrade of telecommunications equipment and processes. (There is too much "dead time" during the Group Meetings. This is impacting quality and possibly participation).
	Making some "yes/no" decisions based on pre-proposals, so that we can review the full proposals more carefully and critically with respect to the strategic plan.
	Have one face-to-face meeting each year involving all participating students and faculty. (I expect/hope that this will do wonders for inter-institutional collaboration).
	Compile an annual notebook (or CD) containing all publications/reprints originating from Kenan Center/S&T Center research. Distribute to all participants in the Centers, and to the industrial members of the Kenan Center.