Introduction and NSF Overview Vannevar Bush And Science

Introduction and NSF Overview

Vannevar Bush And Science: The Endless Frontier

The Endless Frontier Recommendations Universities should be the nation’s primary basic research infrastructure Federal funds should do double duty: Procure research results Educate the next generation Award research grants based on merit Establish a national science foundation

NSF Act of 1950 Encourage & develop a national policy for the promotion of basic research and education in the math, physical, medical, biological, engineering and other sciences

NSF Act: Authorizations Act of 1950 • Initiate and support: § Basic research § Programs to strengthen research potential § Science education programs at all levels • Award scholarships and fellowships • Foster international S&T • Avoid “undue concentration” • Provide a central clearinghouse for data on science and engineering and information for policy formulation Subsequent Authorizations • Foster and support the development and use of computer and other technologies • Evaluate the status and needs of the various sciences and fields of engineering • Promote equal opportunities in science and engineering

NSF Vision Advancing discovery, innovation, and education beyond the frontiers of current knowledge, and empowering future generations in science and engineering. NSF-3

Discovery Foster research that will advance the frontiers of knowledge, emphasizing areas of greatest opportunity and potential benefit and establishing the nation as a global leader in fundamental and transformational science and engineering. Learning Cultivate a world-class, broadly inclusive science and engineering workforce, and expand the scientific literacy of all citizens. Research Infrastructure Build the nation’s research capability through critical investments in advanced instrumentation, facilities, cyberinfrastructure and experimental tools. Stewardship Support excellence in science and engineering research and education through a capable and responsive organization.

NSF in a Nutshell ØIndependent Agency ØPrimarily Uses Grant Mechanism ØLow Administrative Costs ØDiscipline-based structure

The National Science Board

Office of International Science and Engineering Provides innovative awards and supplements that promote research excellence through new international collaboration and that develop the next generation of globally engaged scientists www. nsf. gov/oise

Office of Polar Programs Manages and initiates National Science Foundation funding for basic research and its operational support in the Arctic and the Antarctic.

Rotators (IPAs): Our Leavening Ingredient Intergovernmental Personnel Act Visiting Scientists

NSF Organizational Chart National Science Board (NSB) Director Deputy Director Office of Cyberinfrastructure Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Programs Office of the General Counsel Office of Integrative Activities Office of International Science & Engineering Office of the Inspector General (OIG) Office of Legislative & Public Affairs Office of Polar Programs Biological Sciences (BIO) Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences (SBE) Computer & Information Science & Engineering (CISE) Education & Human Resources (EHR) Engineering (ENG) Geosciences (GEO) Budget, Finance & Award Management (BFA) Mathematical & Physical Sciences (MPS) Information & Resource Management (IRM)

The Political Climate

American Competi America COMPETES Act Authorizes budget levels at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Department of Energy's Office of Science, and the National Science Foundation (NSF) on a path to doubling within the near term. The total NSF budget is authorized to double its budget in approximately seven years.

$6. 854 billion Increase over FY 2008 Request: $822. , 1 million, 13. 6%

APPROPRIATIONS FOR NSF FY 1998 – 2009 Request Billions of Dollars 9. 4% Flat 1. 02% 13. 2 %

NSF FY 2009 Budget Request NSF Funding by Account (Dollars in Millions) 2009 Request Change Percent Research and Related Activities $5, 593. 99 16. 0% Education and Human Resources 790. 41 8. 9% MREFC 147. 51 -33. 2% Agency Operations and Award Management 305. 06 8. 3% 4. 03 1. 5% 13. 10 14. 6% $6, 854. 1 13. 6% National Science Board Office of Inspector General Total NSF

Cross-Foundation Investments Cyber-enabled Discovery and Innovation $100 million Science and Engineering Beyond Moore’s Law $20 million Adaptive Systems Technology $15 million Dynamics of Water Processes in the Environment $10 million

Science and Engineering Beyond Moore’s Law Goal: To position the United States at the forefront of communications and computation capability beyond the physical and conceptual limitations of current systems. $20 million to encourage transformational activities and create partnership opportunities with the private sector and national laboratories

Adaptive Systems Technology Goal: To generate creative pathways and natural interfaces between human and physical systems that will revoloutionize the development of novel anticipatory and adaptive systems $15 million to support small, high-risk, transformative research projects to explore promising research directions in this emerging field.

Dynamics of Water Processes In The Environment Goal: To increase our fundamental understanding of the Earth’s freshwater systems and provide the scientific basis for decision making about water resources. $10 million to promote fundamental research on the complex processes and feedbacks that affect the vulnerability and resilience of freshwater systems to climate and environmental change.

Proposal, Award and Funding Trends

NSF PROPOSAL STATISTICS (FY 2007) Ø 44, 594 proposal actions Ø ~240, 000 reviews Ø ~46, 000 reviewers Ø 11, 484 awards Ø 26. 0% funding rate (Research 22%)

NSF RESEARCH GRANT PROFILE (FY 2007) Competitive awards (Research): 7, 482 Average annual award: $144, 798 Median annual award: $109, 999 Average duration (research): 2. 87 years

Type of Review Year 1993 Mail & Mail Panel Only 23% 30% Panel Only 41% 2006 34% 53% 9%

Percentage Change COMPARISON OF NSF BUDGET, STAFF, AND COMPETITIVE PROPOSAL SUBMISSION 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003

National Science Foundation Update *And How To Find It

Key Documents • FY 2008 NSF Budget Request – http: //www. nsf. gov/about/budget/ • Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide – http: //www. nsf. gov/publications/pub_summ. jsp? ods_key=papp • Science and Engineering Indicators – http: //www. nsf. gov/sbe/srs/seind 08/ • When in doubt – – http: //www. nsf. gov/