North Carolina THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION NSF is

North Carolina THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION (NSF) is the only federal agency whose mission includes support for all fields of fundamental science and engineering. BY THE NUMBERS North Carolina in FY 2016 $202 Million: NSF funds awarded 12 th: National ranking in NSF funds 55: NSF-funded institutions 629: NSF grants awarded 11: NSF research centers/facilities “A great deal of this economic development is due to the growth of industries related to engineering, research and development. ” -Dr. Randy Woodson, Chancellor, North Carolina State University EXAMPLES OF NSF-FUNDED RESEARCH IN NORTH CAROLINA NSF-funded researchers have demonstrated that plant cells activate timed defenses in anticipation of pests. The findings could help farmers predict when plants are most vulnerable to disease attacks, and enable agriculturalists to make efficient use of costly pesticides by applying them when plants need them the most. NSF-supported researchers have developed a novel molecular imaging technique to identify different kinds of cancer cells. The scientists combined light and color to track the path of cancer-causing molecules on the surface of a cell. Their work could lead to improved detection of cancer in its earlier stages as well as more effective treatments. A new statistical framework developed by NSF-funded researchers can be used in real time to improve the forecasting of hurricane winds and the associated storm surge, enabling better implementation of mitigation strategies that lessen the impacts of these events. The onshore rush of seawater associated with hurricane winds can lead to major losses of property, billions of dollars in damage, and large numbers of fatalities. Courtesy: www. research. gov/seeinnovation INVESTMENT IN NSF = INVESTMENT IN NORTH CAROLINA INNOVATION Collectively, North Carolina State University (NC State) faculty have earned more than 85 NSF career and presidential awards in the past ten years. 1 Duke University and North Carolina State University rank within the top 50 academic institutions for research and development expenditures. 2 Over 5, 000 masters and doctorate degrees were conferred in 2013. 2 In FY 2011, 73% of all research funding at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill came from the federal government. The same year, technology transfer at the university resulted in 45 licensed inventions, 33 issued patents, and seven start-up companies in FY 2011. 3 In 2014, $314 million in venture capital was invested in North Carolina. 2 1 NC State University website: www. ncsu. edu/faculty-and-staff/. and Engineering Indicators 2016 NSF 3 UNC 2011 Research Highlights. 2 Science Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF) www. cnsfweb. org

North Carolina THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION (NSF) not only funds cutting-edge research at institutions across the country; NSF’s education initiatives ensure the U. S. will remain a global leader in innovation for generations to come. Since 1952, NSF has supported nearly 50, 000 graduate students through research fellowships. North Carolina received $36 million in NSF educational funding in FY 2016. EXAMPLES OF NSF-FUNDED EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN NORTH CAROLINA High school and middle school teachers participated in a three-week NSF-supported summer class at North Carolina State University in Raleigh to learn molecular biology skills and develop a lab exercise to use in their classrooms. In a first for a historically black college or university, North Carolina A&T State University has established undergraduate (BS) and graduate degree (MS) programs in bioengineering. With support from NSF, the new programs have attracted strong interest from women and other demographic groups underrepresented in the sciences and engineering. The NSF-funded Duke Lemur Center is a unique research and educational facility devoted to the study and conservation of lemurs. Educational tours of the center are often included in the lesson plans of local and regional science and biology classes. The center is actively engaged in educational outreach by offering online resources and collaborating with teachers to develop new science curricula. Courtesy: www. research. gov/seeinnovation “. . we are committed to helping students prepare for success, to strengthening schools and communities, and to expanding the talent pipeline for tomorrow’s workforce. Education has been our priority for more than a century, for we believe in the potential of all young people. ” −Venessa Harrison, President, AT&T North Carolina “We must imagine and prepare [students] for what they are going to be facing not just today, but 20, 40, 60 years and more into the future. We have to be providing the knowledge, foresight, and wisdom to adapt the emerging knowledge, fields, and technologies for the public good. ” −Carol Folt, Chancellor of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF) www. cnsfweb. org