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National Science Foundation: Difference between revisions
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The '''U.S. National Science Foundation''' ('''NSF''') is an independent agency of the United States federal government that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health. With an annual budget of about $9.9 billion (fiscal year 2023), the NSF funds approximately 25% of all federally supported basic research conducted by the United States' colleges and universities. In some fields, such as mathematics, computer science, economics, and the social sciences, the NSF is the major source of federal backing. | The '''U.S. National Science Foundation''' ('''NSF''') is an independent agency of the United States federal government that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health. With an annual budget of about $9.9 billion (fiscal year 2023), the NSF funds approximately 25% of all federally supported basic research conducted by the United States' colleges and universities. In some fields, such as mathematics, computer science, economics, and the social sciences, the NSF is the major source of federal backing. | ||
NSF's director and deputy director are appointed by the president of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate, whereas the 24 president-appointed members of the National Science Board (NSB) do not require U.S. Senate confirmation. The director and deputy director are responsible for administration, planning, budgeting and day-to-day operations of the foundation, while the NSB meets six times a year to establish its overall policies | NSF's director and deputy director are appointed by the president of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate, whereas the 24 president-appointed members of the [[National Science Board]] (NSB) do not require U.S. [[Senate confirmation]]. The director and deputy director are responsible for administration, planning, budgeting and day-to-day operations of the foundation, while the NSB meets six times a year to establish its overall policies. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
===Founding=== | ===Founding=== | ||
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) was established by the National Science Foundation Act of 1950.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/uscode42/usc_sup_01_42_10_16.html|title=42 U.S. Code Chapter 16 – National Science Foundation|website=law.cornell.edu}}</ref> Its stated mission is "to promote the progress of science, to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare, and to secure the national defense."<ref name="US NSF - About - NSF at a Glance" /> The NSF's scope has expanded over the years to include many areas that were not in its initial portfolio, including the social and behavioral sciences, engineering, and science and mathematics education. The NSF is the only U.S. federal agency with a mandate to support ''all'' non-medical fields of research.<ref name="NSF Site" /> | The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) was established by the [[National Science Foundation Act of 1950]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/uscode42/usc_sup_01_42_10_16.html|title=42 U.S. Code Chapter 16 – National Science Foundation|website=law.cornell.edu}}</ref> Its stated mission is "to promote the progress of science, to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare, and to secure the national defense."<ref name="US NSF - About - NSF at a Glance" /> The NSF's scope has expanded over the years to include many areas that were not in its initial portfolio, including the social and behavioral sciences, engineering, and science and mathematics education. The NSF is the only U.S. federal agency with a mandate to support ''all'' non-medical fields of research.<ref name="NSF Site" /> | ||
===Budget and performance history=== | ===Budget and performance history=== | ||
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==Grants and the merit review process== | ==Grants and the merit review process== | ||
The NSF seeks to fulfill its mission chiefly by issuing competitive, limited-term grants in response to specific proposals from the research community and establishing cooperative agreements with research organizations.<ref name=":41">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nsf.gov/funding/aboutfunding.jsp|title=US NSF – About Funding|website=www.nsf.gov|language=en|access-date=May 4, 2018}}</ref> It does not operate its own laboratories, unlike other federal research agencies, notable examples being [[NASA]] and the [[National Institutes of Health]] (NIH). The NSF uses four main mechanisms to communicate funding opportunities and generate proposals: dear colleague letters, program descriptions, program announcements, and program solicitations.<ref name=":42">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/pappg17_1/pappg_1.jsp#IC|title=PAPPG – Chapter I|website=www.nsf.gov|access-date=May 4, 2018}}</ref> | The NSF seeks to fulfill its mission chiefly by issuing competitive, limited-term grants in response to specific proposals from the research community and establishing cooperative agreements with research organizations.<ref name=":41">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nsf.gov/funding/aboutfunding.jsp|title=US NSF – About Funding|website=www.nsf.gov|language=en|access-date=May 4, 2018}}</ref> It does not operate its own laboratories, unlike other federal research agencies, notable examples being [[NASA]] and the [[National Institutes of Health]] (NIH). The NSF uses four main mechanisms to communicate funding opportunities and generate proposals: dear colleague letters, program descriptions, program announcements, and program solicitations.<ref name=":42">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/pappg17_1/pappg_1.jsp#IC|title=PAPPG – Chapter I|website=www.nsf.gov|access-date=May 4, 2018}}</ref> | ||
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===National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics=== | ===National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics=== | ||
NSF's [[National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics]] (NCSES) gathers data from surveys and partnerships with other agencies to offer official data on the American science and engineering workforce, graduates of advanced U.S. science and engineering programs, and R&D expenditures by U.S. industry.<ref>[https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/ NCSES home page] at nsf.gov</ref> NCSES is one of the [[Federal Statistical System of the United States|principal U.S. statistical agencies]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2018}} It is a part of the NSF's Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences Directorate (SBE).<ref name=":40">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/about-ncses.cfm#core|title=nsf.gov – About – NCSES – US National Science Foundation (NSF)|website=www.nsf.gov|language=en|access-date=May 4, 2018}}</ref> | NSF's [[National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics]] (NCSES) gathers data from surveys and partnerships with other agencies to offer official data on the American science and engineering workforce, graduates of advanced U.S. science and engineering programs, and R&D expenditures by U.S. industry.<ref>[https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/ NCSES home page] at nsf.gov</ref> NCSES is one of the [[Federal Statistical System of the United States|principal U.S. statistical agencies]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2018}} It is a part of the NSF's Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences Directorate (SBE).<ref name=":40">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/about-ncses.cfm#core|title=nsf.gov – About – NCSES – US National Science Foundation (NSF)|website=www.nsf.gov|language=en|access-date=May 4, 2018}}</ref> | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||