National Science Foundation (NSF)

For FY 1999, the President has requested $3.8 billion for NSF, a 10 percent increase over FY 1998 appropriated levels. Within that total, Research Project Support would increase by 12 percent over the previous year. In FY 1998, NSF's core Research and Related Activities account totals $2.5 billion, an increase of 4.7 percent that includes $40 million earmarked for a plant genome research program.

Champions and Players

Even though no member of Congress will admit to being opposed to research and education, few in Congress are true champions for NSF. During the FY 96 budget stalemate that closed the federal government, pleas for interim funding of NSF, such as that provided to NIH, went unheeded. Similarly, congressional initiatives have called for budget increases for NIH, but not for NSF, a situation that may be changing with S. 1305, the Gramm-Lieberman bill.

Supporting Arguments

Basic research provides the knowledge base that helps our Nation realize its full scientific and technological potential. NSF-funded basic research provides training to the Nation's science, mathematics, and engineering students - ensuring that they have the solid background necessary for a scientific or technological career in industry, government, or academe. Innovations that have come out of long-term basic research include magnetic resonance imaging, the Internet, global environmental advances, biomedical breakthroughs, and many others.

A well-recognized and pressing need exists for improvement in national science and mathematics learning at all educational levels. Federal support for science and math education helps to ensure a scientifically literate workforce, and well-trained scientists and engineers for the future. NSF's education programs are especially important because they are innovative in approach and designed to have a broad impact on teachers and students alike.

Today's economy is driven by biotechnology, imaging, environmental technologies, polymers, sensors, optoelectronics, and high-speed computing and communications technologies. For the U.S. to stay on the cutting edge in these areas requires sustained fundamental research and a population of workers with high levels of technological skill. NSF serves these vital functions - as well as supporting science that will yield new breakthroughs in the future.

NSF is the fifth-largest source of research funding in the federal government and is the sole federal agency tasked with maintaining the health of basic research and science education. The Foundation funds research and education in the sciences and engineering through peer-reviewed grants and cooperative agreements to more than 2,000 colleges, universities, K-12 schools, businesses, and other research institutions. NSF receives nearly 30,000 proposals each year for research, education, and training projects, of which approximately one-third are funded. Several thousand applications for graduate and postdoctoral fellowships are also received each year. The Foundation involves over 60,000 scientists and engineers annually in various advisory capacities for both program direction and specific proposals.

Revised for 1998 by Nadine Cavender, ESA

Posted: February 12, 1998