Introduction

and

NSF Overview

Vannevar BushAnd

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 resultsEducate 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: AuthorizationsAct 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

NSF in a Nutshell

Independent Agency

Primarily Uses Grant Mechanism

Low Administrative Costs

Discipline-based structure

The National Science The National Science BoardBoard

Office of International Science and Engineering

Provides innovative awardsand supplements that promote research

excellence through new internationalcollaboration and that develop the nextgeneration 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 ActVisiting Scientists

Mathematical& PhysicalSciences

(MPS)

Geosciences(GEO)

Engineering(ENG)

Computer &Information Science &

Engineering(CISE)

BiologicalSciences

(BIO)

Office of theInspector General

(OIG)

DirectorDeputy Director

National Science Board(NSB)

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 Legislative &Public Affairs

Office of Polar Programs

Social, Behavioral

& EconomicSciences

(SBE)

Education & Human

Resources(EHR)

Budget, Finance & Award

Management(BFA)

Information& Resource Management

(IRM)

NSF Organizational Chart

The Political Climate

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 billionIncrease over FY 2008

Request:

$822.,1 million, 13.6%

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

9.4%Annually

APPROPRIATIONS FOR NSF FY 1998 – 2009 Request

Bill

ions

of

Dol

lars

0.19%Annually

NSF FY 2009 Budget Request

NSF Funding by Account(Dollars in Millions)

2009Request

2009 CR

Research and Related Activities

$5,593.99 $4,821.47

Education and Human Resources

790.41 725.6

MREFC 147.51 220.74Agency Operations and Award Management

305.06 281.47

National Science Board 4.03 3.97Office of Inspector General 13.10 11.43Total NSF $6,854.1 6065

Cross-FoundationInvestments

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 revolutionize 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

44,199 proposal actions ~248,000 reviews ~45,000 reviewers 11,156 awards 25.0% funding rate

(Research 21%)

NSF PROPOSAL STATISTICS

(FY 2008)

Competitive awards (Research): 7,022

Average annual award: $143,212

Median annual award: $110,000

Average duration (research): 3.00 years

NSF RESEARCHNSF RESEARCHGRANT PROFILEGRANT PROFILE

(FY 2008) (FY 2008)

Year Mail & Panel

Mail Only

Panel Only

1993 23% 30% 41%

2007 32% 8% 56%

Type of Review

Perc

enta

ge C

hang

e

1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003

COMPARISON OF COMPARISON OF NSF BUDGET, STAFF, ANDNSF BUDGET, STAFF, ANDCOMPETITIVE PROPOSAL COMPETITIVE PROPOSAL

SUBMISSIONSUBMISSION

*And How To Find It

National Science Foundation Update

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/seind08/

• When in doubt – – http://www.nsf.gov/