Introduction and NSF Overview

1
Introduction and NSF Overview

• NSF Regional Grants Conference
• October 4 - 5, 2004
• St. Louis, MO

Hosted by Washington University
2
Main Topics

• Origins of NSF
• The National Science Foundation
• FY 2005 Federal Budget
• The NSF FY 2005 Budget
• NSF Initiatives
• Current Proposal, Award and Funding Trends

3
Origins of NSF


4
Origins of NSF

• The Government should accept new
  responsibilities for promoting the flow of
  scientific knowledge and the development of
  scientific talent in our youth.
• Science, The Endless Frontier, 1945
• 1947 Congress Approves, Truman Vetoes Agencies
  created in the meantime
• 1950 Compromise Bill Approved Signed by Truman

5
NSF Act of 1950

• To promote the progress of science
• NSB (24) and 1 Director, appointed by the
  President
• Encourage develop a national policy for the
  promotion of basic research and education in the
  math, physical, medical,biological, engineering
  and other sciences
• Initiate support basic scientific research in
  the sciences
• Evaluate the science research programs undertaken
  by agencies of the Federal government
• Provide information for SE policy formation

6

• NSF Vision

Enabling the nations future through discovery,
learningand innovation.
NSF-3
7
NSF in a Nutshell

• Discipline-based structure
• Cross-disciplinary mechanisms
• Use of Rotators/IPAs
• National Science Board

• Independent Agency
• Supports basic research education
• Uses grant mechanism
• Low overhead highly automated

8
National Science Board (NSB)

• 24 members Director President appoints Senate
  confirms
• 6 year terms rotation every 2 years at May NSB
  meeting
• Authority to make awards delegated through NSB to
  Director and flows down to grant and contract
  officers

9
National Science Foundation
Director Deputy Director
National Science Board
Inspector General
Staff Offices
Computer Information Science Engineering
Mathematical Physical Sciences
Biological Sciences
Engineering
Geosciences
Social, Behavioral Economic Sciences
Budget, Finance Award Management
Information Resource Management
Education Human Resources
10
NSF Recent Personnel Changes

• NSF Director Rita Colwell departed February 21,
  2004
• Arden Bement nominated as Director. Currently
  serves in acting capacity until confirmation by
  the Senate
• Three Assistant Directors recruitments active
  BIO, EHR and SBE
• Office of International Science Engineering
  moved to the Office of the Director October 1,
  2004
• BFA Realignment
• Mary Santonastasso heads up the newly formed
  Division of Institution Award Support
• Gerard Glaser is the new director of the Division
  of Grants Agreements
• Donna Fortunat heads up the newly formed Division
  of Contracts Complex Agreements

11
NSF Special Responsibilities

• Polar Programs
• U.S. Antarctic Program
• Science Resources Statistics
• Data collection and analysis
• Science and Engineering Indicators
• International (close cooperation with the
  Department of State)

NSF-8
12
NSF by the Numbers
5.66B FY 2004 Budget (obligations) 6 NSF
share of total annual Federal spending for
research and development 20 NSF share of
Federal funding for non-medical basic
research at academic institutions 44,000 Propo
sals evaluated in FY 2004 through a competitive
process of merit review 11,000 New awards funded
in FY 2004
13
NSF by the Numbers (contd)
58,000 Scientists engineers who evaluate
proposals for NSF each year 250,000 Proposal
reviews done each year 40,000 Students supported
by NSF Graduate Research Fellowships since
1952 200,000 People (researchers, postdoctoral
fellows, trainees, students) NSF directly
supports
14
FY 2005 Federal Budget
15
Spending Americas Income Broad revenue and
spending categories in President Bushs fiscal
2005 budget
Where it comes from (receipts) 2.1 trillion
How it would be spent (outlays) 2.4 trillion
420 billion National defense (discretionary)
Individual income tax 874 billion
490 billion Discretionary
(non-defense)
Corporate income tax 230 billion
2.4 trillion
510 billion Social Security
Payroll tax 794 billion
290 billion Medicare
178 billion Interest on debt
Excise tax 73 billion
Estate and gift tax 21 billion
188 billion Medicaid
Customs duties 22 billion
Other 37 billion
320 billion Other
Deficit 345-360 billion (with adjustment for
revenue uncertainty)
16
Total U.S. RD funding, by source
Source SE Indicators-2002, Figure 4-1
17
Federal Obligations for Basic Research at
Academic Institutions, FY 2002
Total Federal Distribution (000)
NSF Share of Total Federal
Computer sciences Mathematics Social
sciences Environmental sciences Engineering Oth
er Sciences Physical sciences Biological
sciences (non-medical) Psychology Medic
al sciences
18
Summary of the 2005 Budget Request

• Sets priority on war against terrorism, overseas
  and at home
• Funds high-priority initiatives slows growth
  throughout the rest of government
• Maintains focus on results instead of dollars
• Outcome (budget ) uncertain at this time

19
The NSF FY 2005 Budget


20
NSF FY 2005 Request by Account (Dollars in
Millions)
21
NSF FY 2005 Research Related ActivitiesRequest
by Directorates(Dollars in Millions)
22
Math and Science Partnership
http//www.nsf.gov/pubsys/ods/getpub.cfm?ods_keyn
sf03605

• Part of the Presidents No Child Left Behind
  education initiative
• Links local schools with universities to
  strengthen preK-12 math and science education,
  train teachers, reach out to underserved schools
  and students
• 80 million for FY 2005

23
Biocomplexity in the Environment
http//www.nsf.gov/geo/ere/ereweb/fund-biocomplex.
cfm

• Microbial genome sequencing
• Ecology of infectious diseases
• Interdisciplinary research on the complex
  interplay of physical, human other biological
  systems
• Materials use and impact on society and
  environment
• Emphasis on new molecular, bioinformation,
  computational technologies and methods

24
Information Technology Research
http//www.nsf.gov/pubsys/ods/getpub.cfm?nsf04012

• Cyber infrastructure
• Large-scale networking
• High-end computation
• Building safer more reliable information
  communication systems
• Integrating cutting edge IT research with
  learning training strategies
• Transitioning from priority area to fundamental
  science engineering in FY 2005.

25
Nanoscale Science and Engineering
http//www.nsf.gov/home/crssprgm/nano/

• Fundamental research education
• Biologically-based systems
• Creation of new materials
• Functional nanoscale structures
• Quantum computing
• Nanoscale processes in the environment
• Grand challenges
• Centers Networks of Excellence
• Infrastructure
• Societal educational implications

26
Mathematical Sciences Priority Area
http//www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/news/publicat/nsf03009/c
ross/priority.htm5

• Fundamental mathematical statistical sciences
• Interdisciplinary research linked to mathematics
• Mathematical statistical challenges of large
  data sets
• Modeling managing uncertainty
• Modeling complex nonlinear systems
• Critical investments in math education

27
Human and Social Dynamics
http//www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/news/publicat/nsf03009/c
ross/priority.htm6

• Research on decision making under uncertainty
• Creating new technology tools for social
  scientists
• Understanding large-scale transformation and
  agents of change
• Modeling human and social interactions
• Dynamics of human behavior

28
Current Proposal, Award and Funding Trends


29
NSF Recent Trends - FY 2000 to FY 2004
Change from FY00 to FY04
FY02
FY00
FY04
FY03
FY01
Budget Obligations (Millions of Dollars)
4,532
3,948
4,774
5,369
43
5,656
Admin Mgmt
54
214
189
231
251
291
1,200
1,220
1,242
1,244
of Employees
1,301
8
of Competitive Proposals
48
29,508
31,942
35,164
40,075
43,759
of Competitive Awards
5
10,406
9,850
9,925
10,844
10,380
Aver. Annual Res. Grant Size
31
105,800
113,601
115,666
135,609
139,000
Aver. Research Grant Duration (years)
4
2.8
2.9
2.9
2.9
2.9
30
NSF Recent Trends - FY 1999 to FY 2003
Change from FY00 to FY03
FY99
FY03
FY02
FY01
FY00
Total Assets (Millions of Dollars)
4,573
6,002
7,425
62
6,713
5,140
Total Liabilities (Millions of Dollars)
14
332
380
415
366
380
Net Position (Millions of Dollars)
66
4,241
4,760
5,587
6,347
7,045
31
Number of FY 2003 Proposals 29,164 Declines,
10,791 Awards
32
(No Transcript)
33
(No Transcript)
34
(No Transcript)
35
(No Transcript)
36
Based on estimated 2002-2003 GDP Deflators
37
Key Documents

• FY 2005 Federal Budget
• http//www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2005/
• FY 2005 NSF Budget Request
• http//www.nsf.gov/bfa/bud/fy2005/toc.htm
• Grant Proposal Guide (NSF 04-23)
• http//www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?gpg
• Science and Engineering Indicators
• http//www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/seind04/
• When in doubt
• http//www.nsf.gov/