BY THE NUMBERS TEXAS IN FY 2012

1. Texas 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 TEXAS IN FY 2012 $261 Million: NSF funds awarded8th: National ranking in NSF funds83: NSF-funded institutions1,180: NSF grants awarded10: NSF research centers/facilities “The large universities of the United States…are becoming critical assets to the country. They have become the wellspring of multidisciplinary research and innovation as some of the large corporate labs have begun to be shrunk back.” −Molecular Imprints Inc. CEO Dr. Mark Melliar-Smith EXAMPLES OF NSF-FUNDED RESEARCH IN TEXAS NSF-supported researchers at the University of Texas at Austin, have developed a novel technique to study the resistance of ovarian cancer cells to multiple drug therapies. The new technique, called scanning electrochemical microscopy, allows researchers to trap ovarian cancer cells in order to detect and selectively block their ability to reject anticancer drugs. A research team at the University of Houston has developed mathematical tools to study the interaction of arterial walls and pulsating blood flow within the human heart. The group ‘s NSF-funded work also has helped to produce improved stents for opening narrowed arteries and better stent-grafts that are more compatible with the human body. An NSF-funded scientist at Baylor College of Medicine is examining how plants internally transport nutrients and toxic metals. An improved understanding of how plants nourish themselves may contribute to enhanced crop productivity, nutritional quality, and stress tolerance, and could lead to novel strategies for environmental cleanup. Courtesy: www.research.gov/seeinnovation INVESTMENT IN NSF = INVESTMENT IN TEXAS INNOVATION Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin were awarded more than 140 patents from 2006 to 2010, helping Austin to earn a ranking of second in the nation in patents issued per capita.1 In 2010, faculty at Baylor College of Medicine had more than 500 active license agreements and reported over 1,800 invention disclosures. More than 200 diagnostic, clinical, and research products currently on the market are based on Baylor technologies.2 With about $88 million in total research expenditures in FY 2009, Texas Tech University has been identified as an emerging research university by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and is on the verge of gaining “Tier One National Research University” status.3 1 The University of Texas at Austin: An Investment That Pays Off for Texas (2010). 2 Technology Transfer Quick Facts at Baylor College of Medicine (2010). 3 Texas Tech University Tier One FAQ (2010). Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF)  1527 Eighteenth Street, NW  Washington, DC 20036  www.cnsfweb.org

2. Texas Since 1952, NSF has supported 45,000 graduate students through research fellowships. Texas received $49 million in NSF educational and human resource funding in FY 2012. 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. EXAMPLES OF NSF-FUNDED EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN TEXAS As part of the NSF-sponsored Hunting for Worm Viruses project, minority students from the greater Austin metro area collaborate with University of Texas at Austin undergraduates and faculty to attempt to isolate viruses from tiny round worms called nematodes. The project will lead to a better understanding of virus-host interactions and help students develop an interest in science. Texas A&M University at Kingsville's NSF Center for Research on Environmental Sustainability of Semi-Arid Coastal Areas has developed an educational outreach exhibit for the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History. The exhibit, Real-Time Air Quality Information Dissemination Project, helps elementary and middle school students learn about air pollution and ozone levels. Under the guidance of an NSF-funded faculty member at Texas A&M University, U.S. students work together with an international team of researchers to design, build, and test new devices to prevent earthquake damage to buildings and other structures. Courtesy: www.research.gov/seeinnovation “Advanced research at the university has created many opportunities for patents, licensing, corporate start-ups, and spin-off companies in Texas. Perhaps our biggest contribution is educating the young people who will soon become leaders in the sciences, the professions, the humanities, and the arts.” −University of Texas at Austin President William Powers, Jr. “In spite of economic challenges, our research expenditures and enrollment are at record levels. Our research reaches around the world to solve some of the most pressing problems of our time.” −Texas Tech University President Dr. Guy Bailey Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF)  1527 Eighteenth Street, NW  Washington, DC 20036  www.cnsfweb.org