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 S&E policy formation

6. NSF Vision Enabling the nation’s future through discovery, learningand innovation. NSF-3

7. Independent Agency Supports basic research & education Uses grant mechanism Low overhead; highly automated Discipline-based structure Cross-disciplinary mechanisms Use of Rotators/IPAs National Science Board NSF in a Nutshell

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 Proposals evaluated in FY 2004 through a competitive process of merit review 11,000 New awards funded in FY 2004

13. NSF by the Numbers (cont’d) 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 America’s Income Broad revenue and spending categories in President Bush’s fiscal 2005 budget: How it would be spent (outlays) $2.4 trillion Where it comes from (receipts) $2.1 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. R&D funding, by source Source: S&E 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 Other Sciences Physical sciences Biological sciences (non-medical) Psychology Medical 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_key=nsf03605 • Part of the President’s “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/cross/priority.htm#5 • 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/cross/priority.htm#6 • 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. Change from FY00 to FY04 NSF Recent Trends - FY 2000 to FY 2004 FY02 FY01 FY03 FY04 FY00 Budget Obligations (Millions of Dollars) $4,532 $5,369 $3,948 $4,774 $5,656 43% $214 54% Admin & Mgmt $189 $231 $251 $291 1,244 1,200 1,220 1,242 # of Employees $1,301 8% # of Competitive Proposals 48% 40,075 29,508 31,942 35,164 $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 $139,000 $115,666 $135,609 Aver. Research Grant Duration (years) 2.9 4% 2.8 2.9 2.9 2.9

30. NSF Recent Trends - FY 1999 to FY 2003 Change from FY00 to FY03 FY00 FY01 FY02 FY03 FY99 Total Assets (Millions of Dollars) $4,573 $6,002 $7,425 $5,140 $6,713 62% Total Liabilities (Millions of Dollars) $332 $380 $415 $366 $380 14% Net Position (Millions of Dollars) $5,587 $6,347 66% $4,241 $4,760 $7,045

31. Number of FY 2003 Proposals – 29,164 Declines, 10,791 Awards

32. Avg. Award Score 5=Excellent 4=Very Good 3=Good 2=Fair 1=Poor

33. NSF Funding Rate for Competitive Awards - Competitive Research Grants 35,000 100% 90% 30,000 80% 25,000 70% P N e 60% u 20,000 r m c 50% b e 15,000 e 40% n r t 30% 10,000 20% 5,000 10% 0 0% 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Competitive Proposal Actions Competitive Awards Funding Rate

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/