Order Code 95-307
Updated May 3, 2007
U.S. National Science Foundation: An
Overview
Christine M. Matthews
Specialist in Science and Technology Policy
Resources, Science, and Industry Division
Summary
The National Science Foundation (NSF) was created by the National Science
Foundation Act of 1950, as amended (P.L. 81-507). The NSF has the broad mission of
supporting science and engineering in general and funding basic research across many
disciplines. The agency provides support for investigator-initiated, merit-reviewed,
competitively selected awards, state-of-the-art tools, and instrumentation and facilities.
The majority of the research supported by the NSF is conducted at U.S. colleges and
universities. Approximately 82.6% ($3,174.9 million) of NSF’s FY2005 $3,844.2
million research and development (R&D) budget was awarded to U.S. colleges and
universities.1 On May 2, 2007, the House Committee on Science and Technology
passed H.R. 1867 (H.Rept. 110-114), the National Science Foundation Authorization
Act of 2007. The bill authorizes a total appropriation of $21.0 billion for the NSF for
FY2008, FY2009, and FY2010. This report will be updated periodically.
Background. The NSF’s primary responsibility is to maintain the health and
vitality of the U.S. academic science and engineering enterprise. In addition to ensuring
the nation’s supply of scientific and engineering personnel, the NSF promotes academic
basic research and science and engineering education across many disciplines.2 Other
federal agencies, in contrast, support mission-specific research (i.e., health, agriculture,
defense).
The NSF provides support for investigator-initiated, merit-reviewed, competitively
selected awards, state-of-the-art tools, instrumentation and facilities. In FY2005, the
1 National Science Foundation, Federal Funds for Research and Development: Fiscal Years
2003- 2005, Detailed Statistical Tables, NSF06-313, Arlington, VA, April 2006, Table 10.
2 The NSF does not provide funding for research in clinical medicine, commerce, social work,
or the arts and humanities. However, its investments in basic research contribute to scientific
advances in drug delivery, regenerative medicine, and the design and manufacturing of
pharmaceuticals.

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agency received approximately 41,700 proposals for research, graduate and postdoctoral
fellowships, and science, mathematics, and engineering projects, and made about 10,000
new funding awards. Support is provided to academic institutions, industrial laboratories,
private research firms, and major research facilities and centers. While NSF does not
operate any laboratories, it does support Antarctic research stations, selected
oceanographic vessels, and national research centers. Additionally, NSF supports
university-industry relationships and U.S. participation in international scientific ventures.
The majority of the research supported by the NSF is conducted at U.S. colleges and
universities. Approximately 82.6% ($3,174.9 million) of NSF’s estimated FY2005
$3,844.2 million research and development (R&D) budget was awarded to U.S. colleges
and universities. Preliminary data reveal that in FY2005, NSF provided approximately
60.3% of all federally funded basic research conducted at the nation’s colleges and
universities, with the exclusion of biomedical research sponsored by the National
Institutes of Health.3
Figure 1. NSF R&D Support in FY2006 Constant Dollars,
FY1998- FY2007
7,000
6,000
s 5,000
n
io
ill 4,000
M
in 3,000
rs
a
ll
o 2,000
D
1,000
0
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
R&RA
EHR
Total NSF
Source: National Science Foundation FY2008 Budget Request to Congress, Summary Tables - 18.
3 While the FY2005 R&D appropriation of $3,844.2 million for NSF was only 3.6% of the total
federal R&D budget, the agency plays a significant role in maintaining the academic research
enterprise. Preliminary FY2005 data reveal that the NSF provided 13.1% of all federally
supported basic research and 13.5% of federal academic research. In addition, NSF was the
second largest federal supporter of academic research in FY2005, eclipsed by the Department of
Health and Human Services, which provided 67%. The Department of Defense, the third largest
supporter of academic research, provided 6.6%. Federal Funds for Research and Development:
Fiscal Years 2003-2005, Tables 10 and 29.

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The NSF is an independent agency in the executive branch and under the leadership
of a presidentially appointed Director and a National Science Board (NSB) composed of
24 scientists, engineers, and university and industry officials involved in research and
education. The NSB and the Director make policy for the NSF.
Organization and Fiscal Year 2008 Request. The NSF has witnessed
considerable growth during a period of constrained research budgets. When measured in
current dollars, its total appropriation increased more than 72.7% in 10 years — FY1998,
$3,425.7 million; FY2002, $4,774.1 million; and FY2007, $5,917.1 million. Even when
inflation is taken into account, its growth increased during this 10-year period. The
FY2008 request for the NSF is $6,429.0 million, an 8.7% increase ($511.9 million) over
the FY2007 estimate $5,917.1 million. The President’s American Competitiveness
Initiative proposes a doubling of the NSF budget over the next 10 years. The FY2008
request is the second installment in that doubling effort. NSF asserts that international
research partnerships are critical to the nation in maintaining a competitive edge,
addressing global issues, and capitalizing on global economic opportunities. To address
these particular needs, the FY2008 request proposes $45.0 million for the Office of
International Science and Engineering. NSF continues in its leadership role in planning
U.S. participation in observance of the International Polar Year. The FY2008 request for
polar research is $464.9 million. Additional FY2008 investments include funding for the
National Nanotechnology Initiative ($389.9 million), Climate Change Science Program
($208.3 million), Networking and Information Technology Research and Development
($993.7 million), and continued support for homeland security ($375.4 million).
Included in the FY2008 request is $5,131.7 million for Research and Related
Activities (R&RA), a 10% increase ($465.7 million) over the FY2007 estimate. R&RA
funds research projects, research facilities, and education and training activities. The
Administration proposes increased funding for the physical sciences in FY2008.
Research is multidisciplinary, and very often discoveries in the physical science often lead
to advances in other disciplines. R&RA includes Integrative Activities (IA), and is a
source of funding for the acquisition and development of research instrumentation at U.S.
colleges and universities, disaster research teams, Partnerships for Innovation, and the
Science and Technology Policy Institute. The FY2008 request for IA is $263.0 million.
The Office of Polar Programs (OPP), funded in the R&RA, is proposed at $464.9 million
in the FY2008. In FY2006, responsibility for funding the costs of icebreakers that support
scientific research in polar regions was transferred from the U.S. Coast Guard to NSF.4
The NSF will continue to operate and maintain the three icebreakers.
The FY2008 request provides support for seven major directorates and other
programs and activity accounts. The directorates are the Biological Sciences; Computer
and Information Science and Engineering; Education and Human Resources; Engineering;
Geosciences; Mathematical and Physical Sciences; and Social, Behavioral, and Economic
Sciences. Six of the seven directorates are in the R&RA. In addition to the directorates,
the R&RA includes the OPP and IA. The seven major directorates are described below.
4 While the NSF does not own the ships, it is responsible for the operation, maintenance, and
staffing of the vessels. Currently, NSF is pursuing alternative sources of funding for the
icebreaking fleet.

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Biological Sciences (BIO). The FY2008 request of $633.0 million for the BIO
Directorate supports programs structured to improve scientific understanding of biological
phenomena, ranging from the study of fundamental molecules of living organisms to the
complexity of biological systems. Types of support provided include research workshops,
symposia, conferences, the improvement of research collections, purchase of scientific
equipment, and operation of research facilities.
Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE). The CISE
Directorate, proposed at $574.0 million in FY2008, supports programs focused on the
fundamental understanding of computing and information processing, and the use of state-
of-the-art computational techniques in scientific and engineering research. Currently,
areas of research emphasized are parallel processing, automation and robotics, large-scale
integrated electronic systems, scientific computing, and networking.
Education and Human Resources (EHR). The FY2008 request of $750.6
million for EHR supports science, engineering, mathematics, and technology education.
People receiving funding from the EHR include senior researchers, postdoctoral
associates, graduate and undergraduate students, and teachers and students at the
precollege level. Additional support is provided to individuals through informal science
activities.
Engineering (ENG). The activities of the ENG, at $683.3 million in FY2008, is
directed at enhancing the long-term economic strength and security of the Nation by
fostering innovation and excellence in engineering education and research. The ENG is
focused on integrating education and research in interdisciplinary areas such as
information and communication technologies, biotechnology, and environmental research.
Geosciences (GEO). The FY2008 request of $792.0 million for the GEO
Directorate provides support to programs that promote knowledge and discussions
concerning earth, including the sun, atmosphere, continents, oceans, and interior, and the
linkages among them. One of the objectives of the GEO is to expand the knowledge of
the biological, chemical, geological, and physical processes in the ocean, and at its
boundaries, with the atmosphere and the earth’s crust.
Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS). The FY2008 request of
$1,253.0 million for the MPS is to fund programs designed to increase the knowledge
base in the relevant sciences; improve the quality of educational programs, with emphasis
at the undergraduate level; improve the rate at which research efforts are translated into
societal benefits; and increase the diversity of approaches and individuals in the
mathematical and physical sciences.
Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE.) The SBE Directorate,
proposed at $222.0 million in FY2008, supports programs directed at developing basic
scientific knowledge about human behavior, culture, interaction, and decisionmaking, and
about social, political, and economic systems, organizations, and institutions. The SBE
also serves as the nation’s primary data source on science and engineering human,
institutional, and financial resources.
Other Program Activities and Accounts. The Major Research Equipment and
Facilities Construction (MREFC) account is funded at $244.7 million in the FY2008

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request, a $53.8 million increase over the FY2007 estimate. The MREFC supports the
acquisition and construction of major research facilities and equipment that extend the
boundaries of science, engineering, and technology. First priority for funding is directed
at ongoing projects, and second priority is given to new starts. Six ongoing projects and
one new start are scheduled for support in the FY2008 request — the Alaska Region
Research Vessel ($42.0 million); the Atacama Large Millimeter Array ($102.7 million):
the IceCube Neutrino Observatory ($22.4 million); the National Ecological Observatory
Network ($8.0 million); the Ocean Observatories Initiative ($31.0 million); the South Pole
Station Modernization project ($6.6 million); and Advanced LIGO ($32.8 million).
The FY2008 request for EHR is $750.6 million, $46.1 million below the FY2007
estimate.5 The EHR portfolio is focused on increasing the technological literacy of all
citizens, preparing the next generation of science, engineering, and mathematics
professionals, and closing the achievement gap in all scientific fields. Support at the
various educational levels in the FY2008 request is as follows: research on learning in
formal and informal settings (includes precollege), $222.5 million; undergraduate, $210.2
million; and graduate, $169.5 million. Priorities at the precollege level include research
and evaluation on education in science and engineering ($42.0 million), informal science
education ($66.0 million), and Discovery Research K-12 ($107.0 million). Priorities at
the undergraduate level include the Robert Noyce Scholarship Program ($10.0 million),
Course, Curriculum and Laboratory Improvement ($37.5 million), STEM Talent
Expansion Program ($29.7 million), Advanced Technological Education ($51.6 million),
and Scholarship for Service ($12.1 million). The Math and Science Partnership Program
(MSP) is proposed at $46 million. At the graduate level, priorities are Integrative
Graduate Education and Research Traineeship ($25.0 million), Graduate Research
Fellowships ($97.5 million), and Graduate Teaching Fellows in K-12 Education ($47.0
million). Added support is given to several programs directed at increasing the number
of underrepresented groups in the sciences — the Historically Black Colleges and
Universities Undergraduate Program ($30.0 million), Tribal Colleges and Universities
Program ($12.9 million), Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation ($40.0
million), and Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology ($29.5 million).
Policy Issues. There has been considerable debate in the academic and scientific
community and in Congress about the management and oversight of major projects
selected for construction and the need for prioritization of potential projects funded in the
MREFC account. One continuing question has focused on the process for including
major projects in the upcoming budget cycle. Appropriation language directed the NSF
to improve its oversight of large projects by developing an implementation plan that
included comprehensive guidelines and project oversight review. In September 2005, the
NSB released its management report on the new guidelines for the development, review,
and approval of major projects — Setting Priorities for Large Research Facility Projects
Supported by the National Science Foundation.6 The report describes facilities under
construction and those being considered for future funding. Because of the changing
nature of science and technology, NSF finds it necessary to have the flexibility of
reconsidering facilities at the various stages of development. Also, the NSF states that
5 The FY2008 request transfers EPSCoR from the EHR to the IA account.
6 National Science Board, Setting Priorities for Large Research Projects Supported by the
National Science Foundation, NSB05-77, Arlington, VA, September 2005, 31 pp.

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it must be able to respond, effectively, to possible changes in interagency participation,
international and cooperative agreements, or co-funding for major research facilities.
NSF encourages project planning from disciplines and fields in which scientists and
engineers have not traditionally partnered or collaborated. The report notes that while
some “concepts” may evolve into MREFC candidates, others may prove infeasible for
major project support. The facility plan will be updated as needed.
Several pieces of competitiveness legislation have been introduced in the 110th
Congress that have as a key provision, funding and strengthening science and
mathematics education. There are concerns about the nation’s continued ability to
compete in world markets and to produce a scientific and technical workforce that would
ensure economic prosperity and military capability.7 A priority of the NSF is to advance
the productivity of research for students and teachers and to increase the number of U.S.
students pursuing scientific and technical disciplines. However, there are proposed
reductions for some science education programs in NSF’s FY2008 request. Overall,
support for EHR has declined from $944.1 million in FY2004 to $750.6 million in the
FY2008 request. Questions are being raised as to whether the NSF can effectively
continue in its explicit mission and responsibility to improve science and mathematics
education with the current level of funding.8
In September 2006, the NSF released the report, Investing in America’s Future-
Strategic Plan FY2006-2011.9 The report addresses the accelerating pace of scientific
discoveries that are occurring in a more competitive international environment. The
Strategic Plan lists several investment priorities that are targeted for increased emphasis
or funding over the next five years. The investments include furthering U.S. economic
competitiveness; promoting transformational, multidisciplinary research; improving K-12
teaching and learning in science and mathematics; developing a comprehensive,
integrated cyberinfrastructure; and strengthening the nation’s collaborative advantage
through unique networks and innovative partnerships. In addition, NSF will continue to
improve management excellence, with a focus on joining such areas as resource
allocation, communication strategies, award management and oversight, and the core
processes of merit review.
On May 2, 2007, the House Committee on Science and Technology passed H.R.
1867 (H.Rept. 110-114), the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2007.
The bill authorizes a total of $21.0 billion for the NSF for FY2008, FY2009, and FY2010,
including $16.4 billion for R&RA, $2.8 billion for EHR, and $787.0 million for MREFC.
Priorities to be addressed in the three-year authorization bill include those of supporting
successful K-12 science, mathematics, and engineering education programs, promoting
university-industry partnerships, balancing funding between interdisciplinary and
disciplinary research, and improving funding rates for new investigators.
7 See for example National Center on Education and the Economy, Tough Choices or Tough
times, the Report fo the New Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce, Executive
Summary, January 2007, 26 pp.
8 Mervis, Jeffrey, “National Science Foundation: Is the Education Directorate Headed for a
Failing Grade?,” Science, v. 311, February 24, 2006, pp. 1092-1093.
9 National Science Foundation, Investing in America’s Future-Strategic Plan FY2006-2011,
NSF06-48, Arlington, VA, September 2006, 19 pp.

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