National Science Foundation

The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health.

The National Science Foundation was established by the Congress in 1950 “to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense…” With an annual budget of about US$7.0 billion (fiscal year 2012), the NSF funds approximately 24% of all federally supported basic research conducted by the United States’ colleges and universities. In some fields, such as mathematics, computer science, economics, and the social sciences, the NSF is the major source of federal backing.

The NSF also supports state-of-the-art research facilities at US universities; promotes science and engineering education at all levels, from pre-college to postdoctoral; and awards grants to scientists and engineers in support of their research.

The NSF is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, with offices in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington. Its current director is Subra Suresh.

The National Science Foundation is a research and development agency of the United States government. The agency supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health.

The NSF was established by Congress in 1950 with the goal of promoting the progress of science, advancing the national health, prosperity, and welfare, and securing the national defense. The NSF funds approximately 24% of all federally supported basic research conducted by US colleges and universities. In some fields, such as mathematics, computer science, economics, and the social sciences, the NSF is the major source of federal backing.

The NSF also supports state-of-the-art research facilities at US universities; promotes science and engineering education at all levels, from pre-college to postdoctoral; and awards grants to scientists and engineers in support of their research.