National Science Foundation: Since 2001, The Administration

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Since 2001, the Administration:

• Advanced all fields of science, engineering, and mathematics by funding 59,000 grants at the
National Science Foundation through a competitive, merit-based process;
• Strengthened the foundations of the science and engineering workforce by directly supporting
69,000 graduate students and 28,000 undergraduate students;
• Supported particle physics, supercomputing, and research on earthquakes and the
atmosphere by fully funding the construction of four major research facilities; and
• Enabled breakthroughs with significant scientific and economic impact by committing to
doubling the funding over 10 years for key basic research agencies, including the National
Science Foundation, through the President’s American Competitiveness Initiative.
The President’s 2008 Budget:
• Dramatically improves the National Science Foundation’s efforts to build and sustain U.S.
global leadership in the physical sciences, engineering, computer science, and many other
fields of science and engineering;
• Provides enhanced infrastructure and tools to strengthen research capabilities in physics,
astronomy, the oceans, and environmental research;
• Supports the U.S. role in the International Polar Year by providing $59 million for polar
observations, research, and analysis, coordinated across other countries and agencies, to
improve understanding of the key roles of the polar regions in the earth’s dynamics, and to
explore new frontiers of Arctic and Antarctic science; and
• Helps attract more of the most promising American students into graduate level science and
engineering by funding over 200 additional graduate fellowships in 2008.
135
136 NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
FOCUSING ON THE NATION’S PRIORITIES
Doubling Research through the American Competitiveness Initiative
As part of the President’s American Competitiveness Initiative (ACI), the 2008 Budget provides
an increase of 6.8 percent over the 2007 Budget for the National Science Foundation (NSF),
continuing a 10-year commitment to double critical basic research investments across key agencies
in the physical sciences, engineering, and related fields. NSF research builds the foundations for
innovative technologies that drive economic growth and enhance quality of life. A broad portfolio
of basic research—from the fields at the heart of ACI, such as physics, chemistry, mathematics,
engineering, and computer science, to other fields, such as the geological, biological, behavioral, and
social sciences—will energize science broadly and sustain the productivity of the Nation’s science
and engineering enterprise and keep America at the forefront of world discovery and innovation.
Past NSF research has contributed to the development of the Internet and Internet search engines,
fiber-optics, color plasma displays, magnetic resonance imaging, and other advances that now help
each of us in our daily lives.
Working with other agencies as part of

the National Nanotechnology Initiative,
NSF’s nanotechnology research will continue
to advance fundamental understanding of
materials at the subatomic, atomic, and molec-
ular levels and will enable the development
of capabilities to design, manipulate, and
construct revolutionary devices and materials
with unprecedented properties. The Budget
provides $390 million in 2008 for NSF’s
nanotechnology research investments, an
increase of 4.5 percent from the level proposed
in 2007, including funding for a new NSF
center to address environmental, health, and Georgia Tech; Gary Meek
Georgia Tech Professor Zhong Lin Wang holds a nanowire array that can
safety research needs for nano-materials. produce electrical energy from the slightest motions.
NSF has significant roles in the Networking
and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) program. The Budget provides
$994 million of NITRD funding, an increase of 10 percent from the level proposed in 2007. This
investment will support fundamental research in information, computer, and communications sci-
ences, laying the groundwork for next-generation technologies. NSF programs will also support
access to cutting-edge computing and networking infrastructure essential for America’s scientists,
engineers, and students to remain at the forefront of discovery. Funding for both nanotechnology
and information technology research supports education and training for the next generation of
researchers and the science, engineering, and technology workforce.
The Administration’s Ocean Research Priorities Plan highlights the importance of greater under-
standing of ocean processes and ecosystems. The 2008 Budget provides NSF with $17 million to
address near-term ocean research priorities, in addition to other ongoing ocean research activities.
The President’s Budget supports the U.S. role in the International Polar Year (IPY) by providing
over $59 million for related research and education activities. NSF will lead the U.S. research commu-
nity in working with scientists supported by other agencies and countries to advance understanding
of the Earth’s poles. Major areas of research will include Arctic environmental change, the influence
THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2008 137
of polar ice sheets on global phenomena, and organisms that live in the cold and dark. NSF’s IPY
research will include a focus on education and outreach to motivate future generations of scientists,
engineers, and educators.
Through its new strategic plan, NSF will provide increased emphasis in its goals of discovery,
learning, research infrastructure, and stewardship. These priorities, along with NSF’s investments
supporting basic research across all fields, are central to advancing the vitality of the U.S. research
and education enterprise. The Budget enables NSF to work toward these goals with fiscal discipline,
maintaining overhead expenses at less than six percent of its total budget.
Providing Facilities and Infrastructure for Science and Engineering
The 2008 Budget supports research facilities, infrastructure, and instrumentation critical to
scientists and engineers. The Budget supports the development of state-of-the-art facilities and
equipment that substantially enhances research efforts throughout a wide range of fields, including
astronomy and research on the oceans and the environment.
Computing and advanced networking tools that broadly benefit the Nation’s entire science and
engineering community, collectively known as “cyberinfrastructure,” have become essential to
advancing the frontiers of knowledge through science and engineering. The Budget provides $644
million for NSF’s targeted investments in these tools.
The 2008 Budget proposes a major upgrade for the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave
Observatory. Being able to detect gravitational waves—first predicted in Einstein’s theory of
general relativity—would advance understanding of fundamental physics and enable a new window
on the universe through gravitational wave astronomy. This investment will dramatically expand
the ability to detect gravitational waves, which also significantly increases the potential for
discovering completely new phenomena of physics.
NSF’s Major Research Instrumentation program provides investments in a diverse portfolio of

mid-size tools, such as nanofabrication tools, biological imaging instruments, environmental moni-
toring stations, very high wattage lasers, and ocean observatories. The Budget provides $110 million
for these and other instrumentation investments in 2008. In addition to enabling and strength-
ening the research that NSF funds, the development of these tools advances the state of the art
for instrumentation and promotes partnerships between academic researchers and private sector
instrument developers.
Enhancing Science and Engineering Education
The President’s Budget supports NSF’s efforts to promote the development of a diverse and well-
prepared workforce of scientists, engineers, and educators and a well-informed citizenry. NSF makes
strategic investments in K–12, undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral education. Consistent
with the work of the Administration’s Academic Competitiveness Council (ACC), NSF and other
agencies that fund science and math education are redoubling their efforts to demonstrate results
and improve coordination.
The 2008 Budget will help strengthen the preparation of American students for the science
and engineering workforce, with a focus on broadening participation in those fields. The Budget
ensures that NSF’s Math and Science Partnerships program will continue, with $29 million of its
$46 million budget available for new awards, in recognition of the program’s focus on evaluation
and past successes identified by the ACC.
138 NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
The Budget funds graduate fellowships and traineeships for approximately 5,300 graduate
students across the country. NSF funding for basic research at American academic institutions also
plays a central role in supporting the education of future American scientists and engineers.
National Science Foundation

(In millions of dollars)
2006 Estimate
Actual 2007 2008
Spending
Discretionary Budget Authority:
Research and Related Activities ..................................................................... 4,340 4,333 5,132
Education and Human Resources ................................................................. 797 797 751
Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction ........................ 191 234 245
Agency Operations and Award Management ............................................ 247 247 286
National Science Board...................................................................................... 4 4 4
Inspector General ................................................................................................. 11 11 12
Total, Discretionary budget authority ................................................................. 5,590 5,626 6,430
Total, Discretionary outlays ................................................................................... 5,427 5,728 5,901
Mandatory Outlays:
H–1B Fee Programs ............................................................................................ 76 103 102
All other .................................................................................................................... 39 29 23
Total, Mandatory outlays ........................................................................................ 115 132 125
Total, Outlays .............................................................................................................. 5,542 5,860 6,026

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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Since 2001, the Administration:

FOCUSING ON THE NATION’S PRIORITIES

Doubling Research through the American Competitiveness Initiative

Working with other agencies as part of

Providing Facilities and Infrastructure for Science and Engineering

NSF’s Major Research Instrumentation program provides investments in a diverse portfolio of

Enhancing Science and Engineering Education

National Science Foundation

Total, Discretionary outlays ................................................................................... 5,427 5,728 5,901

Total, Outlays .............................................................................................................. 5,542 5,860 6,026

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