The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports science and engineering in all 50 states and U.S. territories. NSF was established in 1950 by Congress to:
- Promote the progress of science.
- Advance the national health, prosperity and welfare.
- Secure the national defense.
NSF fulfills its mission chiefly by making grants. Its investments account for about 25% of federal support to America's colleges and universities for (1) basic research (research driven by curiosity and discovery; and for (2) solutions-oriented research with the potential to produce advancements for the American people. It focuses support in four areas:
- Discovery and innovation – Making investments to support basic research across all fields of fundamental science and engineering, except the medical sciences, as well as use-inspired research with the potential to create products and solutions that improve people's lives.
- Infrastructure – Investing in supercomputers, ground-based telescopes, research stations in the Arctic and Antarctic, the world’s largest and highest-powered magnet lab, long-term ecological sites, engineering centers and other infrastructure and state-of-the-art tools to sustain the nation's scientific enterprise. Many of these facilities drive discoveries and serve as training grounds for the next generation of scientists and engineers.
- Partnerships – Supporting research partnerships between colleges and universities, industry, nonprofits, government and other organizations within the U.S. and across the globe. Investments focus on sparking new ideas and creative approaches that can accelerate discovery and transform knowledge into tangible benefits to society.
- Education – Investing in education and training programs that attract individuals from diverse backgrounds and every sector. These investments (pre-K through graduate school and beyond) ensure a pipeline of people and ideas ready to solve pressing global challenges in science and engineering.
NSF is organized into directorates and offices that support the various disciplines of science, engineering and education. Its workforce includes approximately 1,500 federal employees and 200 scientists from research institutions in temporary positions.
In an average year, NSF funds support:
- About 12,000 competitive awards for research, education and training
- About 2,000 colleges, universities and other institutions
- About 318,000 researchers, entrepreneurs, students, and teachers.
In 2021, scientific administrators at the NSF introduced the acronym, STEM - to refer to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. The NSF has emphasized the need for students to immerse in these areas at a young age, setting them up for success in STEM-related careers. The federal government further emphasizes the importance of STEM education in grades K-12, investing significant funds each year to improve these programs and prepare students for critical careers in STEM fields.
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