TRANSFORMING the WORLD THROUGH SCIENCE 2Nd Edition
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TRANSFORMING THE WORLD THROUGH SCIENCE 2nd Edition National Science Foundation Message from the Director The recently released Science and Engineering Indicators 2018, the National Science Board’s biennial report to Congress, confirmed that research and development (R&D) remains a major driver of innovation, and the United States remains the largest R&D-performing country. As the only federal agency that invests in fundamental, basic research across all non-medical fields of science and engineering, NSF has played a leading role in helping the U.S. secure and maintain its competitive edge globally. Ninety-three percent of NSF’s annual budget supports groundbreaking basic research, STEM education and development of the STEM workforce. This support is a critical source of federal funding for fields like computer science, biology, the social sciences, mathematics and the physical sciences. Advances in science and engineering ensure the U.S. economy stays strong, that Americans remain safe and secure, and that the nation continues to advance the frontiers of knowledge on scales ranging from the subatomic to the cosmic. NSF’s support for innovative STEM education keeps the nation’s workforce competitive and ready to take on future challenges. NSF strives to provide every aspiring scientist and engineer access to the resources they need to prepare for a career in science or engineering. At NSF, we say that our investments in early stage research are where discoveries begin. This book highlights where some of those discoveries lead and how our lives are transformed by NSF’s sustained support of fundamental research. At the same time, we are keeping an eye on the future with our “10 Big Ideas for Future NSF Investments.” NSF is uniquely positioned to identify and catalyze research in these frontier areas. Holding true to our mission, NSF is ensuring that the nation remains a major global influence in science and technology, and is always on the forefront of discovery and innovation. France A. Córdova Director, National Science Foundation i NSF HISTORY BASIC RESEARCH: A NATIONAL RESOURCE While Sputnik — described by Waterman as On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched a “scientific Pearl Harbor” — brought public Sputnik I, an event that served as a stark attention to science and engineering research, example of another nation’s growing scientific the federal government’s investment in basic and technological capabilities, and which elicited research began during World War II. During deep anxieties over American national security. the war, impressive innovations such as radar, penicillin and atomic weaponry resulted from Just days after Sputnik’s launch, Alan T. federally supported basic research. As the war Waterman, the first director of the National drew to a close, President Franklin D. Roosevelt Science Foundation (NSF), delivered a report looked to the prominent scientist Vannevar Bush to President Dwight D. Eisenhower titled “Basic to develop a plan for continuing federal support Research: A National Resource.” The report for basic research into peacetime. In response, surveyed the nation’s current basic research Bush issued his now famous report, “Science: The activities and firmly asserted its importance, Endless Frontier,” which set in motion the creation describing basic research as “an activity that of NSF. In his report, Bush explained, “A nation is so indispensable to the Nation that the which depends upon others for its new basic Federal Government cannot avoid responsibility scientific knowledge will be slow in its industrial for its encouragement and support.” The progress and weak in its competitive position in report signaled the agency’s leading role in world trade.” supporting science research and education and demonstrated its readiness to respond to On May 10, 1950, President Harry S. Truman a national crisis. Recognizing NSF’s leadership, signed the National Science Foundation Act, Congress responded by more than tripling the creating NSF, whose mission is “to promote agency’s budget for the next fiscal year. the progress of science; to advance the ii national health, prosperity and welfare; to strike, innovations derived from NSF-funded secure the national defense.” It is the only research provide solutions and assistance. Such agency dedicated research also forms to supporting the cornerstone of basic research and American economic education across all “to promote the progress of strength and global fields of science and science; to advance the national leadership. engineering. But what Though it often is basic research, health, prosperity, and welfare; takes many years and what value does to secure the national defense” for knowledge it add to society? gained through basic Waterman defined research to reach basic research as “that an application, the type of research which is directed toward [the] societal benefits that have emerged over the increase of knowledge in science. It is research decades leave little doubt that investments in where the primary aim of the investigator is basic research are, as Bush described, the “key a fuller knowledge or understanding of the to our security as a nation, to our better health, subject under study, rather than a practical to more jobs, to a higher standard of living and application thereof.” to our cultural progress.” The broad range of fundamental research This beautiful mural, located at NSF’s headquarters in Alexandria, supported by NSF since its creation serves Virginia, is a visual depiction of NSF’s impact on the nation as a critical resource for the nation, whether through support of nearly seven decades of scientific discovery and innovation. in times of peace or conflict. When disasters iii iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Director’s Letter ..............................................................................................................................................i NSF History .....................................................................................................................................................ii Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................................1 NSF by the Numbers .....................................................................................................................................2 Directorates and Offices ..............................................................................................................................3 NSF in Action ...................................................................................................................................................7 Fueling the U.S. Economy ..............................................................................................................................9 Enhancing the Nation’s Security ...................................................................................................................15 Advancing Knowledge..................................................................................................................................21 Individual and Societal Well-being............................................................................................................27 10 Big Ideas ...................................................................................................................................................33 Large-Scale Facilities Enabling Basic Research ........................................................................................37 NSF-funded U.S. Centers, Sites, Labs & Infrastructure ............................................................................39 Resources and Social Media........................................................................................................................43 Image Credits .................................................................................................................................................43 v EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Basic research pushes the boundaries of what is possible knowledge and health and well-being. These four themes and creates a deeper understanding of the world around align with NSF’s core mission: “to promote the progress of us. The National Science Foundation (NSF) fuels that science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and painstaking pursuit for answers across all science and welfare; to secure the national defense.” engineering (S&E) fields. The following pages, starting with “NSF by the Though not primarily focused on practical applications, basic Numbers” on page 2, give a flavor of what makes the research nevertheless leads to the breakthroughs that result agency unique. Pages 33-36 lay out NSF’s “10 Big in new industries, new technologies and an improved quality Ideas for Future NSF Investments” — bold research of life. This book is a snapshot of impacts that come from agendas that engage societal challenges and aim to NSF-funded investments. It does not capture the entire scope catalyze new breakthroughs from the S&E community. of research that NSF supports, nor is it a complete record of the many inventions, products, services and industries This book will hopefully give the reader a better that have come from NSF-funded research. Instead, it is a understanding of and appreciation for the investments in glimpse of how science addresses societal challenges. basic research that transform the world around us. Beginning on page 9, these impacts are laid