One of the many informative tables in the National Science Board's
"Science and Engineering Indicators - 2002" provides information
on the growth of academic R&D in various fields of science and engineering
between the years 1973 and 1999. According to the "Indicators,"
funding for total academic science and engineering grew by 205.7 percent,
in inflation-adjusted dollars, during that period. Academic R&D
in all the major fields shown below (Physical Sciences, Environmental
Sciences, and Life Sciences) - except the Social Sciences - grew by
more than 100 percent after inflation in this time period.
Academic R&D expenditures, for selected years and fields, are shown
below. Amounts are given in constant 1996 dollars. The percentage change
between 1973 and 1999 for each field or subfield, after inflation, follows.
SELECTED ACADEMIC R&D EXPENDITURES, BY FIELD:
(In millions of constant 1996 dollars)
| FIELD |
1973 |
1999 |
% Change |
| TOTAL SCIENCE & ENGINEERING |
$8,583 |
26,238 |
Up 205.7 |
| PHYSICAL SCIENCES |
977 |
2,481 |
Up 153.9 |
| - Astronomy |
72 |
372 |
Up 416.7 |
| - Chemistry |
338 |
873 |
Up 158.3 |
| - Physics |
497 |
1,090 |
Up 119.3 |
| - Other |
70 |
146 |
Up 108.6 |
| ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES |
623 |
1,613 |
Up 158.9 |
| LIFE SCIENCES |
4,553 |
14,881 |
Up 226.8 |
| SOCIAL SCIENCES |
688 |
1,205 |
Up 75.2 |
| TOTAL ENGINEERING |
991 |
4,063 |
Up 310.0 |
In 1973, Physical Sciences R&D made up 11.4 percent of total academic
science and engineering, while R&D in the Life Sciences represented
53.1 percent of the total. By 1999, Physical Sciences R&D had dropped
to 9.5 percent of the total while Life Sciences R&D had grown to
56.7 percent.
Keep in mind that the numbers above refer only to academic R&D.
The complete two-volume "Science and Engineering Indicators - 2002",
including appendix tables, is available on the web at http://www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/seind02/pdfstart.htm.
A CD-ROM of the Indicators can be ordered, free of charge, from the
same site. For a hardcopy version, contact paperpubs@nsf.gov or call
(301) 947-2722.
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