National Science Foundation FY 1995 Budget Request: An Overview

“The programs and activities supported through this budget will advance the frontiers of new knowledge and bring such knowledge to bear on national priorities, spur productivity improvements in all sectors, lead reforms at all levels of education, and help to develop a workforce for the 21st Century with scientific and technical skills of the highest order.” -- National Science Foundation Budget Summary, FY 1995

The Clinton Administration has requested a 6.0% increase, or $182.2 million, in the National Science Foundation’s budget for fiscal year 1995. Total funding would rise to $3,200,000,000.

As important as this increase is, notable in light of other budgets that are flat at best, is the attention NSF gives to the administration’s and Congress’ linking of science and technology to national goals, as indicated in the quote above. The budget, in NSF’s words, “provides strong support to a number of interagency and NSF initiatives that are directly relevant to national priorities.” These include global change research, up 46.2%; high performance computing and communication, up 23.1%; advanced manufacturing technology; and science, mathematics, engineering, and technology education.

The budget for Research and Related Activities would increase by 8.3%. NSF officials estimate that this would increase the number of awards by 5% (from 9,000 to 9,600), and the amount of the awards by 10% (to $91,000.) Education and Human Resource spending is up 2.9%, which will probably again be ratcheted-up by Congress. NSF proposes to cut Academic Research Infrastructure spending by 45% to the level requested a year ago. Congress will likely increase this account. The Major Research Equipment request for LIGO and the Gemini Telescopes projects would increase by 34.6%. Aspects of the NSF request will be covered in greater depth in future FYIs.

During his February 7 budget briefing, NSF Director Neal Lane did not say what percentage of the budget was targeted towards strategically-oriented research. While saying that he had “no problem with being responsive to the [Senate Appropriations] committee language” calling for 60% to be so targeted, he said that “I can’t give you a well-defined number.”

Although there may be concern in some quarters how NSF’s vision of its future might affect its “traditional” role, there is another side to this coin. By linking itself to a key national goal - that of economic growth - NSF helps to ensure that foundation support remains strong on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. NSF makes this very important point in the budget summary: “because so many aspects of the nation’s future rest upon our capabilities in science, mathematics, and engineering, the research and education activities supported by the National Science Foundation represent vital and necessary investments that will provide the highest possible return to all Americans.”