NSF FY 1995 Budget Request: Academic Research Infrastructure

The National Science Foundation has requested a 45.0 percent decrease for the Academic Research Infrastructure budget for fiscal year 1995. This decline of $45 million would cut funding to $55.0 million.

The Academic Research Infrastructure Activity is separate from the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate, the Education and Human Resources Directorate and the Geosciences Directorate. It is divided into the following two components:

Academic Research Facilities. FY 1993 (last year) funding: $37.28 million; FY 1994 Current Plan: $50.00 million; FY 1995 Request: Down 45% to $27.50 million.

Academic Research Instrumentation. FY 1993 funding: $12.47 million; FY 1994 Current Plan: $50 million; FY 1995 Request: Down 45% to $27.50 million.

In the budget document provided to Congress, NSF states that a survey is now being conducted at 525 universities and colleges on the need for facilities modernization. The survey will be sent to Congress in September. A 1992 survey found that 39% of research facilities needed limited renovation to complete replacement. A 1992 survey found that 31% of instrumentation was “insufficient.”

The budget document states:

“In FY 1995, NSF is requesting $55.00 million for Academic Research Infrastructure; the same amount which was requested in FY 1994 and will be split evenly between facilities and instrumentation. Because the academic infrastructure problem is so pervasive, it cannot be adequately addressed by one agency acting alone. Only with the concerted cooperative effort of every agency that funds academic research, and with the support of Congress, can the federal government begin to address the large scale modernization and instrumentation requirements of our science laboratories and classrooms. The $55.00 million requested would support meritorious proposals submitted by the FY 1994 proposal solicitation deadline but held over for funding with FY 1995 funds. New proposals would not be solicited in FY 1995. NSF feels that $55 million is sufficient to allow the continued upgrading and improvement of research facilities and instrumentation at academic institutions while maintaining our traditional role in the research community.”