FY 1996 Budget Request: NSF - Physics, Astronomy, Materials Research
Below are selected program elements from the Fiscal Year 1996 National Science Foundation budget request. See FYI #22 for an overview of the entire budget; additional FYIs will be issued on other NSF programs.
PHYSICS SUBACTIVITY:
NSF is requesting a $142.20 million budget for this subactivity, which is a 9.1%, or $11.87 million increase. The budget document states the request includes:
“An increment of $5.37 million [5.7%] for Physics Research Project Support to a total of $98.95 million. This includes increased support for atomic, molecular, plasma, and optical physics; the physics of chaos and complexity; and for new research in biological physics and particle astrophysics. Activities in undergraduate education and curriculum development will be enhanced.”
“An increment of $6.50 million [17.7%] for Facilities to a total of $43.25 million which will allow continuation of the upgrade of CESR [Cornell Electron Storage Ring] to luminosities a factor of at least 30 higher than exist anywhere in the world at similar facilities, making possible advanced research in particle physics and with synchrotron light. The increment also provides for enhancements at the IUCF [Indiana University Cyclotron Facility] and NSCL [Michigan State University National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory] cyclotrons.”
The budget document notes: “The Physics Subactivity supports research and development activities for the ...LIGO project, and provides resources for the development of a users’ program at that facility. This Subactivity oversees this construction project.” A future FYI will provide additional LIGO information.
ASTRONOMICAL SCIENCES SUBACTIVITY:
NSF is requesting a $110.39 million budget for this subactivity, which is 8.0%, or $8.21 million increase. The budget document states the request includes:
"$1.20 million [3.1%] increase for Research Project Support to a total of $40.00 million. This will provide for continued development of adaptive optics systems for moderate aperture telescopes, for development of optical interferometers, and for equipping optical observatories with state-of-the-art instrumentation. There will be support for developing enhanced interactions between the academic and industrial sectors through postdoctoral fellowships. Studies of planetary atmospheres will be emphasized.”
"$760,000 [9.7%] increase for NAIC [National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center] to a total of $8.58 million. This will provide for operations and maintenance of the 300-meter radio telescope and for further development of instrumentation to take advantage of the capabilities of the upgraded Arecibo Telescope.”
"$2.54 million [9.5%] increase for NOAO [National Optical Astronomy Observatories] to a total of $29.23 million. The increases are for operations and maintenance of the observatories, with particular emphasis on infrastructure support, including instrumentation development and deployment for exploration of solar influences in the Environment and Global Change strategic area.”
"$3.71 million [12.9%] increase for NRAO [National Radio Astronomy Observatory] to a total of $32.58 million. The increases are for operations and maintenance of existing telescopes, instrumentation, enhanced operations of the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA), and continued research and development of a large millimeter-wavelength interferometric array.”
MATERIALS RESEARCH SUBACTIVITY:
NSF is requesting a $190.92 million budget for this subactivity, which is a 8.9%, or $15.54 million increase. The budget document states the request includes:
"$5.89 million [7.1%] increase for individual investigators and small groups through the Materials Research Project Support Program to a total of $88.97 million. The requested increase includes research on the design and synthesis of materials with new and improved properties, nanoscience and engineering aimed at achieving atomic-level control of nanostructures that offer potential for new devices, the synthesis of biomimetic materials with properties found in biologically produced materials, and research on the development and understanding of `smart’ materials that react to changes in their environment thereby offering potential as unique sensors. In addition, the Subactivity will continue to pursue innovative approaches to interdisciplinary course, curriculum and training activities for the education of future scientists and engineers.”
"$3.40 million [5.8%] increase to a total of $62.32 million for multi-investigator research through the Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSEC) Program. This includes $47.41 million for MRSECs and $14.91 million for Science and Technology Centers supported by this Subactivity. The requested increase will support one-to-two new MRSECs resulting from an open competition to be held in FY 1996 and also will strengthen existing materials centers. University-industry-federal laboratory partnerships and outreach activities will be emphasized.”
"$6.25 million [18.7%] increase to a total of $39.63 million for the national user facilities including centers for synchrotron radiation, small-angle neutron scattering, high magnetic fields, and nano-fabrication technology. The budget also provides for the support of major instrumentation. The requested increase will be used to upgrade the facilities, to provide researchers with instrumentation at the national synchrotron facilities, and to develop novel characterization instruments.”
“Within the National Facilities and Instrumentation program element, funding for the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL) at Florida State University will increase by $3.00 million to $15.00 million, as the laboratory enters its second five-year development phase. Of the $15.00 million, $12.00 million will provide support for user operations and maintenance and upgrades of existing magnets. The requested increase will support the development of next generation magnet systems. In excess of $100.00 million has been committed by the State of Florida toward the cost of establishing the laboratory.”
