NSF Provides Handy Booklet on Science and Technology Funding
The Science Resources Studies Division of the National Science Foundation has put out an updated version of its handbook entitled “Science and Technology Pocket Data Book: 1994.” The small reference handbook provides a number of useful statistics on S&T funding patterns from information compiled over the past decade. The book, NSF 94-323, can be obtained by calling (703) 306-1777. Most of the data are also available on the World Wide Web at http://www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/stats.htm . A sampling of the data is provided below:
NATIONAL R&D FUNDING PATTERNS
Expenditures for R&D in 1993 = $160.8 billion
By Source: |
By Character of Work: |
Industry - 52% |
Development - 59% |
Federal Government - 42% |
Applied research - 25% |
Universities and Colleges - 4% |
Basic Research - 16% |
Other nonprofit institutions - 2% |
Employed FTE (full-time equivalent) R&D scientists and engineers in 1989 = 949,300
By Sector: Industry - 76% Universities, colleges and other nonproft institutions - 18% Federal Government - 6%
Federal R&D budget authority, by function: 1995
Total R&D: |
Basic Research: |
Defense - 55% |
Health - 44% |
Health - 16% |
General science - 19% |
Space - 11% |
Space - 12% |
Other - 5% |
Defense - 9% |
General science - 4% |
Energy - 7% |
Energy - 4% |
Agriculture - 4% |
Environment - 3% |
Environment - 3% |
Agriculture - 2% |
Other - 2% |
ACADEMIC R&D EXPENDITURES
By source of funds: 1993 |
By field: 1992 |
Federal Government - 57% |
Life science - 54% |
Universities and colleges - 19% |
Engineering - 16% |
Industry - 8% |
Physical sciences - 11% |
State and local governments - 8% |
Environmental - 7% |
Other nonprofit institutions - 8% |
Social sciences - 4% |
Mathematical & |
|
computer sciences - 4% |
|
Psychology - 2% |
|
Other sciences - 2% |
|
R&D IN US INDUSTRY
Expenditures for industrial R&D, by source of funds: (millions of current dollars)
Year Industry Federal 1970 $10,288 $7,306 1980 30,476 12,752 1985 57,043 25,333 1990 73,980 27,862 1991 76,938 22,586 1992 79,000 26,100 1993 (est) 81,300 28,300
EDUCATION OF SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS
Doctorates awarded in major science and engineering fields
Field |
1982 |
1992 |
Physical sciences |
2,694 |
3,749 |
Mathematics |
720 |
1,058 |
Computer sciences |
220 |
789 |
Environmental sciences |
657 |
824 |
Psychology |
3,159 |
3,252 |
Social sciences |
3,077 |
3,388 |
Engineering |
2,646 |
5,437 |
Biological and |
4,844 |
5,857 |
agricultural sciences |
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WORKING SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS
Employed doctoral scientists, by sector: 1991 (Total = 367,440)
Educational institutions - 50% Industry - 32% Federal Government - 6% Other - 5% Nonprofit organizations - 4% State and local governments - 3%
PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARD S&T
Percentage saying that S&T has a positive or negative impact on...:1992
Issue |
Positive |
Negative |
Standard of living |
over 80% |
under 10% |
Public health |
just under 80% |
about 10% |
General working conditions |
over 70% |
just under 10% |
Enjoyment of life |
just over 70% |
about 10% |
World peace |
about 50% |
about 25% |
