FY 1997 NSF Request: Materials Research Subactivity

The National Science Foundation budget request states:

“The FY 1997 Budget Request for the Materials Research Subactivity is $189.07 million, an increase of $15.11 million, or 8.7%, over the FY 1996 Estimate of $173.96 million.”

The Materials Research Subactivity request has three components: Materials Research Project Support, Materials Research Science & Engineering Centers, and National Facilities and Instrumentation.

Materials Research Project Support would increase 10.1%, or $8.50 million, to $92.59 million. The request states: “Support will be provided for establishing Focused Research Groups (FRGs). FRGs involve two or more investigators from academe and may also include participants from industry and the national laboratories. They will address complex problems in areas such as nanoscience and engineering, optical science and engineering, biomolecular materials, and nonlinear phenomena. Emphasis will be placed on innovative research approaches to the development of new instrumentation, new synthesis and processing methods, computational modeling, and characterization techniques for optimal design of materials for the future.”

Materials Research Science & Engineering Centers spending would increase 3.5%, or $2.00 million, to $58.59 million. The request states: “MRSECs will increase activities to advance systemic change in primary and secondary science education. For example, one MRSEC has already developed and tested (and will soon distribute) their `Materials World Modules’, a program that features student-directed, hands-on experiences with high-tech materials to foster the students understanding of the role of fundamental science in the design and fabrication of new materials with special properties for practical applications.”

National Facilities and Instrumentation spending would increase 13.9%, or $4.61 million, to $37.89 million. The request states: “Emphasis will be placed on selected national facilities as well as major equipment development for shared multidisciplinary use. Particular attention will be given to high magnetic field research and technology at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory at Florida State University, a laboratory with unsurpassed magnet capability that enables experiments that will greatly advance knowledge in physics, chemistry, materials science, and biology. The future expectations of this research is that it will lead to important technology applications such as new devices for the computer industry, new materials with exceptional strengths, and major advances in medicine. A portion of this increase will be allocated for the NSF-wide instrumentation program.”