Science and Engineering Indicators - Physics Expenditures

AUG 21, 1996

The recently issued National Science Board report, “Science & Engineering Indicators 1996" contains a wealth of important statistics about the condition of the U.S. scientific and technological enterprise. Among the offerings are figures on federal support for physics research, and historical changes in this funding.

ACADEMIC RESEARCH OBLIGATIONS BY MAJOR FEDERAL AGENCIES (1993 - 1995, Average):

Physics: DOE - 40.8%, NSF - 27.4%; NASA - 18.3%; DOD - 12.3%; HHS - 1.1%

Astronomy: NASA - 64.1%; NSF - 31.5%; DOD - 4.4%

Environmental Sciences (Atmospheric Sciences, Earth Sciences, Oceanography, Other): NSF - 48.5%; NASA - 22.7%; DOD - 18.8%; DOE - 9.2%; USDA - 0.8%

The following figures are expressed in, or calculated from, constant 1987 dollars:

TOTAL FEDERAL AND NONFEDERAL ACADEMIC R&D EXPENDITURES:

Physics expenditures grew at an annual rate of 4.6% between 1983 and 1993.

Astronomy increased at an annual rate of 9.3%.

The average annual growth rate of academic R&D expenditures for all fields combined was 6.0%.

Academic Physics R&D grew from $480 million in 1983 to $754 million in 1993.

Academic Astronomy R&D grew from $84 million in 1983 to $205 million in 1993.

Academic Environmental Sciences R&D grew from $709 million in 1983 to $1,072 million in 1993.

PERCENT OF FEDERAL FINANCING OF ACADEMIC R&D FUNDS:

Physics: 1973: 87.1%; 1980: 86.8%; 1985: 82.2%; 1990: 77.5%; 1993: 75.6%

Astronomy: 1973: 73.4%; 1980: 75.6%; 1985: 67.0%; 1990: 66.2%; 1993: 62.9%

Env. Sciences: 1973: 75.2%; 1980: 73.1%; 1985: 67.2%; 1990: 63.7%; 1993: 66.1%

FEDERAL OBLIGATIONS FOR BASIC RESEARCH:

Physics: 1985: $1,018 Million; 1990: $1,316 Million; 1995: $1,160 Million

Astronomy: 1985: $425 Million; 1990: $518 Million; 1995: $526 Million

Env. Sciences: 1985: $742 Million; 1990: $1,138 Million; 1995: $1,185 Million

FEDERAL OBLIGATIONS FOR APPLIED RESEARCH:

Physics: 1985: $908 Million; 1990: $697 Million; 1995: $746 Million

Astronomy: 1985: $15 Million; 1990: $15 Million; 1995: $16 Million

Env. Sciences: 1985: $747 Million; 1990: $803 Million; 1995: $904 Million

See FYI #125 for other statistics from this document. To order this report (Stock Number 038-000-00592-8) call the U.S. Government Printing Office at 202-512-1800. The price is $60.00.