Transcript NSF GRS Program - Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei

U.S. Science Policy
Cheryl L. Eavey, Program Director
Methodology, Measurement, and Statistics
Division of Social and Economic Sciences
National Science Foundation
U.S. Science Policy
• In essence, to support the “best”
science that meets national needs.
Defining Characteristic
• Science and technology policy in the
U.S. is the product of a pluralistic,
decentralized system with numerous
interests competing for influence and
scarce funds.
Competing Interests
• Federal agencies
• Congressional committees
• Universities and other research
institutions
• Individual researchers
Federal Agencies Supporting
S&T-Related Research
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Department of Energy
Department of Defense
Environmental Protection Agency
National Aeronautics & Space
Administration
• National Science Foundation
• Department of Health and Human
Services
– National Institutes of Health
The U.S. Government Includes Both Cabinet
Departments and Independent Agencies
The President
of the
United States
Office of
Management
and Budget
Agriculture
Health &
Human Services
National
Science
Foundation
Interior
National
Aeronautic
& Space
Administration
Science Advisor
Office of
Science &
Technology Policy
Transportation
Environmental
Protection
Agency
Smithsonian
Institution
Independent Agencies
Other Boards,
Councils, Etc.
Defense
Nuclear
Regulatory
Commission
Major Departments
Energy
Other
Agencies
Commerce
NSF Invests in
• Ideas to provide a deep and broad
fundamental science and engineering
knowledge base.
• People to develop a diverse,
internationally competitive, and globally
engaged workforce of scientists,
engineers, and well-prepared citizens.
• Tools to provide widely accessible,
state-of-the-art science and engineering
infrastructure.
NSF Expects the Collective Outcomes
of Its Investments to Yield:
• Discoveries at and across the frontier
of science and engineering
• Connections between discoveries and
their use in service to society
• A diverse, globally-oriented workforce
of scientists and engineers
• Improved achievement in mathematics
and science skills needed by all
Americans
NSF Is a Science Management Agency
Scientists and institutions
responding to broad civilian
scientific needs of the nation
30,000 Annual Proposal Actions
60 advisory
groups
(6,000 members)
1,200
full-time
employees
About 20,000 award actions
for almost $5 billion
(academic, industrial, nonprofit, governmental recipients)
250,000 reviews
(50,000 reviewers)
U.S. Government Budgetary Process
Authorize
Request
Executive Branch
Executive Office
of the President
Cabinet
Departments
Independent
Agencies
Manage
Legislative Branch
Senate
House of
Representatives
Appropriate
House and Senate
Authorization Committees
• House Committee on Science
– Jurisdiction over all non-defense federal scientific
research and development, including oversight of
programs of relevant agencies (e.g., NSF, NASA,
EPA).
• Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and
Transportation
– Jurisdiction for, among other things, science and
technology policy.
• Recent Action
– Legislation to double NSF’s budget in five years, with
new management requirements.
House and Senate
Appropriation Committees
• Discretionary programs are funded via
13 separate appropriation bills.
• Research programs considered in
different bills.
• NSF, for example, competes with NASA
and EPA for funding (but not with NIH
or DOD).
The University System
• No national universities.
• System of private and state-funded
universities.
• Federal funds represent approximately 60% of
academic R&D spending.
• Generally speaking, geographic distribution is
not a criterion for the allocation of funds.
• Interests represented by professional
associations; i.e., National Association of State
Universities and Land-Grant Colleges
Individual Researchers
• Funds are awarded for projects conducted by
individuals or groups of individuals.
• Funding decisions generally are made on the
basis of a competitive, peer-review process.
• Interests represented by associations; e.g.,
American Association for the Advancement of
Science (AAAS).
• Participation in activities of funding agencies
via Federal Advisory Committee Act.
Advantages
• Multiple potential sources of funding.
• “Best” ideas win.
• Wide ranging set of topics, ideas, and
approaches are supported.
• Opportunities for innovation and
support of “risky” proposals.
Disadvantages
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Weakly articulated national policy.
Sporadic coordination across agencies.
Potential for duplication.
Differences in agency funding policies.
Office of Science and Technology
Policy
• Broad mandate to advise the President
on the impacts of science and
technology on domestic and
international affairs.
• Coordinates some interagency activities
– US Global Change Research Program
– Nanotechnology
Role of Entrepreneurs
• In a pluralistic system, lots of points of
access and possible influence:
– Federal agency staff at multiple levels
• Survey and Statistical Methodology
• Biocomplexity
• Nanotechnology
– Congressional influence
• NSF/EPA Partnership for Environmental Research
• Children’s Research Initiative
– Presidential directives
• Climate Change Research Initiative (CCRI)
Future Challenges
• Continuing to “make the case” for the
value of science for the public good
• Balance across the sciences
• University/industry partnerships
• International collaboration