The National Science Foundation (NSF) has a number of programs that support undergraduate research and other kinds of research at primarily undergraduate institutions. Two of the most important are the Research in Undergraduate Institutions program and Major Research Instrumentation program. The aims of the programs and types of activities funded…

The Mississippi Public Universities "Research Catalog" is mandated by the State through the University Research Center Act of 1988 (§ 37-141-17). The publication lists the funding amounts by the sources of funding and by the university disciplines receiving the funding. It is designed for use by state policy makers, the educational…

The U.S. R&D enterprise relies on businesses, federal and nonfederal governments, higher education institutions, and other nonprofit organizations. This report identifies trends in R&D performance and funding and compares them to those of the world's other major economies. The U.S. annual total of R&D has expanded steadily since 2010…

This research seeks to describe the continuing predicament of R&D funding in the U.S. and to provide support for a return to higher R&D spending as a proportion of GDP to maintain American leadership in innovation. Historically, government investment has funded most foundational scientific research leading to technological advances in…

On September 22, 2022, the National Academy of Sciences held a symposium entitled Endless Frontier 2022: Research and Higher Education Institutions for the Next 75 Years. The event was a follow up to a February 2020 NAS symposium convened to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the landmark report Science, the Endless Frontier. Building on the 2020…

"Discovery," wrote William Press in a 2013 article in "Science," "leads to technology and invention, which lead to new products, jobs, and industries." Basic, curiosity-driven research continually expands the boundaries of knowledge across fields, providing insights that enrich lives. Such research helps drive the…

These are interesting days in the scientific, social, and political debates about human embryonic stem cell research. Pluripotent stem cells--cells that can, in principle, give rise to the body's full range of cell types--were previously derivable only from human embryos that were destroyed in the process. Now, a variety of somatic cell types can…

This report is the third in a series of annual reports to the President and Congress on current patterns of Federal funding of research, development, and other science-related activities at universities, colleges, and other nonprofit institutions. The various categories covered in the report are: (1) trends in Federal support to universities and…

With the rapid expansion of university science departments and leveling off of federal academic research support, there is concern that young faculty are unable to perform as much research as would be desirable. To determine the distribution of research activity and support between young and senior staff, the National Science Foundation conducted…

This guide is designed to provide summary information about support programs of the National Science Foundation, and is intended as a source of general guidance for institutions and individuals interested in participating in these programs. Program listings describe the principal characteristics and basic purpose of each activity, eligibility…

Reported are the results of the 1975 survey of federal and industrial spending for research and development (R&D) activities. Data are presented for comparison with 1974 data. Major findings include: R&D spending rose 5%, to $23.5 billion; Federal funds to R&D rose 5%, to $8.8 billion; industry funds to R&D rose 5%, to $14.8…

The first of a three part series, this article reviews the complex mechanisms for dispersing federal funds for R & D, how federal agencies decide which projects to support, and the use of various types of experts in evaluation of proposals. (Author/TS)

A National Academy of Sciences study of the National Science Foundation's system for evaluating research grant applications reveals it to be fair and equitable and refutes charges of bias favoring older, established scientists. (MLH)

Discusses criticism made during hearings before a House Committee on Science and Technology subcommittee of the National Science Foundation's (NSF) peer review system and the funding of the NSF science education program. (MLH)