The National Science Foundation's (NSF) broader impacts merit review criterion for research grant proposals has encountered persistent resistance from the scientific community. This study examined the factors that shape response to the broader impacts merit review criterion by investigating the effect of characteristics of NSF-funded researchers…

Ethical, Legal and Social Implications ("ELSI") research has played an increasingly important role in scientific research. Tens of millions of dollars, many of which are public, are spent funding scientific research projects. Taxpayers are demanding that scientific advancement move forward, hand-in-hand with careful examination of the many ethical…

Reports the funding of a project to investigate a system that would provide companion journals in which key information would be presented. This companion journal would be aimed primarily at libraries and would contain short articles plus additional information supplied by the authors. (GS)

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)

Because the bulk of scientific research is supported by the taxpayer, scientists must justify themselves to the taxpaying public. (HS)

Established by Congressional Act in 1950, the National Science Foundation (NSF) is charged with a variety of responsibilities in the areas of education, research, applications of research, data gathering, and information dissemination. The foundation is governed by an appointed director and a national board and is primarily funded by the federal…

The greatest cooperative effort of taxonomists in the United States of America and Canada to study flora of this continent has come to an abrupt end after seven years of preparatory work. Financial support from government agency has been withdrawn and all significant projects have no alternative but to be closed down. (PS)

Discussed is the way in which a limited number of astronomy research initiatives were chosen and prioritized based on a consensus of members from the Astronomy and Astrophysics Survey Committee. A list of recommended equipment initiatives and estimated costs is provided. (KR)

Discusses the role and resources of planetary astronomy in planetary exploration. Identifies the categories of support made available by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and reviews the impacts of these findings on planetary researches. Analyzes the publishing habits of American astronomers. (ML)

Presented is a discussion of the state of the art of internalist and externalist positions within the literature of sociology and philosophy of science. The research utilizes interviews with scientists from a variety of disciplines in the agricultural sciences, a review of publications, research educational guidelines, and formal organization of…

Describes changes to be made in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) system of peer review approving grants for research proposals. (SL)

Describes the operation of Educational Expeditions International (EEI), a private organization which links interested amateurs with professional researchers on exploratory adventures. EEI funds scientists and their studies for which amateurs pay for the privilege of joining. (CP)

Federal support for basic research is assessed with particular attention directed toward those agencies that are most likely to receive increased funding. (LBH)

Data from the Academic Research and Development (R&D) Survey and other surveys were used to analyze patterns of R&D activity in the United States. For the purpose of this analysis, the most recent data update from the report "National Patterns of R&D Resources" adjusts university and college R&D performance to net out R&D expenditures reported as…

Study sections are nongovernment scientists who review applications for research grants that have been assigned to the various institutes within NIH. Procedures followed by these committees in evaluating research problems are outlined. (LBH)