Research and Education
in Strategic Areas
Among the many research and
education frontiers that NSF's
programs address are areas of clear
strategic importance to the Nation.
The Foundation invests a major
portion of its resources in these
strategic areas, which are
organized and focused around
specific national objectives
identified by the President's
National Science and Technology
Council (NSTC) and the Foundation's
own planning process. It is also
important to note that the
fundamental nature, the quality,
and the educational impact of the
work supported in these strategic
areas does not differ from those of
other activities supported by the
Foundation.
NSF's programmatic activities in
the strategic areas are designed in
keeping with the Foundation's
unique role among Federal agencies
and its longstanding partnership
with the academic sector. The
following goals are common to all
of NSF's activities in the
strategic areas:
- Expand the knowledge base.
- Improve education and training
of future scientists,
engineers, and citizens.
- Stimulate knowledge transfer
among academia and the public
and private sectors.
- Bring the perspective of many
disciplines to bear on complex
problems important to the
Nation.
- Enhance components of the
infrastructure supporting
research and education,
including access to the
expanded knowledge base.
NSF also aims to foster the natural
connections among the different
strategic areas, because these
interconnections are critical to
success. They effectively allow the
Foundation to increase the return
of its investment in these areas,
to reduce duplicative efforts, and
to coordinate the allocation of its
resources.
The following sections provide an
overview of activities in each of
the eight strategic areas currently
supported by NSF. These overviews
describe the goals and objectives
of the activities in each area and
the pertinent NSF directorates,
divisions, and programs.
The NSF High Performance Computing
and Communications Program (HPCC)
supports and elaborates upon the
Federal HPCC Program goals, which
are to extend U.S. technological
leadership in science and
engineering and to accelerate wide
dissemination and application of
high performance computing and
communications technologies. The
HPCC Program builds on the historic
strengths of the NSF and activities
in science and engineering in
computing and communications that
were in place prior to the
initiation of the HPCC Program.
NSF's goals and objectives include
the following:
- Developing national research and
education networking services and
capabilities for connecting
universities, high schools,
research laboratories, and
libraries at speeds of up to one
billion bits per second.
- Introducing new generations of
scalable parallel high
performance computers and
software technologies in order
to achieve performance of one
trillion computer calculations
per second on application
areas representing Grand
Challenges.
- Generating fundamental
knowledge with the potential
for major impact on high
performance computing and
communications.
- Creating a cadre of
scientists, engineers, and
technical personnel
knowledgeable in the ideas,
methods, and value of computer
and computational science and
engineering and prepared to
take advantage of these new
capabilities.
- Encouraging industrial
partnerships and affiliations
to enhance HPCC innovation,
technology transfer, and U.S.
productivity and industrial
competitiveness.
- Making advanced computing,
communications, and
information technologies
available to and usable by a
larger segment of the society
to solve information-intensive
problems and to advance
education as called for in the
Administration's National
Information Infrastructure
(NII) Initiative that was
described in the NII Agenda
for Action released in
September 1993.
To support these goals the NSF
program is divided into three
components:
-
The Research component
addresses discipline-specific
and multidisciplinary research
focused on the enabling
technologies required to allow
scientists and engineers to
effectively utilize emerging
high performance computing and
communications and information
infrastructure technology and
applications in order to make
fundamental advancements in
their own disciplines. This
component involves virtually
every research area at NSF and
provides support for
individual investigators
through research programs as
well as for Grand Challenge or
National Challenge Groups
through NSF-coordinated
activities.
- The Research
Infrastructure component
provides and demonstrates
state-of-the-art HPCC-IITA
technology through activities
such as NSFNET, the
Supercomputing Centers, the
Metacenter Regional Alliances,
and instrumentation programs
at NSF (e.g., ARI, CISE/CDA,
BIO/BIR) to enable researchers
in all disciplines.
- The Education and
Training component increases
the pool of citizens capable
of utilizing and contributing
to the emerging national
opportunities for HPCC/IITA
technologies in all segments
of society through activities
in EHR and in CISE (e.g., ASC)
and by support of graduate
students and postdoctorals on
research awards.
The HPCC Program contributes to all
NSF strategic initiatives, both
through the research infrastructure
activities and through the results
of research and education and
training.
For More Information
For further information contact Dr.
Robert Voigt, HPCC Coordinator,
(703) 306-1900. For more specific
information concerning the HPCC
Program, see the HPCC fiscal year
1995 Implementation Plan. This is
available electronically on Mosaic,
or from the HPCC National
Coordination Office, (301) 402-
4100.
The U.S. Global Change Research
Program (US/GCRP) was established
to support research aimed at
understanding and responding to
global change, including the
cumulative effects of human
activities and natural processes on
the environment. NSF is an active
member of this coordinated
interagency effort through its
support of research and related
activities that advance fundamental
understandings of the complex
interactions among different facets
of the Earth system.
NSF's contribution to the US/GCRP
currently consists of 22 focused
programs that promote research in
all relevant areas of science. All
of these programs contribute to the
overarching goal of the US/GCRP to
produce a predictive understanding
of the Earth system in order to
support national and international
policy-making activities across a
broad spectrum of global, national,
and regional environmental issues
through research and analysis of
dynamic, physical, biological, and
socioeconomic systems. NSF is
especially interested in offering
enhanced support to fundamental
research that promotes an
interdisciplinary scientific
approach as well as to programs
that promote educational or
outreach activities among these
diverse communities.
The following four directorates--
Biological Sciences; Geosciences;
Social, Behavioral, and Economic
Sciences; and Mathematical and
Physical Sciences--and the Office
of Polar Programs are active
participants in the NSF Global
Change Research Program. Jointly,
they offer support for unsolicited
investigator-initiated research and
research institutes that fall under
the following categories:
- Processes and Consequences of
Earth System Change--Includes
analysis of the Earth's
physical systems,
biogeochemical processes,
biological and ecological
processes, and socioeconomic
systems. Projects funded in
this area include the study of
global ocean circulation,
solar radiation, atmospheric
or oceanic biogeochemistry,
impacts of global change on
biodiversity, ecosystem
management, and research on
the human dimensions of global
change. Research in this
category also includes
integrated analyses of these
systems and the effects of
their interaction in the
global system as well as
comparative historical
analyses in order to better
understand the natural
variability of the Earthœs
environmental system.
- Observations and Management of
Data on Earth System Change--
Involves comprehensive
analyses to determine the
causes and consequences of
ozone holes and ultraviolet
radiation, and of present and
past sea-level changes. This
research area also includes
the development of data
archives to be used for global
change research and
assessment.
- Modeling and Prediction of
Climate Change-Encourages the
development, testing, and
implementation of coupled
climate system models to
evaluate climate variability
and change on regional to
global spatial scales and
seasonal to century-long time
scales.
- Evaluating Options for
Responding to Global Change--
Involves research to advance
methods and models for the
framing and conduct of
integrated assessments.
Projects funded in this area
also may advance understanding
of data, analytical methods,
statistical methodology, and
models fundamental to the
development, implementation,
management, and evaluation of
environmental policies.
- Enhancement of the
International Research
Infrastructure--Includes
projects that facilitate
global change research through
the operation of regional
institutes and international
research collaborations.
Several focus areas have been
identified through the multiagency
US/GCRP process as areas that merit
enhanced support over the next
several years. In response to these
changing emphases, the following
five focus areas have been
identified as special emphasis
areas at NSF: (1) international
data-collection and analytic
programs; (2) climate change
modeling and forecasting; (3)
research on terrestrial ecosystem
processes; (4) policy sciences
research; and (5) advancement of
methods and models for conducting
integrated assessments.
The publication NSF Global Change
Research Program Guide to Research
Opportunities offers detailed
announcements about each of the
focused global change programs. In
addition, NSF/GC may issue special
solicitations in response to the
evolving scientific needs of the
global change research community.
For More Information
For further information contact Ms.
Leila Harris, Assistant Coordinator
for NSF Global Change Research
Programs, (703) 306-0891.
The National Science Foundation is
a major catalyst for drawing
together the full spectrum of
disciplines necessary for enhancing
understanding of the environment.
The NSF Environmental Research
Initiative is built around the
following four integrating themes:
- Biodiversity--The goal of this
element is to develop an
improved understanding of the
natural and human forces
driving the loss of
biodiversity at all levels,
from genes to landscapes, and
to gain a fuller understanding
of the role(s) of biodiversity
at various hierarchical
levels. For example, how do
changes in biodiversity at the
species or gene level affect
ecosystem function?
Conversely, the consequences
of biodiversity on the social
system are examined as well as
the adaptability of ecosystems
to new biodiversity
conditions.
- Water and Watersheds-The goal
of this element is to develop
an improved understanding of
the sources and availability
of water resources in natural
and human-dominated systems,
as well as an understanding of
the structure, function, and
dynamics of the terrestrial
and aquatic ecosystems that
comprise watersheds. This
theme area supports a systems
approach to building a
scientific and technical basis
for managing water resources,
watershed ecosystems, and the
socioeconomic and structural
factors that influence both.
- Environmental Technology-The
goal of this element is to
foster the development of
environmental technologies
that enable sustainable
development, both domestically
and internationally, and add
value simultaneously to both
the environment and the
economy. The word "technology"
is intended to include
hardware, software, processes,
systems, and services.
Environmental technologies are
categorized by four major
sectors: avoidance, monitoring
and assessment, control, and
remediation and restoration.
- Resource Use and Management-
The goal of this element is to
improve the scientific and
engineering underpinnings for
decisions on utilization and
preservation of natural
resources. Research in this
area needs to explore how
natural resource systems are
defined, for what purpose, and
at what scales so that we can
enhance understanding of the
environmental parameters that
govern the natural
distribution of resources and
improve our understanding of
patterns and processes of the
use of major natural resources
such as land, water, energy,
minerals, forests, and
fisheries.
These themes are not inclusive of
all of the environmental research
supported by NSF, and it is
anticipated that new themes will
emerge in years to come as progress
is made in addressing current
issues and as new needs are
identified. These four themes are
cross-disciplinary, involving all
directorates, and they provide the
Foundation with a framework by
which the agency can maximize its
investment in fundamental research
relating to the Nation's critical
environmental research needs.
The Directorate for Biological
Sciences (BIO) emphasizes the
Biodiversity and Water and
Watersheds elements of this
initiative. The four divisions of
the Directorate support research
and related activities on the
fundamental understanding of life,
ranging from molecular processes
within cells to landscape dynamics
resulting from climate change and
human use. This includes innovative
technologies for surveying
microbial diversity; focused
research on conservation and
restoration biology; genetic and
physiological factors in species
survival; multidisciplinary, long-
term ecological research on
protected sites to understand and
document system dynamics; surveys
and inventories of biological
diversity; support for computerized
research collections; field station
and marine laboratory support; and
complex system modeling involving
species/system dynamics in a
changing environment.
The Directorate for Engineering (ENG)
supports research through the
Environmental Remedial Engineering
Program and the Natural and
Technological Hazards Mitigation
Program, and jointly with MPS
supports the Environmental Benign
Chemical Synthesis and Processing
Program. A program on the
development of other "clean"
manufacturing processes and
products is under consideration.
The Directorate for Geosciences (GEO)
supports research to develop
an improved understanding of the
hydrologic processes that govern
the distribution of water in
natural systems and how these
hydrologic processes interact with
the need for maintaining natural
and human systems. Special emphasis
is on integrated studies of
watersheds that include studies of
surface- and groundwater and how
they are linked to natural factors
and demands placed on watershed
management by human populations. In
addition, GEO supports research
into understanding the parameters
that control the biodiversity of
marine systems and the use of the
paleontological record to help
understand the forces that control
the extinction of species.
The Directorate for Mathematical
and Physical Sciences (MPS)
emphasizes the Environmental
Technology element of this
initiative through its support of
the development of advanced
technology. The Environmentally
Benign Chemical Synthesis and
Processing Program, jointly with
the Engineering Directorate, is one
example of this effort. Others
include research on development of
biodegradable materials, sensor
technology, and system modeling
capabilities. Interdisciplinary
studies of chemical fate and
transport in the environment
contribute to the goals of the
Water and Watershed element.
The Office of Polar Programs (OPP)
supports research in the areas of
biodiversity, long-term ecological
research (LTER), and water and
watersheds in the polar regions. An
applied environmental research
program for the U.S. Antarctic
Program (USAP) is currently in
place to support a wide range of
environmental research,
technologies, and policy. OPP also
supports research that addresses
the degradation of the Arctic
environment.
The Directorate for Social,
Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE)
supports disciplinary and
interdisciplinary research on the
human factors in all of the
integrating themes above. Research
questions involving human social
behavior, ethical/moral concerns,
economic conditions, decision-
making and organizational systems,
and cultural factors, as they
relate to the environment, all fall
within the scope of the SBE
Directorate.
The Division of International
Programs (located in the SBE
Directorate) also funds
environmental research. Environment
is an inherently global research
theme, and disciplinary programs
throughout the Foundation offer
support to U.S. scientists and
engineers for the international
aspects of their research. In
addition, when the activities
involve a collaborative
relationship between U.S
researchers and their counterparts
in foreign countries, the Division
of International Programs (INT) can
support the incremental costs of
the international linkage. While
the Division accepts proposals in
any geographic area and in any
topic that is eligible for NSF
funding, INT places particular
emphasis on catalyzing linkages
involving new partnerships or
relatively neglected regions.
For More Information
For further information contact Dr.
Joann Roskoski, Deputy Division
Director for the Division of
Environmental Biology, (703) 306-
1480.
The Advanced Manufacturing
Technology (AMT) Initiative
supports the National Science and
Technology Council (NSTC)
interagency effort to build,
sustain, and extend U.S. leadership
in the manufacturing sector. The
overall goal of AMT is to
accelerate the development of
advanced manufacturing technologies
that enhance the performance of
U.S. manufacturing industries. This
mission is to be achieved through
coordinated government, industry,
and university programs that
accomplish the following broad
strategic goals:
- Support a vigorous interagency
research and development (R&D)
program for advanced
manufacturing technology.
- Accelerate the development and
application of advanced
manufacturing techniques by
the entire manufacturing
sector.
- Support the human resource
base with education and
training programs.
- Promote environmentally
conscious manufacturing.
Manufacturing is a highly
integrative activity, and
manufacturing-related problems are
among the most complex
interdisciplinary problems faced by
modern society. The NSF includes a
wide range of programs that allow
it to address this complexity
within the context of a broad and
coherent interdisciplinary program.
The effort at NSF concentrates on
developing the fundamental science
and engineering knowledge base that
underlies manufacturing technology,
management, and education and
training, as well as technology
transfer, diffusion, and
implementation. NSF also focuses on
enhancing the institutional,
physical, and human resources that
constitute the manufacturing
research and education
infrastructure.
AMT is a collaborative effort among
several research directorates, the
interests of which are described
below. Its research agenda is
primarily carried out through the
support of unsolicited
investigator-initiated research in
addition to research at
manufacturing-related, university-
based research centers. As the need
arises, NSF will issue program
announcements inviting proposal
submissions in targeted research
areas.
The Directorate for Computer and
Information Science and Engineering (CISE)
supports manufacturing-
related research in the areas of
advanced computer and information
technologies for distributed design
and intelligent manufacturing;
system-level issues that arise in
understanding, modeling, and
integrating component manufacturing
technologies into integrated
manufacturing systems; and the
computing and networking
infrastructure and services
necessary to make distributed
manufacturing a reality. A high
priority area for CISE is the high
performance computing and
communications technologies and the
associated hardware and software
technologies to which they are
related.
The Directorate for Engineering (ENG)
works to improve the
understanding of the processes,
machinery, infrastructure, and
systems that comprise modern
manufacturing. It accomplishes this
task through research to create and
integrate the engineering
foundations of (1) processing
methods for current and future
engineering materials, and (2)
design and manufacturing methods
and systems that make useful, safe,
and environmentally benign products
from these materials. Included in
ENG's research agenda are
methodologies for concurrent design
and manufacture of products with
engineered microstructures and
properties, innovative fabrication
and assembly techniques, integrated
real-time sensors and control
technologies, and integrated
production systems. The
mathematical optimization, systems
and process simulation, and
modeling methodologies that
underlie the full range of
engineering systems are a vital
part of ENG's efforts.
The Directorate for Mathematical
and Physical Sciences (MPS)
provides an understanding of
manufacturing processes at their
most basic levels--chemistry,
physics, and mathematics. Materials
research relates the fundamental
physical and chemical properties of
materials to their micro- and
higher-level structure and to their
performance in various
applications. Research at the basic
level together with the materials
research programs (including the
NSF synthesis and processing
activities) have made it
increasingly possible to create new
materials by design. Those design
efforts are now ready to be
extended to include the
requirements presented by
manufacturing and environmental
impact. This research is relevant
to the full life cycle of products,
including their design and
manufacture as well as their
utilization and ultimate disposal.
Research related to chemical and
pharmaceutical manufacturing
includes new synthetic methodology,
combinatorial chemistry, analytical
and separations technology, and
chemical sensor development.
The Directorate for Social,
Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE)
focuses on the human
dimensions of manufacturing. SBE-
supported research is examining how
individuals function within
manufacturing systems and how
different organizational and
management structures impact those
systems.
For More Information
For further information contact Dr.
Bruce Kramer, Director, Division of
Design, Manufacture, and Industrial
Innovation, (703) 306-1330.
Science and engineering knowledge,
if developed and used in an
integrated way, can help the Nation
rebuild its civil infrastructure in
the most intelligent and cost-
effective manner. The Civil
Infrastructure Systems (CIS)
Initiative addresses the need to
replace the present infrastructure
that has degraded due to age,
neglect, misuse, or excessive
demand and to create a fresh
infrastructure that enables greater
economic growth well into the next
century. In so doing, solutions of
the future will differ from those
of the past.
The strategy of CIS is to
capitalize on the advances over the
past decade in new materials,
structural systems, automated
construction, nondestructive
evaluation techniques, ground
improvement, development of
underground space, prefabricated
assemblies, corrosion inhibition,
electro-optic communication,
understanding of public decisions,
management, location and siting,
and public finance. Opportunities
lie where disciplinary boundaries
can be crossed to stimulate
interactions.
In supporting CIS research and
education, NSF has the following
goals: (1) to enrich the science
and engineering knowledge base that
can advance the understanding,
assessment, and intelligent renewal
of civil infrastructure systems;
(2) to encourage the integration,
application, and transfer of
knowledge that will contribute to
the intelligent renewal of the
infrastructure; and (3) to
integrate research with education
and training to produce the next
generation of engineers,
scientists, and others who will
design, build, maintain, and use
the civil infrastructure systems of
the future.
To achieve the CIS goals the focus
will be on optimal performance of
systems. Emphasis is placed on
system integration at all levels
but, more specifically, on
addressing the need to develop new
scientific and engineering
knowledge in the following key
areas:
- Deterioration Science--
Examines how materials and
structures break down and wear
out. Through research in
materials science, chemistry,
biology, structural and
geotechnical engineering,
mechanics, failure processes,
and risk/reliability, we can
improve our understanding of
deterioration, and we can
design, build, and maintain
structures that are more
durable, safer, and more
environmentally sound.
- Assessment Technologies--
Determine how durable, safe,
and environmentally benign our
structures and facilities are.
Research in this area can lead
to quantitative nondestructive
evaluation techniques,
improved sensor technologies,
"smart" self-correcting
materials, and enhanced
geographical information
systems.
- Renewal Engineering--Extends
and enhances the life of civil
infrastructure systems and
components that would
otherwise continue to
deteriorate. Research in this
area can lead to new
approaches in designing
effective construction and
demolition, the compatibility
of repair materials, recycling
of appropriate resources,
novel sensors that monitor
wear, and so on.
- Institutional Effectiveness
and Productivity--Recognizes
the importance of those
factors that are affecting the
decision processes underlying
the provision and management
of civil infrastructure
systems. Research in this area
leads to better decisions that
maximize the impact of civil
infrastructure investments on
the productivity of American
business and on the economic
and social well-being of the
American public.
Through the following directorates,
NSF supports a broad range of
research on civil infrastructure
that enriches the knowledge base
and underpins the development of
new CIS technologies.
The Directorate for Biological
Sciences (BIO) supports research on
genetic, biochemical,
physiological, and ecological
traits of organisms in relation to
their physical environment and
helps us understand the role that
living organisms play in the
deterioration of the
infrastructure. Such deterioration,
particularly that involved in
maintaining public health,
sustaining agricultural production,
providing clean water, and ensuring
adequate sewage and waste
treatment, often has a biological
cause.
The Computer and Information
Science and Engineering Directorate
(CISE) supports research in
artificial intelligence,
networking, communications,
computational systems, modeling,
and simulation. This research
includes problem-directed research
on automated intelligent machines
and sensing systems for
construction and monitoring
operations; robotic systems for
excavation, material handling,
construction, and repair;
techniques for software safety and
security; virtual reality for
remote operations and
visualization; advanced sensing and
metrology systems for automated
construction; database and expert
systems for infrastructure
management; and nondestructive
testing and inspection.
The Directorate for Engineering
(ENG) supports extensive activities
to improve the system performance
and longevity of existing and
future civil infrastructure
systems, involving deterioration
science (failure, corrosion,
fatigue, etc.), assessment
technologies (nondestructive
evaluation, advanced
instrumentation, expert systems,
sensor technologies, smart
materials, etc.), and renewal
engineering (advanced materials,
repair/retrofit, ground
improvement, structural control,
construction automation, etc.).
Since all engineered structures and
lifelines are subject to
environmental stresses and natural
hazards, such as high winds,
floods, earthquakes, and corrosion,
research is supported to understand
and mitigate the effects of such
hazards.
The Directorate for Geosciences
(GEO) supports research on
characterizing the interactions
between the built infrastructure
and the external environment,
assessing the resulting natural
hazards, and providing new
approaches to help mitigate the
problems imposed by natural forces.
The Directorate for Mathematical
and Physical Sciences (MPS) guides
the search for advanced materials
for structural applications,
communications, sensors, energy
storage, and transportation. It
fosters research in surface
chemistry related to the mechanisms
of adhesion, corrosion, and
etching, as well as studies of
interfaces. It enhances the state
of the art in measurement science,
and it supports the development of
new ways to design, model, and
analyze, both mathematically and
statistically, new and existing
systems of civil infrastructure,
including the development and use
of computation and simulation
techniques.
The Directorate for Social,
Behavioral, and Economic Sciences
(SBE) supports research on advanced
concepts for planning and managing
civil infrastructure, including
strategic approaches successful in
other countries. Its researchers
examine the social and
institutional systems for public
decision-making on civil
infrastructure; the nature of the
demand for infrastructure services;
and the distributional impacts of
infrastructure services on
different social groups, geographic
locations, and institutions. It
fosters insights into how civil
infrastructure is linked to
business productivity and economic
competitiveness. The Directorate
assists U.S. researchers in CIS-
related fields to gain access to
new knowledge and facilities that
have been developed abroad.
CIS is a coordinated initiative
with the above directorates. It is
primarily carried out through the
support of unsolicited
investigator-initiated research and
several university-based research
centers. As the need arises, NSF
may issue program announcements
inviting proposal submissions in
targeted research areas.
For More Information
For further information contact Dr.
Ken Chong, Program Director,
Structural Systems and Construction
Processes, (703) 306-1360.
The National Science Foundation is
one of 12 Federal agencies
participating in a government-wide
effort under the National Science
and Technology Council (NSTC) to
coordinate and maximize the impact
of the Federal investment in
research in biotechnology. Analysis
of the biotechnology research
programs and budgets of these 12
Federal agencies shows that the
pattern of Federal support for
biotechnology research has left
important gaps in the knowledge
base underlying future applications
in several critical areas including
biotechnology related to the
environment, manufacturing-
bioprocessing, agriculture,
research on the social impact of
biotechnology, and the
infrastructure and training
specific for biotechnology research
in these areas.
NSF internal working groups and
outside advisors have identified
six areas of interdisciplinary
biotechnology research in which NSF
can make major contributions.
- Environmental Biotechnology--
Research on mechanisms that
maintain ecosystem integrity
and function; the use of
individual organisms, groups
of interacting organisms, and
their products for
environmental rehabilitation;
whole ecosystem
bioremediation; exploration of
organismal diversity from
different habitats; and
development of bases of
information on properties of
different microbes.
- Plant (Agricultural)
Biotechnology--Use of
techniques of molecular
biology to enhance
understanding of basic plant
biology--for example, flower
initiation; regulation of gene
expression in plants;
elucidation of the metabolic
pathways leading to production
of useful plant chemicals;
mechanisms by which plants
respond to environmental
signals and stress; and how
plants interact with pests,
pathogens, and symbionts.
- Bioprocessing and
Bioconversion--Research on
efficient production of
commercially valuable
molecules such as specialty
chemicals and biopolymers; the
conversion of low-cost raw
materials into useful
products--for example, biomass
or low-grade ores; studies of
the physiology, biochemistry,
and genetics of suitable
organisms; biosensor
development; and design and
scale-up of bioreactor systems
and of separation and
purification systems.
- Bioelectronics and
Bionetworks--The development
of techniques, materials, and
devices based on computational
and molecular transduction
mechanisms that work in living
systems; and development of
stable biosensors and voltage-
sensing devices, methodology
for interfacing neurons and
electronic circuitry, and
instrumentation based on
principles of biological
systems.
- Marine Biotechnology--
Fundamental studies to
elucidate the molecular
genetics, biochemistry, and
cell biology of marine
organisms, and their products
and processes; applications of
molecular biology techniques
to an understanding of the
role of marine organisms in
the global carbon and
elemental cycles; studies on
molecular adaptations of
organisms from extreme
environments such as deep-sea
hydrothermal vents and polar
environments; the use of
marine viruses in genetic
engineering; biodegradation of
toxic substances; and studies
of nutrition, physiology,
reproduction, defense
mechanisms, and genetics of
economically important fish
and shellfish.
- Social and Economic Dimensions
of Biotechnology--Studies of
the processes of innovation,
management, and dissemination
of biotechnology; mutual
influences of biotechnology
innovation and social,
economic, and legal structures
and processes; effects of
biotechnology innovation on
labor force composition,
educational needs, national
productivity, international
competitiveness, and
international relations;
identification and management
of risks and benefits of
biotechnology; and
examinations of public
opinion, acceptance, and
ethical considerations in
biotechnology research,
development, and application.
Support for research infrastructure
and human resources for
biotechnology in these areas are
important components of the
biotechnology initiative. NSF's
approach to this strategic
initiative is interdisciplinary,
with an emphasis on fundamental and
"proof of concept" research,
training, instrumentation, research
resources, and university-industry
cooperation. A variety of funding
modes is utilized, including
individual investigator awards,
interdisciplinary groups, and
centers. In supporting
biotechnology research, NSF
continues to rely on the scientific
and engineering communities to
develop specific projects within
the six identified areas.
The entire range of disciplines
within NSF's Directorates
contributes to biotechnology
research.
The Directorate for Biological
Sciences (BIO) supports research on
genetic, biochemical, cellular, and
physiological traits and on
taxonomic and ecological
relationships of a broad range of
organisms. This research includes
studies of macromolecular structure
and function, gene transfer,
metabolic pathways, cellular
processing and secretion of
proteins and metabolites, and
symbioses and adaptation to
environmental extremes and provides
the underpinnings for applications
related to the environment,
bioprocessing and bioconversion,
biomolecular materials, and
agriculture. Studies of the
molecular physiological and
integrative properties of neurons
and neural networks, in conjunction
with behavioral and cognitive
sciences, provide the framework for
future applications in
bioelectronics and bionetworks.
The Directorate for Computer and
Information Science and Engineering
(CISE) supports research
contributing to biotechnology in
computer algorithms, techniques,
and software tools pertinent to
imaging and biomolecular data
modeling and management in high
performance, networked computing
environments as well as in
informatics and robotics.
The Directorate for Education and
Human Resources (EHR) addresses
needs for training in science and
engineering on which the future of
biotechnology depends.
Biotechnology research is also
supported through the Experimental
Program to Stimulate Competitive
Research (EPSCoR).
The Directorate for Engineering
(ENG) supports research in several
areas of biotechnology including
manufacturing operations designed
to be compatible with the
preservation of the environment;
development and implementation of
technology to clean up hazardous
wastes and water supplies; design
and scale-up of bioreactor systems
and separation and purification
methods; bioprocess monitoring,
optimization, and control;
bioelectronic instrumentation and
bionetwork analysis; and the large-
scale utilization of substances
obtained from marine organisms--for
example, thermostable enzymes
obtained from thermophilic marine
microorganisms.
The Directorate for Geosciences
(GEO) supports research on the
development of methods for rapid
characterization of marine
populations (microbes, plants, and
animals) and important
enzymologically mediated processes;
the characterization of the
biochemistry and physiology of
organisms from extreme
environments--for example,
hydrothermal vents and hydrocarbon
seeps; studies that elucidate
chemically mediated interactions
between organisms including
chemical ecology and natural
products chemistry; microbial
decomposition or degradative
processes; and investigations of
marine viruses and their
interactions with other marine
populations.
The Directorate for Mathematical
and Physical Sciences (MPS)
supports research that provides the
chemical and mathematical
underpinnings of biotechnology, and
that uses the methods of
biotechnology in the formulation of
new biomolecular materials. The
Chemistry Division supports
research on topics such as models
for enzyme-active sites,
semisynthetic enzymes, and
catalytic antibodies; biomimetic
chemistry; bioanalytical chemistry;
and theoretical studies of shapes
and function of biomolecules. The
Division of Materials Research
supports studies including
electrophoretic phenomena, gels and
microemulsions, molecular self-
assembly, production of new
materials (primarily proteins) by
methods of molecular biology, and
materials properties of membranes,
surfaces, and interfaces. The
Division of Mathematical Sciences
supports research in applied
mathematics, biostatistics, and
theoretical and computational
biology.
The Office of Polar Programs (OPP)
supports research on the ecology,
physiology, and molecular biology
of organisms living in polar
regions. This includes research on
the genetic diversity of polar
organisms, their metabolic
pathways, and chemical ecology and
microbial decomposition.
The Directorate for Social,
Behavioral, and Economic Sciences
(SBE) supports research in
behavioral and cognitive sciences
that contributes to applications in
bioelectronics and bionetworks and
leads to better understanding of
the impact of biotechnology on
society. The program in Physical
Anthropology is leading the
development of a worldwide survey
of human genetic (genomic)
diversity that will establish a
reference collection for future
research in biotechnology relating
to human disease and prehistory.
Programs in the Science Resources
Studies Division conduct a number
of activities in support of
biotechnology research and
infrastructure. The Division of
International Programs facilitates
mutually beneficial cooperative
activities between U.S. scientists
and engineers and their colleagues
in other countries.
For More Information
For further information contact: in
the BIO Directorate Dr. Maryanna
Henkart, Deputy Director for the
Division of Molecular and Cellular
Biosciences, (703) 306-1440; in the
MPS Directorate, Dr. John Hunt,
Deputy Director for the Division of
Chemistry, (703) 306-1857; and in
the ENG Directorate, Dr. Fred
Heineken, Program Director for the
Biotechnology Program, (703) 306-
1319.
The overall goals of the Advanced
Materials and Processing Program
(AMPP) are to advance the
scientific and technological base
in materials and to educate and
train scientists and engineers to
confront the technological
challenges of the future. NSF's
approach has four objectives: (1)
to synthesize novel functional
materials; (2) to advance
fundamental understanding of the
behavior and properties of
materials; (3) to promote
development of materials with novel
or superior properties; and (4) to
develop processes to produce,
modify, and shape materials. The
components of the program consist
of synthesis and processing;
theory, modeling, and simulation;
materials characterization; and
education and human resources.
The research seeks to provide an
improved understanding of
interrelationships among synthesis,
processing, and performance of
materials, and a description of
their structure, composition, and
properties at the atomic,
molecular, microscopic, and
macroscopic levels. Research
focuses on the following classes of
materials: metals; ceramics;
polymers; composites; and
electronic, optical/photonic,
biomolecular, magnetic, and
superconducting materials. NSF
supports both individual research
projects and interdisciplinary,
collaborative group projects
through AMPP. NSF fosters
interagency collaborations and
promotes materials-related
activities through university-
industry-government consortia. In
addition, AMPP provides for
undergraduate education activities
in materials curriculum development
and research experiences for
undergraduates.
Development of the science,
engineering, and educational
aspects of new and strategic
materials spans the Foundation. The
following Directorates each have
activities in AMPP: Mathematical
and Physical Sciences (MPS);
Engineering (ENG); Computer and
Information Science and Engineering
(CISE); Biological Sciences (BIO);
Geosciences (GEO); Social,
Behavioral, and Economic Sciences
(SBE); and Education and Human
Resources (EHR). Much effort is
focused on diverse areas of
materials research, and significant
opportunities exist at the
interfaces of major disciplines.
Examples include overlap between
materials research and physics,
chemistry, biology, and
engineering, and between materials
utilization and the ethics of
resources utilization. In addition,
international collaborations play
an increasingly important role in
advancing the field. The
strengthening of these interfaces,
as an innovative route to new
research areas and economic
opportunities, is an important
theme in AMPP.
For More Information
For further information contact Dr.
Adriaan de Graaf, Executive
Officer, Division of Materials
Research, (703) 306-1812.
Consistent with its congressionally
mandated responsibility for
science, mathematics, engineering,
and technology education, NSF
provides sustained leadership in
the coordinated Federal interagency
effort to improve science,
mathematics, engineering, and
technology education for all U.S.
citizens. Consonant with the Goals
2000: Educate America Act, NSF
SMETE goals are to
- Improve science, mathematics,
and engineering performance
for all U.S. citizens at all
education levels;
- Ensure that U.S. precollege
students will be first in the
world in science and
mathematics achievement;
- Ensure both a strong
elementary, secondary, and
postsecondary instructional
workforce and technical
workforce; and
- Improve public science
literacy.
To achieve these goals, SMETE has
identified seven strategic priority
areas that include (1) reforming
elementary, secondary, and
undergraduate education; (2)
sustaining graduate education; (3)
promoting public understanding of
science and lifelong learning; (4)
enhancing technology education; (5)
ensuring human resource
development; (6) developing an
adequate science and technology
workforce; and (7) expanding
postdoctoral education.
The above priority areas are
undergirded by five cross-cutting,
enabling activities: (1) increased
use of educational technologies;
(2) identification, dissemination,
and adoption of exemplary
instructional materials; (3)
establishment of educational
partnerships; (4) ensured
accountability through program
evaluation; and (5) increased
research on teaching and learning.
These goals and priority areas
provide the focus for the
Foundation's activities that are
conducted primarily by the
Directorate for Education and Human
Resources (EHR), with other
activities headed by the following
directorates: Biological Sciences
(BIO); Computer and Information
Science and Engineering (CISE);
Engineering (ENG); Geosciences
(GEO); Mathematical and Physical
Sciences (MPS); Social, Behavioral,
and Economic Sciences (SBE); and
the Office of Polar Programs (OPP).
Described below are key activities
undertaken in the priority areas.
- Elementary and Secondary
Education-Support for pre-K
through grade 12 science,
mathematics, and technology
education reform includes the
establishment and
implementation of challenging
curricula, teaching, and
assessment standards; the
assessment and upgrading of
instructional materials and
curricula; teacher enhancement
efforts that upgrade the
pedagogical and content skills
of the existing teaching
workforce; reform of the
preservice teacher science and
mathematics education system;
and student support in
education and workforce
transitions.
- Organizational and Systemic
Reform--Activities include
focused efforts on broad and
deep reform designed to change
the basic education system,
that is, to promote systemic
reform. The three major
programs in this area are
Statewide Systemic Initiatives
(SSI), the Urban Systemic
Initiatives (USI), and the
Rural Systemic Initiatives
(RSI). They are designed to
stimulate states, major
cities, and rural areas,
respectively, to initiate
comprehensive efforts that
achieve lasting improvements
in SMETE systems across the
Nation through the use of new
paradigms that require
fundamental change.
- Undergraduate Education
Reform--Undergraduate
education provides a critical
link between the Nation's
schools and entry into our
society and the workforce;
both are increasingly based on
science and technology.
Activities in this area
include the following:
- Developing course and
curriculum focused on
comprehensive change (e.g.,
calculus, mathematics across
the curriculum, engineering
coalitions, and introductory
chemistry) and opportunities
for change in science and
engineering.
- Instrumentation and laboratory
improvement.
- Faculty enhancement through
both research opportunities
and those that combine
scientific and pedagogical
components.
- Promoting exemplary
improvement in technician
education through partnerships
among community colleges,
four-year colleges,
universities, schools, and
industry.
- Teacher preparation.
- Research experiences for
undergraduate students.
- Other comprehensive reform
activities.
- Human Resource Development-As
part of its commitment to the
development of scientific and
technological human and
institutional resources and an
adequately trained workforce
for the future, NSF has
implemented separate and
comprehensive programs for
groups underrepresented in
science, mathematics,
engineering, and technology
fields, i.e., minorities,
women and girls, and persons
with disabilities. These
programs are designed to
increase the representation of
the targeted groups in
scientific and technical
careers. Another area of
emphasis is on strengthening
the research and education
capabilities of academic
institutions with significant
minority student enrollments.
Programs for minorities are
directed toward achieving the
overall goal of producing
50,000 earned baccalaureate
and 2,000 doctoral degree
recipients in these fields
annually by the year 2000.
- Graduate and Postdoctoral
Education--NSF provides
support to maintain U.S.
preeminence in graduate and
postdoctoral education by
providing both scientific and
technological advances and an
adequate supply of scientists
and engineers. Support is made
in the form of graduate
student fellowships and
graduate research
traineeships. Support is also
provided in the form of
dissertation awards for
research-related expenses in
the biological, social,
behavioral, and economic
sciences. In addition, NSF
provides postdoctoral
fellowships in computational
science and engineering and
experimental computer science;
atmospheric, earth, and ocean
sciences; biological sciences;
mathematical and physical
sciences; and social,
behavioral, and economic
sciences. This includes
support for minority
postdoctoral students in
biological sciences and
social, behavioral, and
economic sciences and
university/industry-based
postdoctoral opportunities in
mathematical and physical
sciences.
- Informal Science Education--
Informal science education
(through museums and science
centers, the media, and
community/youth-based
organizations) increases the
relevancy and motivation of
what students learn in formal
education. It fosters further
study and career choices in
science, mathematics,
engineering, and technology
fields; contributes to
lifelong learning beyond the
formal classroom; and
motivates and informs segments
of the population who might
otherwise receive little
exposure to science and
technology. Informal science
education informs the American
public about the process of
science and scientific
thinking and increases their
awareness of science,
mathematics, engineering, and
technology in their everyday
lives. NSF, in cooperation
with other agencies, is
aggressively strengthening
programs that contribute
toward the U.S. goal of
significantly increasing the
percentage of scientifically
literate adults.
- Enabling Activities--As a
cornerstone of effective
program management, evaluation
is employed to ensure the
accountability of NSF
programs. Research on teaching
and learning emphasizes the
generation of fundamental
knowledge about teachers,
students, and classrooms. That
knowledge ranges from human
cognition and science
education to ways of assessing
mastery of science and
mathematics content and
process. A coordinated
approach is used to facilitate
the dissemination of high-
quality instructional
materials at all education
levels to administrators,
faculty, teachers, and
students, and the adoption of
model programs, including
outreach and technical
assistance activities.
Programmatic areas of emphasis
include Applications of
Advanced Technology (AAT),
National Information
Infrastructure for Education
(NIE), and testbeds on
computer environments and
technology applications.
Finally, recognizing the need
for increased use of
educational technology as an
important learning tool and
means of improving the
delivery of science,
mathematics, engineering, and
technology education (e.g.,
NIE), NSF collaborates in the
identification of Federal
strategies to support the
research and development,
implementation, and
infrastructure development of
educational technologies.
For More Information
For further information contact Dr.
Wanda E. Ward, Special Assistant,
Office of the Assistant Director
for Education and Human Resources,
(703) 306-1660.
Footnote
For example, new themes may include
research leading to an improved
understanding of the processes that
govern the occurrence of natural
hazards and their interactions with
human-constructed technological
systems, and elucidating the
chemical and physical processes
that control tropospheric ozone
formation, transport, and
concentrations over North America
and the northern Atlantic Ocean.
