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News Release 05-155

After Katrina: A Message from NSF

Illustration of hurricane, U.S. map and words After Katrina: NSF Response

After Katrina: NSF Response


September 8, 2005

This material is available primarily for archival purposes. Telephone numbers or other contact information may be out of date; please see current contact information at media contacts.

All of us at the National Science Foundation are deeply saddened by the devastation and suffering of the people in the areas affected by hurricane Katrina. The Foundation's grantee community has our sincerest sympathies as they work to restore their institutions' capabilities.

Perhaps more importantly, the affected institutions can be assured that they have our support. The Foundation pledges strong and continuing sponsorship of research and education in the areas affected by the storm and its aftermath. We are committed to minimize disruption to our grantees, to the academic science and engineering enterprise, and to the valuable federal investment in colleges, universities, faculty and students in the region. To that end, we are prepared to be as flexible, accommodating and creative as possible.

Many of our awardee institutions in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi have announced delays or alterations in the fall schedule. Some may be closed for months. In addition, numerous faculty and students may be relocating to other institutions.

NSF will do everything possible to ensure continuity of the research and education projects that we support, and we also will provide frequent updates--on our web site, and by e-mail to investigators and their institutions--concerning procedures to achieve that goal.

In the short term, NSF will extend existing awards to institutions in the disaster area that are scheduled to expire before October 1, 2005. The Foundation also will make every effort to assist in the transfer of awards for faculty and students who temporarily change institutions, including movement of fellowship stipends, as appropriate, to new awardees. That being said, it is vital that each investigator contact his or her program officer as soon as feasible to discuss how each NSF-supported project has been impacted. This is a necessary step in any further action that NSF may take with respect to funding.

We also have established a hotline specifically dedicated to hurricane Katrina where institutions, faculty and students may address questions relating to NSF awards at (800) 381-1532. Questions may also be addressed by e-mail to katrina@nsf.gov.

The Foundation also will be posting updated information regarding specific assistance opportunities on our web site at www.nsf.gov. We encourage you to visit the site regularly.

Working together, we can restore the momentum of discovery that the hurricane slowed, but did not stop.

-NSF-

Program Contacts
NSF Katrina Hotline,  , (800) 381-1532, email: katrina@nsf.gov

The U.S. National Science Foundation propels the nation forward by advancing fundamental research in all fields of science and engineering. NSF supports research and people by providing facilities, instruments and funding to support their ingenuity and sustain the U.S. as a global leader in research and innovation. With a fiscal year 2023 budget of $9.5 billion, NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives more than 40,000 competitive proposals and makes about 11,000 new awards. Those awards include support for cooperative research with industry, Arctic and Antarctic research and operations, and U.S. participation in international scientific efforts.

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