FY 2016 Merit Review Report (Credit and Larger Version)
Every year, nearly 50,000 research proposals are submitted to the only federal agency in the United States that funds discovery research in all fields of science and engineering: the National Science Foundation (NSF). The agency uses merit review to pick proposals that show the greatest potential to fulfill NSF’s mission to promote the progress of science and serve the national interest.
NSF’s National Science Board (NSB, Board) sets the agency’s merit review criteria and ensures that practices are transparent and align with NSF objectives.
Today, the Board published the FY 2016 report on NSF’s Merit Review Process.
“NSF’s merit review report provides a wealth of quantified information that informs the Board in its oversight of the agency. It is also a resource for Congress, the science and engineering communities, and others interested in the National Science Foundation,” said John Anderson, Chair of NSB’s Committee on Oversight.
Among the report’s findings:
NSF’s merit review report to the Board is available here.
In evaluating proposals, NSF uses two merit review criteria: intellectual merit and broader impacts. In 2007, the Board modified the criteria to promote potentially transformative research and its 2011 report, Merit Review Criteria: Review and Revisions, affirmed and more clearly defined these criteria. NSF’s merit review system is frequently referred to as the gold standard for vetting research proposals and serves as a model approach, both nationally and internationally.
A short video about NSF’s merit review process is available here.
For more information, please contact Nadine Lymn, NSB Communications Director, nlymn@nsf.gov, (703) 292-2490.
About NSB
Jointly the NSB and the Director pursue the goals and function of the NSF. The Director is the ex-officio 25th member of the NSB. The NSB establishes NSF policies within the framework of applicable national policies set forth by the President and Congress. NSB identifies issues critical to NSF's future, approves the agency's strategic budget direction and the annual budget submission to the Office of Management and Budget, and consults on new major programs and awards. The NSB also provides the President and Congress with a biennial report on U.S. progress in science and technology, Science and Engineering Indicators, providing comparisons to other nations in the areas of research and development, STEM education, and workforce training.
The President appoints Board members for six-year terms and may reappoint members for a second term. Members are drawn primarily from universities and industry and selected for their eminence in research, education, and records of distinguished service. Collectively, the Board represents a variety of science and engineering disciplines and regions across the United States.
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