SSTI Digest

The National Science Foundation has published Federal Funds for Research and Development: Detailed Historical Tables: Fiscal Years 1951-2001. The five-volume report includes seven tables (55-61) that present the data by state for the period 1970-1999. Federal R&D obligations are characterized by industrial, university, nonprofit, FFRDC and intramural performers. Only available online, the report can be downloaded at http://www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/nsf01334/pdfstart.htm 

The National Science Foundation has named Judith A. Ramaley as the Foundation's new Assistant Director for Education and Human Resources (EHR). A biologist, Dr. Ramaley served most recently as president of the University of Vermont. 

Math and science students exposed to high expectations, challenging curriculum and sound instructional methods may hold an advantage over their peers, suggests a report funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Academic Excellence for All Urban Students presents data from a study of 22 urban school districts comprising the NSF's Urban Systemic Initiatives (USI), showing great gains in student achievement by school districts that participated in the USI program for the longest period of time. The report is the result of eight years of research under the USI program, which began in 1993. It also is part of a larger ongoing study by Systemic Research, Inc., How Reform Works: An Evaluative Study of National Science Foundation's Urban Systemic Initiatives. Among the report's findings, students in grades K-12 in major urban school districts demonstrated significant improvement in mathematics and science and higher-level course achievement in the following: Algebra I or above in eighth grade and Algebra II, Geometry, Calculus, Integrated Mathematics,…

With an overall positive review, the Office of the Inspector General within the National Science Foundation (NSF) has made several recommendations for improving the performance of NSF's Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). EPSCoR plays an important and strategic role in many states’ efforts to build a stronger research enterprise and tech-based economy. In FY 2000, the NSF EPSCoR program distributed $51.7 million to 19 states and Puerto Rico. The FY 2001 budget is $74.8 million. Created in 1978, the NSF EPSCoR program has served as a model for other agencies’ efforts to increase the research culture of states that have historically received a small share of federal research dollars. In addition to the EPSCoR program administration, the Inspector General’s office reviewed the EPSCoR programs in Maine and Mississippi. The two states were selected for attention because “they had undergone significant recent changes that were of particular interest to NSF program managers and because the states were substantially different in…

Between 10 and 15 Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSEC) will be funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) in early 2002. In a recently released request for proposals, NSF indicates that it has $24 million available for the centers. The MRSEC program supports interdisciplinary, university-based group research and education in the areas of materials science and engineering, condensed matter physics, solid state and materials chemistry, and related areas. Each of the 24 existing MRSECs encompass one or more interdisciplinary research groups. The request for proposals is toward making between 10 and 15 awards to universities for the establishment of new MRSECs or continuation of existing centers. Existing MRSECs will be in open competition with new proposals. If an existing MRSEC is unsuccessful, phase out funding may be provided at a reduced level for up to two years. Grantees will receive awards ranging from $800,000 to $5 million per year for up to six years starting in September, 2002. NSF will make an initial commitment to…

Research and development activity in the nonprofit sector share of total U.S. R&D held steady at 3 percent from 1973 to 1997, according to a February 15 Data Brief prepared by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The Data Brief reports on the first survey of nonprofit R&D activity since 1973. The new study captured R&D funding and performance by nonprofit organizations for fiscal years 1996 and 1997. In 1997 nonprofit organization intramural R&D expenditures totalled $7.3 billion. The average annual current dollar increase from 1973 to 1997 was five percent when adjusted for inflation. Extramural R&D activity for nonprofits was estimated to be approximately $1.5 billion for the same year. NSF has made early release tables for the report available on its website. Table A-12, which provides figures for intramural R&D performance at individual nonprofit organizations by state for fiscal year 1997 may be of particular interest to state and local tech-based economic development officals. The Early Release…

Partnerships for Innovation (PFI), a National Science Foundation (NSF) program started just last year, has released its Program Solicitation for FY 2001. The program will support 10-15 new government-university-industry partnerships that explore new approaches to support and sustain innovation. An academic institution must be the lead for the partnership  The program was designed to:  catalyze partnerships for innovation that will enable the transformation of knowledge created by the national research and education enterprise into innovations that create new wealth, build strong local, regional, and national economies, and improve the national well-being;  broaden the participation of all types of academic institutions and of citizens in NSF activities to better meet the broad workforce needs of the national innovation enterprise; and  create enabling infrastructure necessary to foster and sustain innovation for the long-term.  Approximately $6.2 million is available for FY 2001 proposals. While partnerships must include academic…

Rex Pelto has left the Advanced Technology Program to take the position of Director of Federal R&D & Business Development for Virginia's Center for Innovative Technology.

During the past few weeks, the National Science Foundation has released more than a dozen reports, issue briefs, and early release statistical tables of potential interest to the S&T community. Due to limited space in this week's Digest, we are offering brief descriptions and links for more information. Federal Funds for Research and Development: Detailed Historical Tables: Fiscal Years 1951-2000 [nsf01308] -- Table 57 presents federal obligations to intramural performers by state: 1970-1998 URL: http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?nsf01308 Research and Development in Industry: 1998 [nsf01305] -- Table A-38 presents industrial R&D performance by state for selected years 1979-1998 -- Table A-39 presents industrial R&D performance by state and source of funds for 1998 URL: http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?nsf01305 Science & Engineering Doctoral Awards: 1999 (Early Release Tables) [srs01405] -- Table 6 presents institutions conferring science and engineering doctorates by…

The National Science Foundation’s Division of Educational System Reform is funding cooperative agreements with 13 urban school districts: Birmingham, Chattanooga, Chicago, Fresno, Memphis, Miami, Minneapolis, Nashville, Newport News, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia to improve K-12 mathematics and technology education. The awards are aimed at districts that already have improvement programs in place. The funds will help them expand current programs in science, mathematics, and technology as well as initiate new activities so all students have access to the programs. The Urban School Program targets urban districts with a student population of at least 20,000. Districts must demonstrate that reform is significantly underway in the district and that it will have an impact on the full breadth of K-12 science and mathematics education. Districts must provide what NSF describes as compelling plans to scale up efforts to substantially increase student achievement in the fields of science, mathematics and technology. The plans must also show a high quality curriculum for science and…

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has recommended awards for 24 projects in communities around the country to help translate knowledge gained from basic research into new products, businesses and services, as well as to provide workforce education and training opportunities focused on innovation. Totaling more than $14 million, each averaging about $600,000 over two or three years, the first-ever Partnerships For Innovation (PFI) awards cover projects in 20 states and Puerto Rico. The PFI program is designed to build creative interactions in local communities between colleges and universities, government agencies, foundations and private corporations. Each partnership is tailored to help a specific community better position itself to accommodate research and development at the local and regional level, with the goal of advancing local economic and educational opportunities. A complete list of the first Partnership for Innovation Awards is available at:  http://www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/news/press/00/pr0068.htm

This week, the National Science Foundation (NSF) announced the establishment of four new Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSECs) and two new Engineering Research Centers (ERCs). Materials Research Science & Engineering Centers The MRSECs will explore innovative materials and stimulate the integration of research and education in the field of materials science. NSF will invest $24 million over five years in the new centerst to be located at the California Institute of Technology, the University of Oklahoma/University of Arkansas, Pennsylvania State University, and the University of Virginia. Each award is initially for five years, and continued NSF support is possible through competitive review. State governments and industry partners will also contribute substantial support to the new centers. NSF also announced new awards for 11 existing materials centers, for a total of $110 million over five years. They are located at Brown University, the University of California at Santa Barbara, Carnegie Mellon University, Cornell University, Johns Hopkins…