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NSF-AST Overview. Dana E. Lehr, Program Director Division of Astronomical Sciences National Science Foundation dlehr@nsf.gov 14 October 2008. Independent Federal Agency, annual budget of ~$6B Created by Congress in 1950
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NSF-AST Overview Dana E. Lehr, Program Director Division of Astronomical Sciences National Science Foundation dlehr@nsf.gov 14 October 2008
Independent Federal Agency, annual budget of ~$6B Created by Congress in 1950 "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense…" Supports basic research & education, primarily through grants and cooperative agreements Total workforce of 1,700 in Arlington, including: 1,200 career employees 150 scientists from research institutions on temporary duty 200 contract workers NSB and OIG staff NSF at a Glance
Oversees NSF staff and management Responsible for: program creation & administration merit review budget & planning day-to-day ops 24 members Meets six times a year to establish overall policies Authorizes large awards, e.g. support for national observatories NSF Leadership NSF Director/DD National Science Board Six-year terms, appointed by President, confirmed by Senate
National Science Foundation Director Deputy Director National Science Board Inspector General Staff Offices ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ Computer & Information Science & Engineering Mathematical & Physical Sciences Biological Sciences Engineering Geosciences Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences Budget, Finance & Award Management Information Resource Management Education & Human Resources
NSF: Special Responsibilities ⋆ • Polar Programs • U.S. Antarctic Program • Science Resources Statistics • Data collection and analysis • Science and Engineering Indicators • International • close cooperation with the Department of State NSF-8
Assistant Director for Mathematical and Physical Sciences Division of Chemistry Division of Materials Research Division of Mathematical Sciences Division of Physics Division of Astronomical Sciences Office of Multidisciplinary Activities Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences
MPS at a Glance • MPS Assistant Director: Tony F. Chan • Largest NSF Directorate: over $1B budget • Supports nearly half of NSF’s large facilities • Science scope: • Space: from quarks to the cosmos • Time: from the incredibly short to the unimaginably long • Character: from the very abstract to almost ready for the marketplace • Provides 40% of university federal funding in the physical sciences
Individual Investigator Programs Solar System (PLA) Astronomy & Astrophysics Research Grants (AAG) Stellar (SAA) Milky Way & Nearby Galaxies (GAL) Extragalactic & Cosmology (EXC) Education and Special Programs Faculty Early Career awards (CAREER) REU sites & supplements Astronomy & Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowships IIP Advanced Technologies and Instrumentation Advanced Electro-Optical System (Air Force/ATI) Major Research Instrumentation RUI (option) Special Projects PREST (on hold FY08)