What is the National Science Foundation (NSF)?
Q: What is the National Science Foundation (NSF)?
A: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering.
Q: What is the NSF's annual budget?
A: The NSF has an annual budget of about US$6.87 billion (fiscal year 2010).
Q: What percentage of federally supported basic research is funded by the NSF?
A: The NSF funds approximately 20 percent of all federally supported basic research conducted by the United States' colleges and universities.
Q: What are some fields where the NSF is the major source of federal backing?
A: The NSF is the major source of federal backing in fields such as mathematics, computer science, economics, and the social sciences.
Q: How are the NSF's director, deputy director, and National Science Board (NSB) members appointed?
A: The NSF's director, deputy director, and the 24 members of the National Science Board (NSB) are appointed by the President of the United States, and confirmed by the United States Senate.
Q: What are the responsibilities of the NSF's director and deputy director?
A: The director and deputy director of the NSF are responsible for administration, planning, budgeting, and day-to-day operations of the foundation.
Q: How often does the NSB meet and what is its purpose?
A: The NSB meets six times a year to establish the overall policies of the NSF.
