U.S. Science Policy

Cheryl L. Eavey, Program DirectorMethodology, Measurement, and Statistics

Division of Social and Economic SciencesNational Science Foundation

U.S. Science Policy

• In essence, to support the “best” science that meets national needs.

Defining Characteristic

• Science and technology policy in the U.S. is the product of a pluralistic, decentralized system with numerous interests competing for influence and scarce funds.

Competing Interests

• Federal agencies

• Congressional committees

• Universities and other research institutions

• Individual researchers

Federal Agencies Supporting S&T-Related Research

• Department of Energy• Department of Defense• Environmental Protection Agency• National Aeronautics & Space

Administration• National Science Foundation• Department of Health and Human

Services– National Institutes of Health

T h e P re sid e n to f the

U n ited S ta tes

O ffice ofManagementand Budget

Agriculture Health &Human Services

Interior

NationalScience

Foundation

NationalAeronautic

& SpaceAdministration

EnvironmentalProtection

Agency

SmithsonianInstitution

NuclearRegulatory

Commission

O therAgencies

Transportation Defense Energy Commerce

Science AdvisorO ffice of

Science &Technology Policy

O ther Boards,Councils, Etc.

Major Departments

Independent Agencies

The U.S. Government Includes Both Cabinet Departments and Independent Agencies

NSF Invests in

• Ideas to provide a deep and broad fundamental science and engineering knowledge base.

• People to develop a diverse, internationally competitive, and globally engaged workforce of scientists, engineers, and well-prepared citizens.

• Tools to provide widely accessible, state-of-the-art science and engineering infrastructure.

NSF Expects the Collective Outcomes of Its Investments to Yield:

• Discoveries at and across the frontier of science and engineering

• Connections between discoveries and their use in service to society

• A diverse, globally-oriented workforce of scientists and engineers

• Improved achievement in mathematics and science skills needed by all Americans

NSF Is a Science Management Agency

Scientists and institutionsresponding to broad civilianscientific needs of the nation

}30,000 Annual Proposal Actions

1,200full-time

employees

250,000 reviews(50,000 reviewers)

60 advisory groups(6,000

members)About 20,000 award

actionsfor almost $5 billion (academic, industrial,

non-profit, governmental

recipients)

Executive Branch Legislative Branch

Executive Office of the PresidentCabinet DepartmentsIndependent Agencies

SenateHouse of Representatives

Authorize

Appropriate

Request

Manage

U.S. Government Budgetary Process

House and SenateAuthorization Committees

• House Committee on Science– Jurisdiction over all non-defense federal scientific

research and development, including oversight of programs of relevant agencies (e.g., NSF, NASA, EPA).

• Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation– Jurisdiction for, among other things, science and

technology policy.

• Recent Action– Legislation to double NSF’s budget in five years, with

new management requirements.

House and SenateAppropriation Committees

• Discretionary programs are funded via 13 separate appropriation bills.

• Research programs considered in different bills.

• NSF, for example, competes with NASA and EPA for funding (but not with NIH or DOD).

The University System

• No national universities.• System of private and state-funded

universities.• Federal funds represent approximately 60% of

academic R&D spending.• Generally speaking, geographic distribution is

not a criterion for the allocation of funds.• Interests represented by professional

associations; i.e., National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges

Individual Researchers

• Funds are awarded for projects conducted by individuals or groups of individuals.

• Funding decisions generally are made on the basis of a competitive, peer-review process.

• Interests represented by associations; e.g., American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

• Participation in activities of funding agencies via Federal Advisory Committee Act.

Advantages

• Multiple potential sources of funding.• “Best” ideas win.• Wide ranging set of topics, ideas, and

approaches are supported.• Opportunities for innovation and

support of “risky” proposals.

Disadvantages

• Weakly articulated national policy.• Sporadic coordination across agencies.• Potential for duplication.• Differences in agency funding policies.

Office of Science and Technology Policy

• Broad mandate to advise the President on the impacts of science and technology on domestic and international affairs.

• Coordinates some interagency activities– US Global Change Research Program– Nanotechnology

Role of Entrepreneurs

• In a pluralistic system, lots of points of access and possible influence:– Federal agency staff at multiple levels

• Survey and Statistical Methodology• Biocomplexity• Nanotechnology

– Congressional influence• NSF/EPA Partnership for Environmental Research• Children’s Research Initiative

– Presidential directives• Climate Change Research Initiative (CCRI)

Future Challenges

• Continuing to “make the case” for the value of science for the public good

• Balance across the sciences• University/industry partnerships• International collaboration