NSF seeks 3% budget increase for 2005

The US National Science Foundation is seeking a 3% increase in its 2005 budget to $5.745 billion. The NSF submitted its request to Congress, which includes a 20% increase for nanoscale science and engineering. It is also seeking a 10.7% increase for NSF’s integrative research and education centres and $363 million to boost staffing levels — stagnant for the past two decades – and upgrade operational systems. Specific budget-line items include: a new research vessel for the Ocean Drilling Program ($40.9 million), further support for the Atacama Large Millimeter Array in Chile ($49.7 million), the IceCube Neutrino Observatory at the South Pole ($33.5 million) and Earthscope, a nationwide geological observatory network ($47.4 million) The NSF provides funding to more than 2,000 universities and institutions. It makes 11,000 new funding awards annually selected from approximately 40,000 requests ….