The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense..." NSF is vital because we support basic research and people to create knowledge that transforms the future.
NSF uses two statutory criteria to ensure that every award has the potential to advance new knowledge (Intellectual Merit) with maximum impact on the Nation and its people (Broader Impacts). NSF investments unleash groundbreaking discoveries, translational solutions and expand participation in STEM. These efforts strengthen our domestic workforce to fuel economic prosperity, national security, and global S&E competitiveness.
The principles of merit, competition, equal opportunity, and excellence are the bedrock of the NSF mission. NSF continues to review all projects using Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts criteria.
NSF's broadening participation activities, including activities undertaken in fulfillment of the Broader Impacts criterion, and research on broadening participation, must aim to create opportunities for all Americans everywhere.
These efforts should not preference some groups at the expense of others, or directly/indirectly exclude individuals or groups. Research projects with more narrow impact limited to subgroups of people based on protected class or characteristics do not effectuate NSF priorities.
NSF will continue to support research with the goal of understanding or addressing participation in STEM, in accordance with all applicable statutes and mandates, with the core goal of creating opportunities for all Americans.
NSF will continue to support basic and use-inspired research in S&E fields that focus on protected characteristics when doing so is intrinsic to the research question and is aligned with Agency priorities.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for STEM Education (EDU), serves as a component of NSF’s agency-wide commitment to promoting the inclusivity and innovation of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and research.
EDU's programs support STEM education at all educational levels and in a variety of settings. The Directorate:
Funds cutting-edge research and evaluation projects across all STEM disciplines and STEM projects — through scholarships, fellowships, centers, alliances, networks, curriculum development and institutional capacity building.
Invests in activities aimed to improve knowledge of accessibility, integration and adaptability in STEM education and beyond — ensuring that STEM education and career opportunities are accessible, inclusive and equitable for all Americans, including women, minorities, veterans and persons with disabilities.
The HBCU Making and Innovation Initiative is in alignment with NSF priorities and is supported by the HBCU-UP program.
HBCU-UP provides awards to develop, implement, and study innovative models and approaches for making dramatic improvements in the preparation and success of all students so that they may participate in STEM graduate programs and the workforce. Support is available for Implementation Projects (including Achieving Competitive Excellence), Broadening Participation Research Projects, Targeted Infusion Projects, Planning Grants, Research Initiation Awards, and other funding opportunities.
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Directorate for STEM Education (EDU)
This work is funded by NSF award number NSF 2037362.