About NSF Forward

Discover more about these efforts from APS and members of the U.S. scientific enterprise to help shape the future of the National Science Foundation.

Since its founding more than 75 years ago, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has served as a bedrock of American discovery and innovation. As the scientific landscape evolves, the agency faces increasing challenges that raise important questions about how NSF can best support the nation's research enterprise for decades to come.

To help answer those questions, the American Physical Society (APS), in collaboration with strategic partners, launched NSF Forward — an initiative to develop bold, actionable recommendations that will help position the NSF to meet the evolving needs of the nation, its citizens, and science.

Our goal is ambitious: to produce actionable policy proposals for consideration by the 120th Congress.

As part of this effort, APS invited members of the U.S. scientific enterprise to share their ideas for strengthening NSF. Input was sought from researchers, educators, students, administrators, industry and policy professionals, and others across our scientific ecosystem who understand best how NSF programs support discovery, where challenges exist, and where opportunities for improvement can have the greatest impact. Our campaign successfully captured thousands of ideas on how to strengthen the National Science Foundation for the next generation of scientific discovery. Thank you to those who contributed thoughtfully to our effort.

Meet the NSF Forward Task Force

NSF Forward is guided by a multidisciplinary task force who will help synthesize ideas from across the research community and develop recommendations to position the NSF for long-term success.

Emeritus professor of physics at Northern Illinois University

Meet Gerald C. Blazey

President of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and faculty member at the University of British Columbia

Meet Alejandro Adem

Director of science and innovation at the Foundation for American Innovation

Meet Ian Banks

The Patricia and Rodes Hart dean of education and human development at Vanderbilt Peabody College of Education and Human Development

Meet Camilla P. Benbow

Senior vice president at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Technology Engagement Center

Meet Jordan Crenshaw

The John E. Willard Professor and Hilldale Professor of Chemistry Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, external science advisor to the Science Philanthropy Alliance

Meet F. Fleming Crim

Distinguished professor of molecular and cell biology and chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley

Meet Susan Marqusee

CEO of the American Physiological Society, principal of Erika Shugart Consulting

Meet Erika Shugart

Chief executive officer of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics

Meet Suzanne L. Weekes

How your response is used

Responses are reviewed alongside commissioned white papers, guidance from leaders in the scientific community, and input from the NSF Forward Task Force.

Common themes and recommendations identified through this process will help inform the NSF Forward report and accompanying policy proposals. We hope these recommendations will contribute to broader discussions about the future of NSF and the national research enterprise.

Demographic information will be used only to understand participation across the research and development community and will be analyzed in aggregate. Responses represent the perspectives of individual participants and are not intended to represent the views of their institutions.

Contact

For questions regarding the project, please contact the APS NSF Forward team.

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About NSF Forward | American Physical Society