WASHINGTON – The Science Coalition (TSC) released the following statement to mark the 70th anniversary of the National Science Foundation (NSF):

“As the only federal agency supporting fundamental research in all fields of science and engineering – with more than half of that fundamental research conducted at our colleges and universities – NSF touches every aspect of our lives, from the touch screen to the internet to modern MRI scans.

“Since its inception, NSF has been charting the course for American innovation, resulting in life-changing and lifesaving discoveries. The foundational knowledge gained from fundamental research at agencies like NSF allows researchers to address current crises – like the COVID-19 pandemic – and prevent crises in the future.

“Although it is difficult to know what the future holds, a commitment to advancing fundamental research and supporting federal research agencies – and the important role they play in the scientific enterprise – through robust, sustained, and predictable federal investment will provide certainty and opportunity for the next 70 years and beyond.”

To commemorate NSF’s platinum anniversary, TSC also recently released an infographic.

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About the Science Coalition

Established in 1994, the Science Coalition is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization of more than 50 of the nation’s leading public and private research universities. It is dedicated to sustaining the federal government’s investment in basic scientific research as a means to stimulate the economy, spur innovation, and drive America’s global competitiveness.