National Science Foundation (NSF)

The NSF congratulates Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their #NobelPrize in physiology or medicine. Their breakthrough discovery of microRNAs, a fundamental component of how gene activity is regulated, transformed our knowledge of cell development and the types of genetic material contained within the cells in all manner of organisms. Their groundbreaking discovery has led to advances in medicine, agriculture and other fields.

Calling all seventh through 12th grade STEM teachers: The 2024-2025 cycle of the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) is officially open! #PAEMST is the highest honor the U.S. government bestows upon K-12 STEM teachers. Awardees receive a signed certificate from the President of the United States, an all-expense paid trip to the Washington, D.C., area for a recognition event, and a $10,000 award. Nominate a teacher in your community or begin an application today:! https://bit.ly/4fc11iH

NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan had a dynamic week as he met with domestic and international partners to emphasize NSF’s commitment to unite global talent and unlock the potential of research and innovation. On Monday, Sept. 30, the director met with NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang. Panchanathan thanked Huang for NVIDIA’s partnership on the NSF National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource Pilot and discussed opportunities for deeper partnership going forward, including on AI research, STEM talent development and place-based innovation. Later in the week, the director traveled to the United Kingdom, where, joined by representatives from five partner nations, he announced an $82 million investment in six multilateral 2024 NSF Global Centers. NSF launched the Global Centers program in 2023, which leverages world-class talent and international collaborations for use-inspired research. This year's NSF Global Centers harness collaborations with nine research institutions: the United States' National Endowment for the Humanities; Canada's Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and SSHRC-CRSH; Finland's Research Council of Finland | Suomen Akatemia and Business Finland; Japan's Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST); Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT and National Research Foundation of Korea; and the United Kingdom's UK Research and Innovation's BBSRC. https://bit.ly/4evC81k NSF’s $30 million 2024 investment will support this year’s centers to advance the bioeconomy to create a prosperous and sustainable future. This investment will also integrate public engagement and workforce development, paying close attention to impacts on communities.

Five years ago this week, five NSF programs — the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, the Community Science and Data Center, the Gemini Observatory, Kitt Peak National Observatory and Rubin Observatory — were brought together under one organization, establishing NSF NOIRLab . In the years since, NSF NOIRLab's world-class telescopes have made significant scientific contributions to astronomy through breakthroughs like the discovery and confirmation of dark energy and the accelerated expansion of the universe while capturing breathtaking images that showcase the wonder and diversity of the universe. In celebration, NSF NOIRLab released this photograph – the sharpest image ever captured of the Rosette nebula, some 5,000 light-years away. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3BxH5rM ??: CTIO/NOIRLab/DOE/NSF/AURA; Image Processing: T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF NOIRLab), D. de Martin & M. Zamani (NSF NOIRLab)

Seattle startup Arzeda uses artificial intelligence to design new proteins and enzymes for food, pharma, personal and home care, fashion and more. By combining physics-based protein design and AI algorithms, the company develops biochemicals using synthetic organisms that can replace environmentally harmful chemical processes. To reduce its carbon footprint and environmental impact, Arzeda has partnered with brands like Unilever to make more sustainable laundry and cleaning products and oil giant BP to create a bioprocess to produce a renewable chemical. The company recently raised $38 million. For more information, please visit https://tcrn.ch/3NcjGPi. #NSFSBIR ??: Arzeda

The U.S. National Science Foundation and partner funding agencies in the United States, Canada, Finland, Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom are investing $82 million into six new Global Centers. "The Global Centers are leveraging expertise and resources across like-minded nations and uniting multidisciplinary teams from around the world to accelerate innovations in the bioeconomy for great impact," said NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan. "Together, we are forging new solutions to pressing socioeconomic challenges while creating international centers of research excellence that are generating crucial knowledge, empowering communities and strengthening the foundations of global cooperation." Each Global Center will create an ecosystem of innovation for the bioeconomy and offer opportunities for early-career researchers and students to gain education and training. https://bit.ly/3TNV0As

Congratulations to National Science Board member Keivan Stassun, who was awarded the MacArthur Foundation Fellowship today for his extraordinary talent, creativity and contributions to science and the greater good. "On behalf of the U.S. National Science Foundation, I extend my warmest congratulations to NSB Board Member Keivan Stassun on receiving the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship," said NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan. "NSF is proud to have supported Kevian throughout his career, from his early days as an NSF Graduate Research Fellow and CAREER awardee to his groundbreaking research on neurodiversity, which led to the founding of the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation at Vanderbilt. This center is not only a testament to Stassun's leadership but also to NSF's continued commitment to broadening participation in STEM by empowering neurodiverse individuals and bringing more diverse voices and perspectives into the STEM enterprise."? Reflecting on the accomplishment, Stassun said, "NSF support has been the juice that fueled my career every step of the way, and in a very real and direct way, the impacts that are being recognized with this honor today would not have been possible otherwise."? Learn more about the MacArthur Fellowship and Stassun's work as a science educator and astronomer at https://bit.ly/3zEsvhG. ??:John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

The U.S. National Science Foundation congratulates the winners of this year’s Golden Goose Awards. To celebrate the power of unexpected discovery, the awards honor researchers who ask the tough questions leading to breakthroughs that are transforming the world in unimaginable ways. Through #NSFfunded research, these projects showcased the importance of long-term investments into basic research driven by curiosity. The winners: ? Parallel Distributed Processing (PDP) began decades before artificial intelligence emerged as a platform for innovation. Researchers David Rumelhart, James McClelland and Geoffrey Hinton, dissatisfied with the existing methods of rule-based models of cognition, explored a new model. PDP was developed and is now a foundational model for AI networks. ? Penguin Poop from Space, led by researcher Heather Lynch, utilized satellite imagery to study Adélie penguin colonies. Through the penguin’s distinct pink guano, her team’s research offered insights into the ecological impact of climate change and human activity. ? Jeff Walters’ research on the Woodpecker Recovery project rebounded the existence of the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker by studying the species’ unique breeding behaviors. Walters’ findings not only benefited woodpeckers, but also established a conservation model that is now being applied across the southeastern United States. ??: Linnea Farnsworth/Golden Goose Award

Over the weekend, NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). This prestigious recognition highlights his exceptional leadership at both institutional and national levels and his groundbreaking contributions to multimedia computing for assistive and rehabilitative applications. The director was inducted alongside National Science Board (NSB) chair Darío Gil, 112 other colleagues and 21 international members. Membership in the NAE showcases individuals who are making significant contributions to engineering research, practice or education.

This week, NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan met with key leaders, celebrated scientific breakthroughs and highlighted NSF's vital role in bolstering research initiatives for artificial intelligence. On Monday at NSF headquarters, Director Panchanathan welcomed Minister Yoo Sang-Im and delegates from the Republic of Korea's Ministry of Science and Information and Communication Technology. The group convened to discuss joint research projects that will create nuanced opportunities to advance science and engineering to benefit both nations, with the potential to supercharge new access for the U.S. research community. The following day, Panchanathan joined AAAS at its 2024 Golden Goose Awards. The Golden Goose Awards recognizes the work of researchers whose federally supported research, initially viewed as obscure or unlikely to have significant practical applications, led to unexpected breakthroughs with major societal or economic impact. This year's recipients were all previously supported by NSF, exemplifying NSF's commitment to identifying promising areas of research early and providing the resources and infrastructure needed to nurture breakthrough discoveries over the long term. On Wednesday, Panchanathan attended the first annual Technology Leadership Summit to participate in a fireside chat with Michael Richards, senior director at the Chamber Technology Engagement Center, U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Panchanathan highlighted the NSF National Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes and the NSF National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource pilot during their discussion. Panchanathan elaborated on NSF's vision to prepare the next generation with vital resources to contribute to advancements in AI. The Quantum Insider also featured Panchanathan's previous keynote address at Quantum World Congress. During his keynote, Panchanathan spoke on the strides NSF is undertaking to broaden the quantum workforce through the $77 million NSF Expanding Capacity in Quantum Information Science and Engineering program. "This is the time to bring all of the assets together. Public-private partnerships, international partnerships and partnerships of every kind — this is how we will take the quantum leap forward," said the director. https://bit.ly/3ZC4z9e ??: Charlotte Geary/NSF ??: Linnea Farnsworth/Golden Goose Award ??: Amanda Greenwell/NSF