AFOSR 2024: A Year in Review

This year, we celebrated groundbreaking achievements and transformative innovations that advanced science and technology for the United States Department of the Air Force and the United States Department of Defense .

2024 was a year of pushing boundaries, fostering collaboration, and investing in the future of scientific discovery. In this edition, we’ll highlight the milestones, research breakthroughs, and inspiring stories that shaped the year and set the stage for even greater accomplishments in 2025.

Let’s take a look back at the remarkable moments that defined 2024!

“In 2024 AFOSR produced game changing science for AFRL, the DAF, and the DoD. Starting in Quantum under the watchful management of Dr. Grace Metcalfe in AFRL/RTB who is pushing atomic clock performance towards the ultimate fundamental precision of the Heisenberg limit. We punched way above our weight in 2024 with three national awards for our Program Managers’ work, two from BEYA awarded to Ms. Ellen Robinson and Mr. Neville Thompson, and one from the NAACP awarded to Mr. Ed. Lee, all three in AFOSR/RTC. In 2024 we were thinking three steps ahead with the award of Director's Research Initiative for Energy for Agility, while Dr. Geoff Andersen led our international Office in Melbourne, Australia to win together by the award of a new grant to the University of Newcastle, Australia, entitled, "Remote Sensing of Coronal Mass Ejection Magnetic Fields for Space Weather Forecasting."

-Dr. William P. Roach, Chief Scientist, Air Force Office of Scientific Research

Here’s a recap of the stories that inspired, informed, and engaged our community the most this year!

Welcomed a New Director: Dr. Kevin Geiss

We were thrilled to welcome Dr. Kevin Geiss as the new Director of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. His leadership is shaping the future of basic research!

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Various Award Winners

This year, we celebrated remarkable achievements by AFOSR-supported principal investigators, including two Nobel Laureates recognized for their groundbreaking contributions to science.

The Nobel Prize :

Chemistry: "for computational protein design" awarded (in half) to Professor David Baker ( 美国华盛顿大学 Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) )

Physics: "for foundational discoveries and inventions that enable machine learning with artificial neural networks" awarded to Professor John Hopfield ( 美国普林斯顿大学 )

Community Favorites

We shared stories of the remarkable individuals supported by AFOSR, amplifying their contributions to the research community. Here are a few that our online community loved:

1. Innovating Space Safety

New software aims to safeguard satellites in the Earth-moon region.

University of Central Florida Program: Astrodynamics Principal Investigator: Professor Tarek Elgohary Program Officer: Dr. Andrew Sinclair

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2. The X-Rays That Shouldn't Be There

A mysterious discovery with the potential to redefine our understanding of x-rays in the cosmos.

Caltech Program: Space Physics Principal Investigator: Professor Paul Bellan Program Officer: Dr. Julie Moses

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3. Top Social Engagement of 2024: Rainbow Research Paper

Groundbreaking research revealing new insights into how we perceive color through retinal cells.

University of Rochester Program: Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP) Principal Investigator: Professor David Williams Program Officer: Dr. Hal Greenwald

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Stay tuned for more updates and breakthroughs in 2025!

Basic Research Art of Science Showcase

As we reflect on the remarkable creativity and dedication of our researchers, we invite YOU to join in, by submitting to the 2025 Basic Research Art of Science Showcase. Celebrate your work by submitting an art piece you’re proud of. Whether it’s a unique visualization, a groundbreaking discovery, or an inspiring project, your work deserves to be showcased.

Take a moment to appreciate your achievements and share them with the world—send in your Art of Science submission today! Let’s continue to highlight the transformative power of basic research together.

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Last year's Basic Research Art of Science Showcase brought some truly stunning pieces to light, showcasing the incredible intersection of science and art. The shared works captivated our audience, earning widespread appreciation across our social media platforms. These pieces are a testament to the beauty and innovation of basic research, and we couldn’t be prouder to highlight them.

Below are a few examples of the impactful work and inspiring people we've featured.

"A Web of Theorems" - Professor Andrej Bauer (Principal Investigator), University of Ljubljana Program Officer: Dr. Tristan Nguyen

"Microbial Mosaic: Unveiling Nature's Palette through Algorithmic" - Antonio Cordova, 美国德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校 Principal Investigator: Lydia M. Contreras, PhD Program Officer: Dr. Bennett Ibey

"Not a Blue Planet" - Amenda Chow , 加拿大约克大学

"Plasmasphere structure caused by atmospheric waves." - Joseph Huba (Principal Investigator), Syntek Technologies, Inc. Program Officer: Dr. Julie Moses

Funding Opportunities

Ready to kick off 2025 with support for your innovative research ideas? AFRL/AFOSR offers a wide array of programs through our Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) as well as various other programs. With over 40 programs currently available, researchers have access to diverse funding opportunities tailored to advance science and technology in support of the United States Air Force and United States Space Force missions.

Whether you're an experienced principal investigator or a rising star in the research community, AFOSR provides the resources and support to turn bold ideas into impactful discoveries. Explore opportunities to collaborate and receive funding in areas such as materials science, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and more.

Don’t wait to elevate your research—apply today and make 2025 a year of discovery!

?? For inquiries, contact [email protected].

?? Stay updated on open opportunities: #PartnerWithAFRL

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Here are some stories we covered this year that can give you an idea of the impact AFOSR support can have on research:

?? AFOSR has global impact on finding the best scientific talent

?? AFOSR making a difference in attosecond science and technology

Thank you for being part of this journey. Here’s to another year of discovery, collaboration, and excellence in basic research. Let’s make 2025 our most impactful year yet!

Stay curious. Stay innovative. Stay connected.

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