The NSF Impact

Written by: Sethuraman Panchanathan, NSF Director ?

NSF's vision is powered by the synergy between foundational, curiosity-driven, discovery-oriented research and use-inspired, solutions-oriented applications. For decades, NSF has powered scientific advancements that drive innovation, improve lives and livelihoods, make our country more secure, and make the world a better place. Just think about Google, 3D-printing, COVID PCR testing or even the touchscreen on the smartphone in your pocket. These were all made possible by NSF investments in fundamental science and engineering.

?Groundbreaking science and innovation is unleashed by investing in the incredible talent embedded in our communities across the country. NSF investments are making a real difference at every level, from local communities to the national stage. In fact, many of this year's Nobel laureates received NSF support for their work over the span of their careers, some early in their careers when NSF recognized talent that could impact the world. The work of this year's Nobel recipients is just one way in which NSF's investments have paid dividends to our society. Among this year's Nobel laureates, NSF supported the work of scientists and engineers in physics, chemistry, economic sciences, and physiology or medicine. This year's recipients join 253 previous NSF-funded Nobel laureates and their groundbreaking contributions to science. Let's look at the impact NSF investments have made in those areas.?

Physics

As the lead federal agency supporting ground-based astronomy, NSF supports the physics research of more than one thousand college and university faculty, and our physics facilities serve thousands more. NSF investments spurred some of the most exciting, historic and Nobel-worthy breakthroughs in astrophysics in the last several years. NSF investments supported the discovery of a black hole in a galaxy 55 million light-years from Earth and the giant black hole that sits at the center of the Milky Way.

?In another historic first, gravitational waves rippling from far across the universe were detected by NSF's Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory, or LIGO. These ripples in space-time were the faint remnants of the cataclysmic merger of two black holes billions of years ago. LIGO continues to detect gravitational waves from many other massive collisions of black holes and neutron stars from around the universe.

?Chemistry

An NSF-supported biochemist made a discovery in gene-editing that rocked the world of biology. The so-called CRISPR technique she facilitated is a precise, cheap and relatively easy way to edit the DNA in living organisms and repair damaged or flawed DNA. This incredible advancement could lead to new ways to treat diseases or even cure them.

?For more than 30 years, NSF has supported the research and development of lithium-ion batteries that power everyday electronics, work that the Nobel award committee said "created the right conditions for a wireless and fossil-fuel free society, and so, brought the greatest benefit to humankind."

?Other Nobel-worthy investments advance everything from pharmaceuticals to biofuels to ?protections for agriculture, and molecular machines with controllable movements that can perform a task – a breakthrough that the award committee said has "taken chemistry to a new dimension."?

Economics

NSF has supported 67 of the economists – more than 70% of all recipients – who have received the Nobel in economics since it was first awarded in 1969. NSF's is the only program in the federal government with a broad mandate to strengthen basic economic science and provide more than half the federal support in this area.

?We supported the pioneering work of labor economists to greatly improve the ability to fight global poverty and identify the most efficient ways to change the world for the better. In the process, these economists forged an indispensable analytical tool called randomized controlled trials, which gave rise to a new movement in social science research and helped or saved countless lives.

?Physiology or Medicine

Since 1950, NSF has supported 50 Nobel laureates in physiology or medicine over the course of their careers. The magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, machine commonly used in health care today emerged from the fundamental physics of the behavior of atoms.

?NSF investments have also powered advances in understanding our circadian rhythms, or internal biological clocks, which affect behavior and metabolism; embryonic stem cells and recombination in mammals; and the mysteries behind our basic sense of touch.

?Conclusion

Today, our society continues to be surrounded by tremendous challenges. But we believe that every challenge is an opportunity and a chance to embrace the scientific spirit within each of us. As we look toward a brighter future, the world will continue to turn to the science and engineering communities for answers to some of society's most urgent problems.

?Whether it is providing potable water to every place on earth or providing vaccines to mutating diseases almost on demand, the future needs inspiring scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs from every background and every community across the country.

?NSF remains dedicated to investing in foundational, curiosity-driven, discovery-oriented research and use-inspired, solutions-oriented applications and engaging the tremendous talent that is all around us through our support of STEM education. As stewards of the public trust, we can help secure a brighter future by supporting tomorrow's Nobel laureates today.