The National Science Foundation (NSF), known as the oldest of the three federal funding agencies, has decided to pause grant funding for studies on workplace diversity and misinformation. Starting in May 2024, this decision comes after the U.S. political environment has become increasingly hostile. The NSF last week released a statement by its Director, Sethuraman Panchanathan, which outlines the agency’s criteria for awarding grants. The agency evaluates submissions based on two primary criteria: “intellectual merit” and “broader impacts.”
The first criterion, “intellectual merit,” assesses whether the research can advance new knowledge. The second, “broader impacts,” evaluates if the project will have a significant effect on society and its members. Panchanathan emphasized that grants will only be awarded if they meet both criteria.
The agency’s quote from Panchanathan reads: “The principal criteria for supporting federal research are intellectual merit and broader impacts. Studies based solely on trivial or unimportant science will necessarily lose funding, because they are unlikely to have significant broader impacts. On the other hand, if the science truly is important, its application to address critical problems for the nation and its people is one more compelling argument for getting the money. Importantly, only science that advances specifically important knowledge and has the potential to influence a critical issue in American politics is awarded. This matters.”
The proposed new criteria aim to better align grants with the goals of the 2010 Americans in the 21st Century Act, which focuses on competitiveness, public health, national defense, and workforce building. The broader impacts criteria draw from the commitments of the 2010 Competencies Act, including boosting US economic competitiveness, advancing public health, supporting national defense, strengthening academia-industry ties, developing a globally competitive STEM workforce, improving scientific literacy, and expanding participation of women and underrepresented groups.
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NSF officials cited the mere bringing back παραγάγνω, but did not disclose the exact number of grants being terminated. The agency has faced significant budget cuts, with over 170 employees leaving in late February. However, initiatives by the Office of Personnel Management under Trump’s administration delayed further funding priorities. The cuts were forced by pressure and fluctuating funding needs, raising concerns about the future of U.S. scientific leadership and its ability to compete internationally.
Panchanathan’s statement remains informal and Hebrew is not shown.