National Science Foundation (NSF)

This week, Director Sethuraman Panchanathan underscored the progress and accomplishments that NSF investments are having on innovation and research. The director traveled to Omaha, Nebraska, to attend the 28th NSF Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (NSF EPSCoR) National Conference hosted by the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Panchanathan met with University of Nebraska System President Jeffrey Gold and delivered a keynote speech highlighting NSF EPSCoR's transformative impact in creating an inclusive research ecosystem in the United States. The director emphasized EPSCoR's vital role in response to the "Chips and Science Act of 2022," which set targets for investments to advance innovative ideas in STEM and rapidly translate them into solutions. The EPSCoR program supports NSF's overall goal of promoting the progress of scientific development. EPSCoR continues to evolve and adapt to fuel discoveries by building research infrastructures, fostering innovation and enhancing collaboration in jurisdictions that have not always been represented before in the research landscape. Later in the week, the director met with Brian Schmidt, a Nobel Prize laureate in physics who NSF has supported, and delegates from the Embassy of Australia representing The Australian National University  and CSIRO. The group discussed opportunities to enhance collaborative research between NSF and Australia, strengthening NSF's international partnerships.  Additionally, the director recognized the success of the NSF-led National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) Pilot since its inception in January 2024. The NSF-led NAIRR pilot continues to bring cutting-edge AI resources to researchers and educators across the United States. As AI impacts the nation, the nation must have an opportunity to impact AI. https://bit.ly/3UifhhM

Students zap into #STEM via video games. 🎮🧑🚀 #NSFfunded company Skillionaire Games by skillsgapp develops mobile gaming apps 🕹️ to help middle and high school students, especially those in underserved communities, learn the skills needed for jobs in science, technology, engineering and math. The games are designed to teach youth soft skills and focus on specific STEM areas, like cybersecurity, aerospace, advanced manufacturing and more. Developed by female founders Tina Zwolinski and Cynthia Jenkins, skillsgapp’s mission is to connect students to life-changing careers through game-changing play. “Providing early awareness to skills-based careers will remove systemic economic barriers and close our skills gap once and for all,” said Zwolinski. Zwolinski was recently named a 2024 Manufacturing Maven honoree, which recognizes female leaders and innovators in South Carolina’s manufacturing industry. 👏 https://bit.ly/4eNfPEn #NSFSBIR #womeninstem 📷: skillsgapp

With peaks higher than the Colorado Rockies, annual precipitation of 6.5 inches, and temperatures plummeting to -128 degrees Fahrenheit, Antarctica is the highest, driest, coldest, windiest and emptiest place on Earth. But it’s not completely barren; two species of penguins and their neighbors — visiting scientists and technicians at the three year-round U.S. research stations — are among the continent’s inhabitants. And we can’t forget the birds, whales, seals and an abundance of sea life that populate the harsh but beautiful environments. Discover what makes Antarctica so unique and important in “Antarctica by the Numbers” factsheet and “A Kids Guide to Antarctica." These two new learning resources are now available to parents and teachers looking to inspire and educate kids about Antarctica, an icy landscape critical to the future of our planet. 🐧 “A Kids Guide to Antarctica”: https://bit.ly/487YeEJ 🐋"Antarctica by the Numbers”: https://bit.ly/3YuJ2hT

Language and culture are closely intertwined. Native American linguists and community members are leading efforts to preserve and revitalize Indigenous languages. The #Natives4Linguistics initiative is empowering Native voices within the field of linguistics to create change and advocate for more inclusive research and education. From language preservation to Indigenous perspectives in academia, NSF support of this work helps uplift Indigenous voices and their efforts to keep languages alive. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4hbLWPG #NSFfunded 📷: Native Fews

Since the NSF-led National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) pilot launched in January 2024, the initiative has been laying down the foundation for an AI research ecosystem where ideas and innovation from a diverse pool of talent can thrive and benefit the nation. “The need for AI infrastructure, research and education is only going to increase. In providing access to top-tier AI resources and expertise, the government, industry and nonprofit partners of the NAIRR pilot are helping our nation’s researchers and educators develop AI for the greater good and train our rapidly expanding AI workforce. NAIRR is meeting people where they are, regardless of geography or background, channeling the United States’ unique diversity into innovations and discoveries to advance a trustworthy global AI ecosystem and drive international standards, ensuring U.S. AI leadership for decades to come,” said NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan. Through collaborative partnerships, the pilot has awarded more than 150 resource awards since its inception. In only a few months, the impacts from the initial round of award recipients are already emerging, demonstrating the potential groundbreaking impact that a fully implemented NAIRR could have on research, education and society. https://bit.ly/3Uf802e

Did you know? This month, 58 years ago, the "Sea Grant College and Program Act" was signed as Public Law 89-688 under the U.S. National Science Foundation. 🌊🧾 ✒️ When NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration was established in 1970, it took over running the program. Since then, the National Sea Grant College Program has supported scientific research, extension, and education through a national network of 34 university-based programs in every coastal and Great Lakes state, Puerto Rico and Guam.🪼🔬 Every year, NSF hosts a fellow from the Sea Grant Knauss Fellowship — a program that provides unique educational and professional experience to graduate students interested in ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources and national policy decisions affecting those resources. You can find out where the 2025 fellows will be placed by visiting: https://bit.ly/4f7r7TG. The extensive program has undeniably sparked change through policy and in the hearts and minds of countless young and old individuals, introducing them to the marvels of the seas and the urgent need to protect them. 🦀🦈🪸 Learn more about Sea Grant here: https://bit.ly/4f0Uirq 📷: Katherine Leitzell, California Sea Grant #seagrant #coastalcommunities #marinescinece #coastalstudies #science #knaussfellowship

NSF, The National Institutes of Health and FDA have teamed up to support seven new projects that will explore digital twin technology for biomedical applications through the Foundations for Digital Twins as Catalyzers of Biomedical Technological Innovation program (FDT-BioTech). Researchers will explore the potential of digital twin technology to be used in the future for virtual clinical trials of cardiovascular medical devices, understanding neurodegenerative diseases and more. "Digital twins have the potential to remove common medical risks involved in patient monitoring and treatment, providing a framework for optimal decision-making," says Yulia Gel, program director in the NSF Division of Mathematical Sciences, which leads the FDT-BioTech program. "Real-world use of these complex models could streamline clinical trials for safer development of drugs and medical devices." Learn more: https://bit.ly/3Y6dm0D

Calling all STEM mentors:! Nominations for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (#PAESMEM) are officially open! Recognize outstanding mentors and organizations that work to bring STEM to all. Both individuals and organizations are eligible for PAESMEM nominations. They can work in industry, government, military, K-12, academia, nonprofit organizations, and foundations. Nominate a mentor from your community (or apply yourself) today! https://bit.ly/3UbOFPd

NSF congratulates Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James Robinson for their 2024 Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel. Using both data and theory, their #NSFfunded work revealed the impact of societal institutions and the role of democracy on the development of a nation's prosperity. Their work helps nations understand the value democratic principles can play while charting a course to prosperity. https://bit.ly/3Nri0Bp #NobelPrize

This week, NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan led transformative discussions and visits, strengthening global partnerships and propelling innovation to new heights. On Tuesday, Panchanathan hosted the chairman of Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), Png Cheong Boon, and delegates at NSF headquarters. The group discussed collaborative research opportunities, leveraging talent from both nations and strengthening NSF's global partnerships. Later in the week, the director traveled to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to visit Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). During his visit, he had the opportunity to witness firsthand the groundbreaking research being conducted at CMU, including a tour of the NSF Engineering Resource Center for Human Augmentation via Dexterity. This NSF-supported initiative aims to revolutionize the ability of robots to augment human labor and foster workforce development in artificial intelligence and robotics. The director also participated in the CMU President's Lecture Series, underscoring the significance of investing in collaborative efforts with universities like CMU to accelerate the frontiers of science and technology. Following the lecture, Panchanathan engaged in a fireside chat with CMU President Farnam Jahanian, where they explored NSF's crucial role in advancing AI research. He emphasized the contributions of the NSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, along with the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource Pilot, in fostering an inclusive innovation ecosystem. NSF continually works to strengthen partnerships and scale established programs to introduce new initiatives, ensuring that talent is energized worldwide. 📷: Charlotte Geary/ NSF 📷: Rebecca Devereaux/ Carnegie Mellon University