The American Institute of Physics (AIP) has released a summary of the final 2021 appropriations for the National Science Foundation (NSF). According to AIP, the majority of the increase for fiscal year 2021 is directed toward programs that support groups underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.
NSF funding for research capacity-building efforts at minority-serving institutions, STEM education research, and fellowship programs through its Education and Human Resources account, is increasing 3% to $968 million. AIP says Congress increased the total NSF budget by 2.5% to just under $8.5 billion for FY2021 and accommodated the agency’s proposals to expand funding for work in quantum information science and artificial intelligence (AI).
AIP also said that Congress has allocated $47 million for the Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) program, a $2 million increase. The AIP summary said the House report expressed particular concern about the “severe underrepresentation of Hispanic Ph.D. graduates in STEM fields” and directs NSF to develop a plan to address the matter.”
The report also noted that the NSF does not have a dedicated program for Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions and “urges” the agency to increase grant funding opportunities. Congress further specifies that NSF provides no less than a $2 million increase each for its Tribal Colleges and Universities Program, the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation, and other minority institutions.
The AIP said Congress rejects proposed cuts to the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarships program, the Improving Undergraduate STEM Education program, and the Graduate Research Fellowship Program.
Congress also directs NSF to produce a report that assesses “the current racial and cultural makeup of the foundation; planned efforts to recruit, retain, and advance applicants and employees critical to promoting greater racial and cultural diversity, and the outcomes of these efforts.”
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