NSB Says $19 Billion Needed for Research, Education

ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 6 -- The National Science Board (NSB) has released a report that says it would take about $19 billion "to fully address all unmet needs and ensure continued US leadership in the international science, engineering and technology enterprise."

"Fulfilling the Promise: A Report to Congress on the Budgetary and Programmatic Expansion of the National Science
Foundation," informally known as the "Section 22 Report," recommends almost $3 billion, for example, to expand the shrinking cadre of Americans who chose science and technology careers and calls for increased education and training mechanisms to access the relatively untapped talents of racial and ethnic minority Americans.

Those funds would also be used to increase research grant size and duration and open new research frontiers. Another $1.2 billion is suggested to enhance research technology and infrastructure.

"Clearly," the report says, "we must attract more US students to science and engineering fields, and provide them with high-quality education and training and access to the most advanced tools, facilities and cyber infrastructure. If we fail to do this, increasing numbers of high technology and manufacturing jobs will go overseas," according to the report.

The report also says $200 million should be added to National Science Foundation's annual budget to maintain its excellence in research management and provide for expanded responsibilities in that area.

An online version of the report is available at: www.nsf.gov/nsb