[Senate Hearing 112-292]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
S. Hrg. 112-292
INVESTING IN FEDERAL R&D
=======================================================================
HEARING
before the
SUBCOMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND SPACE
of the
COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE,
SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
UNITED STATES SENATE
ONE HUNDRED TWELFTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
__________
MARCH 17, 2011
__________
Printed for the use of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation
_____
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SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
ONE HUNDRED TWELFTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, West Virginia, Chairman
DANIEL K. INOUYE, Hawaii KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON, Texas,
JOHN F. KERRY, Massachusetts Ranking
BARBARA BOXER, California OLYMPIA J. SNOWE, Maine
BILL NELSON, Florida JOHN ENSIGN, Nevada
MARIA CANTWELL, Washington JIM DeMINT, South Carolina
FRANK R. LAUTENBERG, New Jersey JOHN THUNE, South Dakota
MARK PRYOR, Arkansas ROGER F. WICKER, Mississippi
CLAIRE McCASKILL, Missouri JOHNNY ISAKSON, Georgia
AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota ROY BLUNT, Missouri
TOM UDALL, New Mexico JOHN BOOZMAN, Arkansas
MARK WARNER, Virginia PATRICK J. TOOMEY, Pennsylvania
MARK BEGICH, Alaska MARCO RUBIO, Florida
KELLY AYOTTE, New Hampshire
Ellen L. Doneski, Staff Director
James Reid, Deputy Staff Director
Bruce H. Andrews, General Counsel
Ann Begeman, Republican Staff Director
Brian M. Hendricks, Republican General Counsel
------
SUBCOMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND SPACE
BILL NELSON, Florida, Chairman JOHN BOOZMAN, Arkansas, Ranking
DANIEL K. INOUYE, Hawaii JOHN ENSIGN, Nevada
JOHN F. KERRY, Massachusetts ROGER F. WICKER, Mississippi
MARIA CANTWELL, Washington MARCO RUBIO, Florida
MARK PRYOR, Arkansas KELLY AYOTTE, New Hampshire
MARK WARNER, Virginia
C O N T E N T S
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Page
Hearing held on March 17, 2011................................... 1
Statement of Senator Nelson...................................... 1
Statement of Senator Boozman..................................... 3
Witnesses
Dr. John P. Holdren, Director, Office of Science and Technology
Policy, Executive Office of the President...................... 5
Prepared statement........................................... 7
Dr. Subra Suresh, Director, National Science Foundation.......... 17
Prepared statement........................................... 19
Patrick D. Gallagher, Ph.D., Under Secretary of Commerce for
Standards and Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce.......... 25
Prepared statement........................................... 26
Dr. Waleed Abdalati, Chief Scientist, National Aeronautics and
Space Administration........................................... 33
Prepared statement........................................... 35
Appendix
Hon. John D. Rockefeller IV, U.S. Senator from West Virginia,
prepared statement............................................. 59
Response to written questions submitted to John P. Holdren by:
Hon. John D. Rockefeller IV.................................. 60
Hon. Bill Nelson............................................. 60
Hon. Mark Warner............................................. 61
Hon. Roger F. Wicker......................................... 62
Response to written questions submitted to Patrick D. Gallagher
by:
Hon. John D. Rockefeller IV.................................. 62
Hon. Bill Nelson............................................. 64
Hon. Roger F. Wicker......................................... 67
Response to written questions submitted to Dr. Subra Suresh by:
Hon. John D. Rockefeller IV.................................. 68
Hon. Bill Nelson............................................. 69
Hon. Mark Warner............................................. 70
Hon. Kay Bailey Hutchison.................................... 75
Hon. Roger F. Wicker......................................... 75
Response to written questions submitted to Dr. Waleed Abdalati
by:
Hon. Bill Nelson............................................. 77
Hon. Kay Bailey Hutchison.................................... 82
Hon. Roger F. Wicker......................................... 84
INVESTING IN FEDERAL R&D
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THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2011
U.S. Senate,
Subcommittee on Science and Space,
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
Washington, DC.
The Subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:34 a.m. in
room SR 253, Russell Senate Office Building, Senator Bill
Nelson, Chairman of the Subcommittee, presiding.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. BILL NELSON,
U.S. SENATOR FROM FLORIDA
Senator Nelson. Good morning. Good morning everybody.
We are really looking forward to this hearing, and before
we start, I want to introduce two of our special guests, Ms.
Tracy Caldwell Dyson and Colonel Doug Wheelock. They are part
of our very fine astronaut corps and they have both flown on
the Space Shuttle, and Soyuz, to and from the International
Space Station.
Both of them have spent quite a bit of time on the space
station. Colonel, I think you spent close to 6 months. How
about you Ms. Dyson?
Ms. Dyson. The same, sir. A hundred and seventy-six days.
Senator Nelson. Colonel, share with us a bit about your
experience on the station.
Colonel Wheelock. Oh wow, where do I begin? Well we had--we
were very, very excited about our mission because we were sort
of ushering in the full utilization of the science platform
that we had originally planned, you know, for the space
station. And very excited about it and we had over 130 science
experiments going on onboard. And it was just tremendously
exciting. It took up most of our work day.
Then as space has it, always has a surprise sort of lurking
around every corner, because of the hostile environment that we
are orbiting in, and on July 31 last year we had a critical
failure onboard the space station, a pump module failure. And--
but it--just like the rest of the times, the challenging
moments we face as NASA, as an administration and we as problem
solving people, it really turned out to be one of NASA's finest
hours. And we were so proud to be a part of that.
And I have spent 28 years in the military now and never in
my life had I experienced teamwork like I did onboard that
station. And Tracy and I got the opportunity to go outside and
do three space walks to try to repair this station and bring
our science platform back to life. It took us 3 weeks and it
was--I kind of kidded with the children that we go to speak to
now to try to pass this dream of space exploration and
discovery to them, that you know, there was a point on board
where, you know, where you face this challenge. And I am one
that always believed that, you know, adversity, sometimes we
hear that adversity builds character but I am more that
adversity exposes character. And this event that happened
onboard really exposed the character of NASA, of our country,
of our partner countries that we are working with in
cooperation onboard the space station. And it was really just a
terrific, I think, testament to teamwork and the way that we
pulled together just to solve and overcome these challenges.
And we were able to bring the science back up on line and
then really bring the station into full utilization. And we are
so excited about the future of the station and where we are
going and excited to be here, sir.
Thank you so much for the invite to spend a few moments
with you.
Senator Nelson. Both of you did the space walk at the same
time?
Colonel Wheelock. Yes, sir. We went outside three times for
a total of about 23 hours outside to replace this pump. And the
pump actually pumps ammonia through the outside lines on the
space station to try to radiate some of the heat from space.
And so half the space station was shut down. And we kind of kid
that, you know, we don't have a shower onboard the space
station so we go about 6 months without a shower, but we got an
ammonia shower on the outside of that space station.
And again, it was a challenging effort but our problem
solvers on the ground, you know, came up with ways for us to
get the job accomplished and get things cleaned up and get back
inside safely and bring our space station back up. So we were
just real thrilled to be a part of it.
Senator Nelson. Did both of you launch on the same Soyuz?
Ms. Dyson. No, sir. Separate Soyuz. Separate three person
crews. I launched April 2, 2010 with Alexander Skvortsov and
Mikhail Kornienko. And Doug launched with Shannon Walker and
Fyodor Yurchikhin.
Colonel Wheelock. I launched in June, sir and then came
back on--actually returned to Earth on Thanksgiving day, so it
was a nice Thanksgiving.
Ms. Dyson. I returned on September 25, just 2 months prior.
Senator Nelson. There was a malfunction on reentry on one
of the Soyuz. Is that problem corrected, in your opinion?
Ms. Dyson. Are you speaking before our descents or?
Senator Nelson. I don't know about the time on your descent
but there was a problem on a deploying of--go ahead.
Ms. Dyson. Well, there was a--when our Soyuz was docked to
the space station, the day that we were supposed to undock the
latches failed to release from the station, from our Soyuz,
coming from the station and necessitated our return back into
the vehicle space station while our Russian cosmonaut crewmates
remedied the problem. We tried it again the next day.
There have been problems. I think you're maybe referring to
earlier flights that some pyro bolts didn't fire. And yes, that
has been investigated and remedied and we haven't seen a
problem like that since.
Senator Nelson. Well, we are just delighted that you are
here.
When both of you were up there you had Russian colleagues
onboard the station. You know, I see frequently General Tom
Stafford who paved the way, having been a part of Apollo-Soyuz.
And it is just amazing how that Russian crew, with still Tom
Stafford and Vance Brand, of course Deke Slayton has since
passed away, but how they stay in touch with each other.
Aleksey Leonov and Valeri Kubasov, they're in touch with each
other all the time.
And Tom Stafford has now adopted two Russian boys that he
is raising and educated here in the United States. So it is
quite a story of the cooperation between the U.S., back then
the Soviet Union, and now Russia.
So thank you for being a part of that. Thank you for being
a part of our space program. Miss Garver, thank you for coming
and accompanying them, we appreciate it very much.
We are going to turn to a very distinguished science panel.
And I am going to turn to my colleague Senator Boozman for his
opening statement.
STATEMENT OF HON. JOHN BOOZMAN,
U.S. SENATOR FROM ARKANSAS
Senator Boozman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
And again, we appreciate you all being here. Appreciate
your service to our country.
The director was in the office the other day and we talked
about the importance of getting young people involved in math
and science and those things and certainly these two witnesses
are great examples of what, you know, following that career
path. I don't think we could show any finer examples of people
that have gone that route and we do appreciate their service.
I am really looking forward to being ranking member on the
Science and Space Subcommittee and working with you, Mr.
Chairman. We appreciate your leadership.
Advances in science and engineering are essential for
America's economic growth and global competitiveness. They are
also crucial to many of our other national priorities,
including energy independence, cybersecurity and healthcare.
As you know, we are slowly moving out of a recession. We
have experienced a very serious economic disruption and our
nation's future growth must be based on the substantial,
sustainable growth driven by technology and innovation.
During the next decade the U.S. demand for scientists and
engineers is expected to increase at four times the rate for
all other occupations. In fact, the pace of economic growth may
very well depend on how well our nation can meet the demands of
the global marketplace for the highly skilled researchers and
advanced products that we are going to need.
As policymakers we must do what we can to support this
growth, but here is the reality. We are faced with the largest
deficit in our nation's history and at the same time nations
around the globe are pouring money into their research and
development systems with the hope of attracting our scientists
and surpassing our nation in cutting edge technologies.
Here is our Nation's challenge. How do we support America's
spirit of innovation while being realistic that the federal
government cannot sustain our current level of spending? The
answer is that we must prioritize our spending in a manner that
gets the biggest bang for the taxpayer's buck. We have to
prioritize fundamental, basic research and we have to make sure
that our previous federal investments do not go to waste.
In my home state of Arkansas we have worked hard to grow
our research and development capacities. Many stakeholder
groups have aligned across the science and technology spectrum,
from our university system to the private sector, to make sure
that new innovations get out of the labs and into the
marketplace. We are also working hard to educate our students
and inspire them to pursue the science, technology, engineering
and math fields.
We must continue our commitment to fundamental research
that cannot be carried out by the private sector because of
long development timelines and high costs. This fundamental
research is critical to maintaining our global technological
advantage, but we must do this in a fiscally responsible way.
It is in this context that I think we need to evaluate our
federal investments in research and development in STEM
education and make sure that all of our investments represent
the most efficient and effective use of the taxpayers' dollars.
I look forward to hearing from the witnesses about the
President's plan for funding these priorities, as the nation's
key scientific research agencies, the National Science
Foundation and National Institute of Standards and Technology.
And with that, I yield back, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Nelson. Thank you, Senator.
The subject of this hearing today is research and
development, which has obviously, through the federal
government, yielded untold benefits to the American people. A
lot of our technological dominance today is a result of
investments in research and technology, and those decisions
were made years ago. And so what we want to look at here is
those continuing investments, much of which will not bear fruit
until years down the road.
And we also ought to be mindful that if we are cutting out
the R&D, you are starting to eat your seed corn so that you
don't have a crop to plant for next year. We have seen new
technologies that have developed whole new industries that have
kept America competitive in the global marketplace. And with
places like China and South Korea that are dramatically
increasing their governmental R&D, it is a significant
challenge for us to keep up that leadership.
And we ought to remember that when you wonder, is
governmental R&D worthwhile, and I preach this in NASA all the
time. Remember that it has fueled the creation of the laser,
the Internet, and GPS. As a result, it has created all kinds of
business and spawned off thousands and thousands of high paying
jobs. And those industries are led by American companies.
You know, I think back years ago, 25 years ago, we saw the
semiconductor business going abroad. And that didn't make a lot
of sense for us to become entirely reliant on other countries
for our semiconductors. So we formed a consortium called
SEMATECH--it happened to be located in Texas and because of
that effort they ended up keeping a good portion of
semiconductor production here in the U.S., which was necessary
to a lot of our high security and classified programs.
So too, we're seeing a major competition right at the
present on the question of how we can make electricity cheaper
from photovoltaic cells. And so there is a competition that is
going through the Department of Energy right now to see who can
do the R&D to get photovoltaic cells to produce electricity
cheaper so that it becomes a viable alternative to making
electricity from our standard energy sources such as petroleum.
Well, we have a star-studded panel here today. Dr. John
Holdren is director of OSTP, the Office of Science and
Technology Policy in the White House. He has been in that role
since early 2009 and we are going to hear from him on the
priorities and importance of federal investment in R&D. Dr.
Subra Suresh is Director of the National Science Foundation.
NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,100
universities. He directs NSF programs and initiatives in order
to advance all fields of fundamental science and engineering
research in education. Dr. Patrick Gallagher is the Under
Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and directs
what we call NIST, the National Institute of Standards and
Technology. In his capacity he provides the oversight and
direction on the mission to promote U.S. innovation and
industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science
standards and technology. And Dr. Waleed Abdalati is NASA's
newly named Chief Scientist. In this role he serves as the
principal advisor to the NASA Administrator on the agency's
science programs and its strategic planning and evaluation of
related investments.
So, we welcome you. What I would like you all to do, in as
much as you can possibly not just to read your statement, talk
it through to us. Let's be mindful to keep to five or six
minutes and then we want to get into some real questions.
So, we will start with you Dr. Holdren.
STATEMENT OF DR. JOHN P. HOLDREN, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY, EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
Dr. Holdren. Well thank you very much, Chairman Nelson, for
convening this hearing. It is customary to say what a pleasure
it is; I can say it is a genuine pleasure in this case. I have
immensely enjoyed working with you since before my
confirmation.
And of course, as you have pointed out, the topic today is
the federal research and development components of the
President's Fiscal Year 2012 budget. The premise behind that
budget is one that I am very sure you and I share, I think all
of us in this room share, and that is creating the jobs and
industries of the future and the quality of life that we all
want for our children and our grandchildren. That is going to
require investing in the creativity of the American people and
it is going to require investing in America's capacity to
innovate.
We think the 2012 budget proposed by the President does
that with responsible and targeted investments in the
foundations of discovery and innovation, that is in research
and development, in science, technology, engineering and math
education and in 21st century infrastructure. It does it in a
way that offsets the increases in the highest priority areas
with reductions in lower priority areas. It is a budget that is
aimed at helping us win the future by out-innovating, out-
educating and out-building the competition.
Very obviously, we need the continuing support of the
Congress to get this done. All told, the budget proposes almost
$67 billion for civilian research and development. Welcome
back, Ranking Member Boozman. I started by thanking you both
for convening this hearing.
Senator Boozman. It is always good to be thanked.
[Laughter.]
Dr. Holdren. And that $67 billion proposed for civilian R&D
is an increase of over $4 billion or about six and a half
percent over the 2010 appropriated level in that category. But
the administration is committed to reducing the deficit, even
as we prime the pump of discovery and innovation.
Our proposed investments fit within an overall non-
security discretionary budget that is frozen at its 2010 levels
for a second year in a row. And we think that budget reflects
some strategic decisions, hard decisions, to focus resources on
those areas where the payoff for the American people is likely
to be the largest.
Now I know, Mr. Chairman and Mr. Ranking Member, that this
committee is already familiar with the details of the proposed
budget. I just want to highlight, very briefly, a few key
points. First of all, consistent with the America Competes
Reauthorization Act that was passed in December with leadership
from this committee, signed by the President in January, the
budget calls for continuing the doubling trajectory for the
National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy's Office
of Science and the NIST Laboratories.
My colleague, Subra Suresh, Director of NSF and Pat
Gallagher, the Director of NIST, lead two of those three
agencies that are so important to our Nation's continued
scientific and economic leadership. In the case of NASA,
represented today by its Chief Scientist, Waleed Abdalati, the
President's budget holds to the 2010 appropriated level of
$18.7 billion, while still funding every initiative in the 2010
NASA Authorization Act.
In addition, the President's budget would allow NOAA to
improve critical weather and climate services, invest more
heavily in restoring our ocean and coasts and ensure continuity
in crucial Earth observation satellite coverage. And I know you
agree that that is indeed crucial. The budget also reinforces
the Department of Energy's work to make clean energy affordable
and abundant, as you, Mr. Chairman, have talked about in your
opening statement.
To help the Nation win the future the budget also
emphasizes STEM education to prepare our kids to be the skilled
workforce of the future in part by providing a $100 million as
a downpayment on a 10-year effort to help prepare a 100,000
new, highly qualified and effective science, technology,
engineering and math teachers. That is part of a broader
administration commitment to look carefully at the
effectiveness of all of our STEM education programs and find
ways to improve them.
To further that goal I have established a committee on STEM
education under the National Science and Technology Council. It
is co-chaired by OSTP's associate director for science, Dr.
Carl Wieman, a Nobel Laureate, as you know, in physics, and Dr.
Suresh. And it has participation from many of the federal
agencies that are involved in STEM education activities, indeed
from all of them. That committee began its work 2 weeks ago.
Three priority initiatives in science and technology that
are interagency in character were also highlighted in the 2012
budget. The first is the Networking and Information Technology
R&D Program which coordinates and plans agency research efforts
in cybersecurity, high end computing systems, advanced
networking. That budget, the 2012 budget, requests $3.9 billion
for NITRD, an increase of $74 million over 2010 and that is a
targeted increase which we believe is appropriate to the
increased importance of information technology in American
life, health, economy and national security.
The second of these interagency initiatives is the $2.1
billion for the National Nanotechnology Initiative, or NNI,
increasing that by over $200 million from 2010. The
participating agencies in that initiative are going to be
guided by a revised NNI strategic plan submitted to the
Committee last month. It reflects the emerging opportunities
for frontier research at the nanoscale which we think have
enormous potential for revolutionizing American manufacturing
and other economic sectors.
The third interagency initiative I want to highlight is the
U.S. Global Change Research Program for which the budget
requests $2.6 billion, an increase of $446 million over the
2010 level.
I want to reiterate, in closing, the guiding principle that
underlies this budget. America's strength, our prosperity, our
global leadership depend directly on the investments that we
are willing to make in R&D and STEM education and in
infrastructure. Only by sustaining those investments are we
going to be able to assure future generations of Americans a
society and a place in the world worthy of the history of this
great nation, which has been building its prosperity and its
global leadership on a foundation of science, technology and
innovation since the days of Jefferson and Franklin.
Staying the course in the current fiscal environment is not
going to be easy, but I believe the President's 2012 budget
provides a blueprint for doing that, that is both visionary and
responsible. The support of this committee, which has been the
source itself of so much visionary and also responsible
legislation in this domain is going to be essential if we are
to stay the course and I am very much looking forward to
working with both of you and the rest of the committee toward
that end.
Thank you very much.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Holdren follows:]
Prepared Statement of Dr. John P. Holdren, Director, Office of Science
and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President
Chairman Nelson, Ranking Member Boozman, and members of the
Committee, it is my distinct privilege to be here with you today to
discuss investments in Federal research and development (R&D) in the
President's Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 Budget.
Administration Initiatives in Education, Innovation, and Infrastructure
President Obama, in his most recent State of the Union address,
called on all of us to help create the American jobs and industries of
the future by doing what this Nation does best--investing in the
creativity and imagination of the American people. The President
identified this time in history as our generation's Sputnik moment. And
just as investments in science and engineering research and development
(R&D) turned the original Sputnik moment into a Golden Age of American
technological and economic dominance, so new investments in science,
technology, and innovation (STI) will be the foundation for continued
American leadership in the future. Targeted investments in the most
promising frontiers of science, made in the context of responsible
reductions in less productive endeavors, will fuel this trajectory and
allow us, in the President's words, to ``out-innovate, out-educate, and
out-build the rest of the world.''
President Obama understands that our ability to meet the grand
challenges before us is intimately dependent on robust research and
development; superior science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
(STEM) education; and 21st century transportation, telecommunications,
and energy infrastructure. His 2012 Budget provides strategic
investments in these domains while also streamlining aspects of the
Federal Government and responding responsibly to the deficit. At a
difficult time in America's history, the President's 2012 Budget
proposes to invest intelligently in innovation, education, and
infrastructure today to generate the industries, jobs, and
environmental and national security benefits of tomorrow. Obviously, we
need the continued support of the Congress to get it done. I say
``continued support'' because much of the President's Federal research
and education investment portfolio enjoyed bipartisan support during
the first 2 years of the Administration. And in this 112th Congress, we
hope to extend this partnership with both the Senate and the House
across the entire science and technology portfolio. Such a
collaboration to stimulate scientific discovery and new technologies
will take America into this new century well-equipped for the
challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
In the remainder of this testimony, I elaborate on the reasons the
President and I are most hopeful you'll provide that support.
The Federal R&D Budget
In his State of the Union address, the President said: ``The first
step in winning the future is encouraging American innovation,'' and he
promised to deliver a budget that would ensure the Nation's ability to
achieve that goal. Last month, the President released that budget. It
proposes a record $66.8 billion investment in civilian research and
development, an increase of $4.1 billion or 6.5 percent over the 2010
funding level, reflecting the Administration's firm belief that
investment in civilian research is a key ingredient for cultivating the
innovation that is so important to growing the American economy of the
future.
(Because of the uncertainty around the outcome of 2011
appropriations, all the comparisons in my testimony are between the
2012 Budget and the enacted 2010 appropriations. My testimony discusses
changes in current dollars, not adjusted for inflation. The latest
economic projections show inflation of 2.7 percent between 2010 and
2012 for the economy as a whole, using the GDP deflator.)
These important R&D investments will bolster the fundamental
understandings of matter, energy, and life that are at the root of much
innovation, and they will foster significantly new and potentially
transformative technologies in areas such as biotechnology, information
technology, and clean energy.
The Obama Administration's investments in innovation, education,
and infrastructure fit within an overall non-security discretionary
budget that would be frozen at 2010 levels for the second year in a row
and would stay frozen to 2015. The Budget reflects strategic decisions
to focus resources on those areas where the payoff for the American
people is likely to be highest, while imposing hard-nosed fiscal
discipline on areas lacking that kind of promise. For example, the 2012
Budget proposes $79.4 billion for development within the Federal R&D
portfolio--a decline compared to the 2010 funding level primarily
because of reductions in development funding in the Department of
Defense. Across government, important programs will have to make do
with less, as noted in several of the program descriptions below. The
total (defense and nondefense) R&D budget would be $147.9 billion, $772
million or 0.5 percent above the 2010 enacted level. That modest
increase is difficult to accept, of course, given the many needs that
could potentially be addressed by an expanded Federal R&D portfolio.
But the Administration is committed to making tough choices and it has
made many such in this Budget.
Budgets of Science Agencies
Three agencies have been identified as especially important to this
Nation's continued economic leadership by the President's Plan for
Science and Innovation, the America COMPETES Act, the Administration's
Innovation Strategy, and the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act,
passed by the Congress in December through the leadership of this
Committee and signed by the President in January. Those three jewel-in-
the-crown agencies are the National Science Foundation, a primary
source of funding for basic academic research; the Department of
Energy's (DOE's) Office of Science, which leads fundamental research
relevant to energy and also builds and operates the major research
infrastructure--advanced light sources, accelerators, supercomputers,
and facilities for making nano-materials--on which our scientists
depend for energy research breakthroughs; and the National Institute of
Standards and Technology laboratories, which support a wide range of
pursuits from accelerating standards development for health information
technology and ``smart grid'' technologies to conducting measurement
science research to enable net-zero energy buildings and advanced
manufacturing processes.
In recognition of the immense leverage these three agencies offer
and their key role in maintaining America's preeminence in the global
marketplace, Congress and this Administration have worked together to
put these agencies on a doubling trajectory. The FY 2012 budget
maintains that trajectory, as newly authorized in the America COMPETES
Reauthorization Act (Public Law 111-358), with a 12.2 percent increase
between 2010 and 2012 for their combined budgets, totaling $13.9
billion. I want to emphasize that the proposed increases for these
three agencies are part of a fiscally responsible budget focused on
deficit reduction that holds overall non-security discretionary
spending flat at 2010 levels for the second year in a row, meaning
these increases are fully offset by cuts in other programs.
I now turn to the budgets of individual agencies in a bit more
detail. I will focus on the agencies under the jurisdiction of the
Committee. Therefore, I will not provide details of the defense R&D
portfolio (the Department of Defense and DOE's defense programs) or the
budget of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
National Science Foundation (NSF)
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is the primary source of
support for academic research for most non-biomedical disciplines, and
it is the only Federal agency dedicated to the support of basic
research and education across all fields of science and engineering.
NSF has always believed that optimal use of Federal funds relies on two
conditions: ensuring that its research is aimed--and continuously re-
aimed--at the frontiers of understanding; and certifying that every
dollar goes to competitive, merit-reviewed, and time-limited awards
with clear criteria for success. When these two conditions are met, the
Nation gets the most intellectual and economic leverage from its
research investments. In recognition of the time-proven truth that
today's NSF grants are tomorrow's billion dollar, job-creating
companies, the 2012 Budget request for NSF is $7.8 billion, an increase
of 13.0 percent above the 2010 funding level. This keeps NSF on track
to double its budget as promised in the President's Plan for Science
and Innovation.
NSF puts the greatest share of its resources in the Nation's
colleges and universities. Universities are the largest performers of
basic research in the United States, conducting over fifty percent of
all basic research. Basic research funding such as that provided by NSF
is important not only because it leads to new knowledge and
applications but also because it trains the researchers and the
technical workforce of the future, ensuring the Nation will benefit
from a new generation of makers and doers. In order to maximize this
dual benefit to society and NSF's special contribution, the 2012 Budget
sustains the doubling of new NSF Graduate Research Fellowships to
support 2,000 new awards. The 2012 Budget also includes $64 million for
the Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program to promote
partnerships between higher-education institutions and employers to
educate technicians for the high-technology fields that drive our
Nation's economy; ATE is the centerpiece of an overall $100 million NSF
investment in community colleges, an important part of the higher
education system.
NSF also proposes to increase research funding to promote
discoveries that can spark innovations for tomorrow's clean energy
sources with a cross-disciplinary approach to sustainability science.
The Science, Engineering, and Education for Sustainability (SEES)
portfolio will increase to $998 million in the 2012 Budget for
integrated activities involving energy and environment. NSF is also
committed to enhancing U.S. economic competitiveness with Science and
Engineering Beyond Moore's Law (SEBML), a multidisciplinary research
program that aims to extend the technological and conceptual limits on
computer processing, with an investment of $96 million in the 2012
Budget. NSF is also investing $76 million in a multi-directorate
initiative on research at the interface of the Biological,
Mathematical, and Physical Sciences (BioMaPS) that aims for an
accelerated understanding of biological systems and the opening of new
frontiers in biotechnology. The Administration proposes $15 million in
the 2012 Budget for NSF's contribution to a new interagency initiative
called Enhancing Access to the Radio Spectrum, or EARS, to support
research into new and innovative ways to use the radio spectrum more
efficiently so that more applications and services used by individuals
and businesses can occupy the limited amount of available spectrum.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
This past October, the President signed the 2010 NASA Authorization
Act (the ``Act'', Public Law 111-267), which stands as a statement of
bipartisan agreement by Congress and the Administration regarding NASA
and its many programs. NASA's programs not only support the grand and
inspiring adventures of space exploration, scientific discovery, and
aeronautical advancement, but also provide an indispensable platform
for observing the Earth to ensure that we have the information we need
to cope with weather-related and other environmental threats to human
well-being. NASA programs also fuel new technology development and
innovation and help launch new products, services, businesses, and jobs
with enormous growth potential. The Act will further our joint goal of
placing NASA's programs on a more stable footing and enhancing the
long-term sustainability of these exciting endeavors as we chart a new
path forward in space.
The FY 2012 NASA budget reaffirms the Administration's commitment
to a bold and ambitious future for NASA. Every initiative called for in
the Act is funded, including: a robust program of space science and
Earth science, including a commitment to invest in new satellites and
programs of Earth observation; a strong aeronautics research program;
the Space Launch System (SLS) heavy-lift launch vehicle and Multi-
Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) needed to support human spaceflight and
exploration missions beyond Earth's orbit; a vigorous technology
development program; extension of International Space Station (ISS)
activities through at least 2020, coupled with a plan to use this
orbiting outpost more effectively; and the development of private-
sector capabilities to transport cargo and crew into low Earth orbit,
thus shortening the duration of our reliance solely on Russian launch
vehicles for access to the ISS.
Within the context of a difficult budget environment and the
President's decision to freeze non-security discretionary spending at
2010 levels for 5 years, NASA's budget remains at $18.7 billion in the
2012 Budget. This budget level demands difficult choices, and those
choices were made while keeping in mind the priorities of the Act as
well as the collective desire of the Congress and the Administration to
have a balanced program of science, research, technology development,
safe spaceflight operations, and exploration. One such difficult choice
was limiting the budget for the James Webb Space Telescope, keeping the
project funded at $375 million in 2012, to assure NASA the opportunity
to begin work on new scientific opportunities identified in the
National Academies' most recent decadal survey in astronomy and
astrophysics. Similarly, the 2012 Budget reduces the planned increases
in Earth-science research outlined in the 2011 Budget. The Budget
demonstrates the President's continued commitment to our shared
priorities even when difficult decisions are required, providing $1.8
billion in FY 2012 funding for the Space Launch System and $1.02
billion for the Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle, thereby laying the critical
foundation for these exploration programs. As NASA reported in January
of this year, it is still in the process of shaping these efforts and
will discuss them in more detail in a report to Congress this spring.
Similarly, the Budget provides a solid foundation for the commercial
crew and cargo transportation programs that are necessary to provide
safe and cost-effective access to low-Earth orbit, including sufficient
support for the operations of the ISS.
Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology
(NIST)
The hugely complex web of technology that keeps this Nation's
equipment and economy running smoothly depends on largely invisible but
critical support in the fields of measurement science and standards.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) laboratories
stand at the core of this Nation's unparalleled capacity in these
areas, helping ensure that America remains the world leader in
measurement innovation and systems interoperability. Reflecting NIST's
vital role in supporting the economy and infrastructure, the 2012
Budget of $764 million for the Institute's intramural laboratories
amounts to a 15.1 percent increase over the 2010 enacted level. That
increase will support high-performance laboratory research and
facilities for a diverse portfolio of investigations in areas germane
to advanced manufacturing, health information technology,
cybersecurity, interoperable smart grid, and clean energy. For NIST's
extramural programs, the 2012 Budget requests $143 million for the
Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), an $18 million
increase over the 2010 enacted level. The 2012 Budget also requests $75
million for the Technology Innovation Program (TIP), a $5 million
increase over 2010, and $12 million for the Advanced Manufacturing
Technology Consortia program, a new public-private partnership that
will develop road maps for research that will broadly benefit the
Nation's industrial base. All of these NIST programs are important
components of A Framework for American Manufacturing, a comprehensive
strategy for supporting American manufacturers announced in December
2009, and the Administration's revised Innovation Strategy released in
February.
Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA)
NOAA plays a vital role supporting research on the Earth's oceans,
atmosphere, and marine habitats. The NOAA budget of $5.5 billion is an
increase of $749 million over the 2010 enacted level. This will allow
NOAA to strengthen the scientific basis for consequential environmental
decision-making, improve critical weather and climate services that
protect life and property, invest more heavily in restoring our oceans
and coasts, take advantage of high-performance computing to manage
weather and climate data, and ensure continuity in crucial Earth-
observation satellite coverage. The 2012 Budget proposes a
restructuring of NOAA, including the creation of a Climate Service line
office in NOAA that will focus on the delivery of climate services
while sustaining research on oceans, atmosphere, and climate.
NOAA satellite systems are critical for our Nation's ability to
forecast severe weather, such as blizzards or hurricanes, and as such
can save lives and property. Ensuring that we retain these capabilities
remains a top priority in the 2012 Budget. The former National Polar-
orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) program
had a troubled history, as illustrated by numerous Congressional
hearings and GAO reports. Because of this, in early 2010 the
Administration announced a significant restructuring of the program,
and this plan was endorsed by Congress as part of the 2010 NASA
Authorization Act (Section 727). This restructuring was accompanied by
significant increases in NOAA's 2011 Budget request in order to
expedite the launch schedule of these essential weather satellites and
reduce the risks of a gap in forecasting data. However, because the
current continuing resolution allows for only a fraction of the funding
necessary in FY2011 to continue work on the instruments and spacecraft
for the first of NOAA's satellites (the first Joint Polar Satellite
System mission, or JPSS-1), work on the first JPSS satellite has been
slowed down considerably. Under current funding scenarios, the JPSS-1
mission could be delayed by up to 2 years, thus forcing the weather
forecasting community to rely solely on satellites that will be
operating well past their planned mission life. The 2012 Budget request
provides $1.1 billion to continue the development of the Joint Polar
Satellite System, a significant increase over the 2010 enacted level
which reflects the need for NOAA to fully fund the acquisition of
satellites for the afternoon orbit within its own budget. NOAA
recognizes the magnitude of the requested investment for environmental
operational satellites. However, given the impact of weather on society
and the Nation's economy, the ability to warn and protect our citizens
from harm is well worth the cost.
Department of Energy (DOE)
The Administration is directing Federal innovation incentives to
one of the most important, job-creating, innovation-inspiring
challenges of our time: making clean energy affordable and abundant.
The DOE R&D portfolio is a key part of this effort, which is why DOE
R&D increases to $13.0 billion in the 2012 Budget. This represents
targeted growth of 19.9 percent and does not include DOE's non-R&D
cleanup, weapons, and energy-deployment programs. The 2012 Budget also
proposes significant resources for demonstration and deployment
incentives as part of a comprehensive framework for moving the United
States toward a clean-energy future. The Administration's clean-energy
R&D priorities focus on developing cutting-edge technologies with real-
world applications to advance a clean-energy economy, increase energy
efficiency in industry and manufacturing, reduce energy use in
buildings, and reach the goal of having 1 million electric vehicles on
the road by 2015. To help pay for these priorities, we are proposing to
cut inefficient subsidies that we currently provide, unnecessarily, for
fossil fuels.
The 2012 Budget proposes $550 million in appropriations for the
Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, or ARPA-E, and another $100
million in mandatory funding under the Wireless Innovation Fund. The
Budget will advance ARPA-E's portfolio of transformational energy
research with real-world applications across areas ranging from grid
technology and power electronics to batteries and energy storage. First
funded as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA),
ARPA-E is a signature component of the America COMPETES Act, which was
recently reauthorized.
The 2012 Budget also doubles the number of Energy Innovation Hubs
to solve key challenges that require cross-cutting inputs from diverse
disciplines. The three new Hubs will focus on Batteries and Energy
Storage, Smart Grid Technology and Systems, and Critical Materials. In
early February, the President visited the existing Energy Efficient
Building System Design Hub, which will accelerate the development of
innovative designs for cost-effective lighting, sunlight-responsive
windows, and smart, thermodynamic heating and cooling systems, which
together will help make America home to the most energy-efficient
buildings in the world. The other two existing Hubs focus on Fuels from
Sunlight and Modeling and Simulation for Nuclear Reactors.
The Department of Energy's Office of Science pursues fundamental
discoveries and supports major scientific research facilities that
provide the foundation for long-term progress in economically
significant domains such as nanotechnology, advanced materials, high-
end computing, energy supply and end-use efficiency, and climate
change. The 2012 Budget of $5.4 billion, more than 10 percent above the
2010 enacted level, increases funding for facilities and cutting-edge
research geared toward addressing fundamental challenges in many areas
including clean energy and climate change, as well as multi-scale
carbon cycle research to underpin measurement, reporting, and
verification of greenhouse gas emissions.
Investments in DOE's clean-energy applied R&D programs target gains
over the next several decades for reducing dependence on oil and
accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy. The President's
2012 Budget increases investments in Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy by more than 40 percent over the 2010 appropriation to a total
of $3.2 billion. EERE supports important work in industrial
productivity, R&D on advanced batteries for electric and hybrid
vehicles, and building technology R&D to cut energy consumption. It
also supports new deployment activities in these areas, including a
$200 million competitive grant program to encourage electric vehicle
(EV) readiness and a $100 million competitive ``Race to Green'' program
to encourage state and local governments to streamline codes,
regulations, and performance standards and make efficient building the
norm. Strong support continues for carbon capture and storage options
that can significantly reduce the cost of transitioning to a low-carbon
economy. The Budget also increases investments by more than 40 percent
over 2010 funding levels in R&D to modernize the electric grid,
critical to enabling clean energy sources, by providing $238 million
for Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability.
To help pay for these programs and align policies toward new clean
energy technologies, the Budget proposes to repeal over $4 billion per
year in inefficient fossil fuel subsidies. The Administration will
continue to work in a bipartisan fashion to put in place market-based
incentives to promote U.S. leadership in the clean-energy marketplace.
Consistent with Administration policy to phaseout inefficient fossil
fuel subsidies, the Budget eliminates funding for R&D focused on
increasing hydrocarbon production.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The R&D portfolio of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is
$584 million in the 2012 Budget, a decline of $13 million or 2.2
percent compared to the 2010 funding level. With this investment, EPA
will focus on enhancing and strengthening the planning and delivery of
science by restructuring its research and science programs to be more
integrated and cross-disciplinary. This request supports high-priority
research of national importance in such areas as endocrine disrupting
chemicals, green chemistry, e-waste and e-design, green infrastructure,
computational toxicology, air monitoring, drinking water, and STEM
fellowships. In addition, by way of strategic redirections, EPA will
significantly increase--by $25 million--its outreach to the broader
scientific community through its Science to Achieve Results (STAR)
program. This investment will bring innovative and sustainable
solutions to 21st century environmental science challenges by engaging
the academic research community.
United States Geological Survey (USGS)
The total 2012 budget of the United States Geological Survey
(USGS), Interior's lead science agency, is $1.1 billion or a $6 million
increase from the 2010 enacted level. The Budget includes a total of
$126 million in program increases, offsetting a total of $120 million
in program reductions and savings, reflecting shifting priorities
toward climate variability research and ecosystem restoration. There
are significant decreases in minerals and water resources research as
well as targeted increases, including $11 million to complete the
network of climate science centers that will develop research-based
decision support tools for use by Federal land managers. The 2012
Budget also proposes an addition of $60 million over the 2010 level for
Landsat operations and the development of a new operational Landsat
satellite program, which will continue to collect remote sensing data
that are invaluable for many purposes, including climate and land-use
change research.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) R&D totals $1.1 billion in
the 2012 Budget, up $167 million or 18.8 percent from the 2010 enacted
level. Within the DHS Science and Technology Directorate, the 2012
Budget proposes $150 million to begin construction of the National Bio
and Agro-defense Facility (NBAF), which will serve as a new, state-of-
the-art biosafety level 3&4 facility for the development of vaccines
and anti-virals and enhanced diagnostic capabilities for protecting the
United States against emerging agricultural diseases. The Budget also
proposes $64 million for research to support the Comprehensive National
Cybersecurity Initiative (CNCI), an increase of $22 million from the
2010 enacted level.
Department of Transportation (DOT)
The 2012 Budget provides $1.2 billion for Department of
Transportation (DOT) R&D, an increase compared to the 2010 funding
level. One significant part of DOT's R&D activities is the Federal
Aviation Administration's (FAA) Research, Engineering, and Development
program. The Budget includes funding for several R&D activities in
FAA's Next Generation Air Transportation System, known as NextGen. The
Joint Planning and Development Office coordinates this important effort
with NASA and other participating agencies. The Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA) also manages a comprehensive, nationally-
coordinated highway research and technology program, engaging and
cooperating with other highway research stakeholders. FHWA performs
research activities associated with safety, infrastructure preservation
and improvements, and environmental mitigation and streamlining.
White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP)
The 2012 Budget requests $6.65 million for White House Office of
Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) operations, 5 percent below the
2010 enacted funding level, in recognition of the need for shared
sacrifice to freeze non-security discretionary spending. OSTP works
with OMB to ensure that the President's S&T priorities are
appropriately reflected in the budgets of all the Executive Branch
departments and agencies with S&T and STEM-education missions. OSTP
also provides science and technology advice and analysis in support of
the activities of the other offices in the Executive Office of the
President and supports me in my role as the Assistant to the President
for Science and Technology, with the responsibility to provide the
President with such information about science and technology issues as
he may request in connection with the policy matters before him. In
addition, OSTP coordinates interagency research initiatives through
administration of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC),
serves as the lead White House office in a range of bilateral and
multilateral S&T activities internationally, and provides
administrative and technical support for the very active 21-member
President's Council of Advisers on Science and Technology (PCAST). This
work is accomplished with approximately 34 full-time equivalent staff
supported by the OSTP appropriation, which includes the OSTP Director,
four Associate Directors (for Science, Technology, Environment, and
National Security and International Affairs), additional technical
experts, and a small administrative function. In addition, there are
approximately 40 scientific and technical experts detailed to OSTP from
all across the Executive Branch along with approximately a dozen other
experts brought in under the Intergovernmental Personnel Act or various
fellowship arrangements. This mix of personnel allows OSTP to tap a
wide range of expertise and leverage all available resources to ensure
that the science and technology work of the Federal Government is
appropriately resourced, coordinated and leveraged.
Interagency Initiatives
A number of priority interagency S&T initiatives are highlighted in
the President's 2012 Budget. These initiatives are coordinated through
the NSTC, which as noted above is administered by OSTP.
Networking and Information Technology R&D
The multi-agency Networking and Information Technology Research and
Development (NITRD) program plans and coordinates agency research
efforts in cyber security, high-end computing systems, advanced
networking, software development, high-confidence systems, information
management, and other information technologies. The 2012 Budget
provides $3.9 billion for NITRD, an increase of $74 million over the
2010 funding level.
Networking and computing capabilities are more critical than ever
for a range of national priorities, including national and homeland
security, reforming the health care system, understanding and
responding to environmental stresses, increasing energy efficiencies
and developing renewable energy sources, strengthening the security of
our critical infrastructures including cyberspace, and revitalizing our
educational system for the jobs of tomorrow. The 2012 Budget includes a
focus on research to improve our ability to derive scientific insights
and economic value from enormous quantities of data that heretofore
would have been too large to take full advantage of, and continues to
emphasize foundations for assured computing and secure hardware,
software and network design, and engineering to address the goal of
making Internet communications more secure and reliable.
National Nanotechnology Initiative
The 2012 Budget provides $2.1 billion for the multi-agency National
Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), an increase of $201 million over the
2010 funding level. Research and development in the NNI focuses on the
development of materials, devices, and systems that exploit the
fundamentally distinct properties of matter at the nanoscale. NNI-
supported R&D is enabling breakthroughs in disease detection and
treatment, manufacturing at or near the nanoscale, environmental
monitoring and protection, energy conversion and storage, and the
design of novel electronic devices. In 2012, NNI agencies will be
moving forward, using close and targeted program-level interagency
collaboration, on three signature initiatives in areas ready for
advances: Nanoelectronics for 2020 and Beyond; Sustainable
Manufacturing--Creating the Industries of the Future; and
Nanotechnology for Solar Energy Collection and Conversion.
In addition, agencies continue to maintain a focus on developing
nanotechnology responsibly with attention to potential human and
environmental health impacts, as well as ethical, legal, and other
societal issues. I will also add that I recently submitted to the
Committee a revised strategic plan for the NNI reflecting the changing
opportunities for frontier research at the nanoscale.
U.S. Global Change Research Program
The Budget includes an expanded commitment to global change
research, with the understanding that insights derived today will pay
off with interest in the years and decades ahead as our Nation works to
limit and adapt to shifting environmental conditions. Investments in
climate science over the past several decades have contributed
enormously to our understanding of global climate. The trends in global
climate are clear, as are their primary causes, and the investments in
this research arena in the 2012 Budget are a critical part of the
President's overall strategy to mitigate U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions
and move toward a clean- energy economy even as we adapt to those
changes that are inevitable. Specifically, the 2012 Budget provides
$2.6 billion for the multi-agency U.S. Global Change Research Program
(USGCRP)--an increase of 20.3 percent or $446 million over the 2010
enacted level--to continue its important work of improving our ability
to understand, predict, project, mitigate, and adapt to climate change.
As you are no doubt aware, the USGCRP was mandated by Congress in
the Global Change Research Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-606) to improve
understanding of uncertainties in climate science, expand global
observing systems, develop science-based resources to support
policymaking and resource management, and communicate findings broadly
among scientific and stakeholder communities. Thirteen departments and
agencies participate in the USGCRP. OSTP and the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) work closely with the USGCRP to establish research
priorities and funding plans to ensure the program is aligned with the
Administration's priorities and reflects agency planning. In 2011, the
USGCRP is undertaking a comprehensive process that will result in an
updated strategic plan, which will be submitted to Congress later this
year.
Funding in the 2012 Budget will support an integrated and
continuing National Climate Assessment of climate change science,
impacts, vulnerabilities, and response strategies as mandated by
Congress. The Budget also prioritizes an interagency research effort
for measuring, reporting, and verifying greenhouse-gas emissions.
Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Job Creation
The President believes we must harness the power and potential of
science, technology, and innovation to transform the Nation's economy
and to improve the lives of all Americans. In addition to the
investments in research and development (R&D) I have described, the
President's 2012 Budget targets strategic investments to spur
innovation in the public and private sectors and to maximize the impact
of the Federal R&D investment for innovation. Last month, the President
released a revised Strategy for American Innovation, building on an
earlier version released in September 2009. This strategy describes how
investments in R&D work together with other Federal investments and
policies to support American innovation. Let me share with you a few
highlights that are reflected in the Budget.
The Budget proposes a permanent extension of the research and
experimentation (R&E) tax credit to spur private investment in R&D by
providing certainty that the credit will be available for the duration
of the R&D investment. In December, the President and Congress worked
together to extend expiring tax breaks for Americans; as part of that
agreement, the current R&E tax credit was extended through the end of
this year. The 2012 Budget proposes to expand and simplify the credit
as part of making it permanent.
In addition, earlier this year the Administration announced Startup
America, a campaign to inspire and accelerate high-growth
entrepreneurship throughout the Nation. This coordinated public/private
effort brings together an alliance of the country's most innovative
entrepreneurs, corporations, universities, foundations, and other
leaders, working in concert with a wide range of Federal agencies to
increase the prevalence and success of American entrepreneurs. A broad
set of Federal agencies will launch a coordinated series of policies
that ensure high-growth startups have unimpeded access to capital,
expanded access to quality mentorship, an improved regulatory
environment, and a rapid path to commercialization of federally-funded
research.
The 2012 Budget sustains the Administration's effort to promote
regional innovation clusters as significant sources of
entrepreneurship, innovation, and quality jobs. These efforts are
taking place in several agencies working together, including the Small
Business Administration (SBA), DOE, and especially the Economic
Development Administration (EDA) within the Department of Commerce. EDA
will be pursuing several programs in research parks, regional
innovation clusters, and entrepreneurial innovation activities, as
authorized recently in the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act. And as
mentioned earlier, the 2012 Budget continues to increase funding for
the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) in NIST to
disseminate the latest advanced manufacturing techniques and innovative
processes to small- and medium-sized manufacturers around the Nation.
Taken together, these investments will help ensure that Federal
investments in innovation, education, and infrastructure translate into
commercial activity, real products, and jobs.
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education
In his State of the Union address, the President said: ``If we want
innovation to produce jobs in America and not overseas, then we also
have to win the race to educate our kids.'' To help win that race, the
2012 Budget emphasizes science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics (STEM) education, building on two strong years of progress.
Through his past budget requests and actions--including his recent
hosting of the first White House science fair, his launch of the
``Educate to Innovate'' and ``Change the Equation'' initiatives, and
his challenging the Nation's 200,000 Federal scientists and engineers
to get more involved in STEM education--the President has shown that he
is deeply committed to improving STEM education. These efforts have
engaged not only the Federal Government but also the private,
philanthropic, and academic sectors. The Educate to Innovate campaign
has resulted in over $700 million in financial and in-kind private-
sector support for STEM education programs. And the Change the Equation
program has brought together over 100 corporations in a historic effort
to scale up effective models for improving STEM education. The
Administration has also integrated STEM education into broader
education programs. For example, the Race to the Top competition
provided a competitive advantage to states that committed to a
comprehensive strategy to improve STEM education.
Building on these efforts, the 2012 Budget proposes an investment
of $100 million as a down payment on a 10-year effort to help prepare
100,000 new highly effective STEM teachers. This coordinated effort
between NSF and the Department of Education will help prepare teachers
with both strong teaching skills and deep content knowledge. The
Administration proposes $80 million for the Department of Education in
the 2012 Budget to expand promising and effective models of teacher
STEM preparation within the new Teacher and Leader Pathways program--
for example, ones that provide undergraduates with early and intensive
field experience in the classroom along with extensive STEM subject
coverage. At the same time, NSF proposes to launch a $20 million
teacher-education research program called Teacher Learning for the
Future. In cooperation with the Department of Education, this NSF
program will fund research that will increase our understanding of what
makes a great STEM teacher and how to best prepare, support, and retain
highly effective STEM teachers in the most cost effective manner. The
coordination of these two programs will ensure that there is continual
innovation and improvement in teacher preparation that is grounded
firmly in evidence.
This is part of a broader Administration commitment to look
carefully at the effectiveness of all STEM programs and find ways to
improve them. To further this goal, I have established a Committee on
STEM Education under the National Science and Technology Council. The
STEM Education Committee is co-chaired by OSTP's Associate Director for
Science, Carl Wieman, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist renowned for his
work on improving STEM education, and involves participation from the
many Federal agencies involved in STEM education activities.
The work of this Committee is closely aligned with the vision for
STEM education outlined by Congress in the America COMPETES
Reauthorization Act and focuses on improving the coordination and
effectiveness of all Federal STEM education programs. In this spirit,
the Department of Education and NSF are leading an effort, with active
OSTP participation, to increase the impact of the Federal STEM
investments I've outlined above by: (1) developing an aligned strategy
that emphasizes key agency capacities; (2) clarifying evidence
standards used to assess program impact; and (3) identifying the most
promising STEM efforts for further validation, testing, and suitability
for scaling up.
All told, the 2012 Budget requests $3.4 billion for STEM education
programs across the Federal Government. This is $200 million lower than
the 2010 funding level and reflects some difficult choices. However, we
feel this budget is better focused on programs that will make an
impact.
OSTP looks forward to working with this Committee on our common
vision of improving STEM education for all of America's students.
21st Century Infrastructure
I've talked about innovation and education, and now I would like to
talk briefly about the third step in winning the future: rebuilding
America. In his State of the Union address, the President established a
vision of rebuilding America for the 21st century. This vision is
reflected in the 2012 Budget in investments that will not only rebuild
the roads and bridges of the 20th century but will also help build the
new infrastructure needed for America to remain competitive in this
century.
Within science and technology, the 2012 Budget proposes a Wireless
Innovation and Infrastructure Initiative to help businesses extend the
next generation of wireless coverage to 98 percent of the U.S.
population. This Initiative will enable businesses to grow faster,
students to learn more, and public safety officials to access state-of-
the-art, secure, nationwide, and interoperable mobile communications.
It will also foster the conditions for the next generation of wireless
technology, nearly doubling the amount of wireless spectrum for mobile
broadband and providing critical support for R&D in wireless
innovation. The Initiative builds upon the Presidential Memorandum on
spectrum released last year, which proposes to reallocate a total of
500 megahertz of Federal agency and commercial spectrum bands over the
next 10 years to increase the Nation's access to wireless broadband.
As part of the Initiative, the 2012 Budget proposes the creation of
a $3 billion Wireless Innovation (WIN) Fund to be funded out of
receipts generated through electromagnetic-spectrum auctions. This Fund
will advance our economic growth and competitiveness goals, supporting
key technological developments that will enable and take advantage of
the private sector's rollout of next-generation wireless services and
pave the way for new technologies. The WIN Fund will support basic
research, experimentation and testbeds, and applied development in a
number of areas including public safety, education, energy, health,
transportation, and economic development.
The 2012 Budget also proposes investments in novel, game-changing
physical infrastructure systems including a national high-speed rail
system, an improved civil aviation system taking advantage of the
NextGen air-traffic-control innovations, and new standards for smart-
grid technologies.
Conclusion
The investments in research and development, innovation, STEM
education, and 21st century infrastructure proposed in the President's
FY 2012 Budget reflect his clear understanding of the critical
importance of science and technology, STEM education, and 21st century
infrastructure to the challenges the Nation faces. Recognizing the
importance of responsibly reducing projected budget deficits and
holding the line on government spending, the President has made
difficult choices in order to maintain and in some cases increase
critical investments that will pay off by generating the American jobs
and industries of the future. Indeed, the science and technology
investments in the 2012 Budget are essential to keep this country on a
path to revitalized economic growth, real energy security, intelligent
environmental stewardship, better health outcomes for more Americans at
lower costs, strengthened national and homeland security, and
continuing leadership in science and in space.
As this Committee has long understood over the decades, the best
environment for innovation in all technologies is a broad and balanced
research program for all the sciences. Such a broad base of scientific
research will provide the foundation for a cornucopia of
multidisciplinary discoveries with unimagined benefits for our society.
The truth is that this country's overall prosperity in the last half-
century is due in no small measure to America's ``innovation system''--
a three-way partnership among academia, industry, and government.
One of President Obama's guiding principles is that America's
present and future strength, prosperity, and global preeminence depend
directly on fundamental research. Knowledge drives innovation,
innovation drives productivity, and productivity drives America's
economic growth. And so it logically follows that economic growth is a
prerequisite for opportunity, and scientific research is a prerequisite
for growth.
That is why President Obama believes that leadership across the
frontiers of scientific knowledge is not merely a cultural tradition of
our nation--today it is an economic and national security imperative.
This Administration will ensure that America remains at the epicenter
of the ongoing revolution in scientific research and technological
innovation that generates new knowledge, creates new jobs, and builds
new industries.
By sustaining our investments in fundamental research, we can
ensure that America remains at the forefront of scientific capability,
thereby enhancing our ability to shape and improve our Nation's future
and that of the world around us.
I look forward to working with this Committee to make the vision of
the President's FY 2012 Budget proposal a reality. I will be pleased to
answer any questions the Members may have.
Senator Nelson. Dr. Suresh?
STATEMENT OF DR. SUBRA SURESH, DIRECTOR,
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Dr. Suresh. Thank you, Chairman Nelson and Ranking Member
Boozman. Thank you very much for this opportunity to present
NSF's 2012 budget request to you this morning.
I would like to expand on what Dr. Holdren said, focusing
on what NSF is planning to do for the coming fiscal year.
I came to the United States in 1977 to do science and
engineering because it was the only beacon of science and
engineering at that time; to do engineering research and
education I did not have to think twice as to where I wanted to
go. The mission of NSF is to sustain that excellence as we
continue to lead the way for important discoveries and cutting
edge technologies.
For 2012, NSF's budget request is $7.8 billion, which
represents an increase of $894 million or 13 percent. As Dr.
Holdren just mentioned, it is consistent with the President's
Plan for Science and Innovation and the President's plan for
doubling the budget for science agencies. It is also consistent
with the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010.
The economic prosperity of our country and its global
competitiveness depend on innovations that come from new
technologies; new knowledge; basic research, as the Ranking
Member mentioned in his opening remarks; and a highly skilled
and inclusive workforce. NSF has an unparalleled track record
for the past 60 years in supporting the best ideas and the most
talented people. The 2012 budget request builds on these past
accomplishments.
The most challenging research problems today bring together
people from very different fields; fields as different as
computer science, mathematics and the physical, life, and
social sciences. In 2012, INSPIRE, which is a new program in
the NSF portfolio, will encourage investigators to undertake
multidisciplinary research which is the hallmark of much of
contemporary science and engineering.
As you mentioned in your opening statement, Mr. Chairman,
NSF supports basic research in all fields of science and
engineering. Because of this, we are well positioned to
catalyze the new fields and new research paradigms that emerge
from this cross fertilization. Over the next 5 years NSF will
receive a billion dollars from the Wireless Innovation Fund
which was established with receipts from the spectrum auctions.
In fact, NSF supported research on advanced economics that led
to the identification of potential opportunities for financial
gains through spectrum auctions. That led to the FCC's current
system of spectrum auctions, which has netted $45 billion for
the federal government since 1994. This fund will allow NSF to
expand research on wireless test pads and systems such as smart
sensors for buildings, roads, and bridges.
In the 1960s and 1970s, process innovation and mathematical
research funded by NSF led to major innovations in an area
called rapid prototyping which revolutionized American
manufacturing. This came at a time when industry was not
supporting this research: it was NSF-funded research that led
to the revolution in manufacturing. Continuing that trend, in
the 2012 budget we have identified $190 million for the area of
advanced manufacturing to pursue innovations in sensor and
model-based smart manufacturing and nanomanufacturing.
Additionally, an interagency National Robotics Initiative
will focus on robots that will work cooperatively with people
in areas such as manufacturing, space and undersea exploration,
healthcare, surveillance and security, and education and
training.
Dr. Holdren mentioned the National Nanotechnology
Initiative. NSF has continued to play a lead role in that
initiative since the beginning of that effort more than 10
years ago. As part of this, in the 2012 budget, we will explore
significant initiatives in nanoelectronics, solar energy
collection and conversion, and sustained nanomanufacturing.
Just to illustrate the impact of NSF funded research in
nanotechnology: in the past 10 years, NSF funded nanotechnology
centers have led to 175 startups that have established
collaborations with 1,200 companies.
U.S. leadership in science and engineering requires the
most knowledgeable and skilled STEM workforce. Three new
programs in STEM education, each funded at a level of $20
million, will improve teacher preparation, strengthen
undergraduate STEM education and broaden participation of under
represented groups in our workforce. We fully recognize that
leading edge tools are also needed to advance the frontiers of
science and engineering and to train students for the
workforce. The budget sustains investments in major equipment
and facility projects. These are very critical for creation of
new knowledge and major new discoveries.
In conclusion, ``one NSF'' is a concept that characterizes
my vision for the National Science Foundation as a model
agency. NSF will work seamlessly across organizational and
disciplinary boundaries to create new basic knowledge,
stimulate discovery, and address complex societal problems.
NSF's investments in fundamental science and engineering have
paid enormous dividends, improving the lives and livelihoods of
several generations of Americans. The 2012 budget request will
carry the success into the future.
Mr. Chairman, Mr. Ranking Member, this concludes my
testimony and I look forward to answering your questions.
[The prepared statement of Dr. Suresh follows:]
Prepared Statement of Dr. Subra Suresh, Director,
National Science Foundation
Chairman Nelson, Ranking Member Boozman, and Members of the
Subcommittee, it is my privilege to be here with you today to discuss
the National Science Foundation's Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 Budget Request.
My name is Subra Suresh and I am Director of the National Science
Foundation (NSF).
I hope to make a clear and compelling case for the critical value
of NSF support for science and engineering research and education at a
time when America faces many pressing needs and tight budget
constraints. I came to the United States as a young engineering student
because it was the world's beacon of excellence in science and
engineering research and education. I stayed for the same reason. The
mission of NSF is to sustain that excellence as we continue to lead the
way for the important discoveries and cutting-edge technologies that
will help keep our Nation globally competitive, prosperous, and secure.
The President's request for NSF for FY 2012 is $7.8 billion, an
increase of 13 percent, or $894 million, over the FY 2010 Enacted
level. The President's Plan for Science and Innovation calls for
doubling the Federal investment in key basic research agencies. NSF's
request is consistent with this plan, with the Administration's
Innovation Strategy, and with the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act
of 2010. The increase will support 2,000 more research awards across
the Nation.
In FY 2012, NSF will strengthen support for basic research and
education in all fields of science and engineering, and promote
collaborations that reflect the increasingly interdisciplinary nature
of modern science and engineering, while strengthening our disciplinary
excellence. We will capitalize on many promising areas of investigation
where new discoveries can help establish U.S. leadership in next
generation technologies, and we will invest in transformational work,
new fields, and novel theoretical paradigms to fuel the innovations of
the future. Innovative programs to bolster world-class science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics education (STEM), from coast
to coast, and from north to south, are central to the success of all
these activities.
NSF: Where Discoveries Begin
Sustained Federal support for research and education has fueled
innovation and provided benefits to the American public for decades,
and NSF has played a significant role in this success. For over 60
years, NSF has been a catalyst for the development of new ideas in
science and engineering and supported the people who generate them.
In 1952, Caltech professor Max Delbruck used one of NSF's first
grants to invent molecular biology techniques that enabled one of his
students, James Watson, to determine the molecular structure of DNA.
Since then, an entire biotechnology industry has bloomed and prospered,
with profits reaching $3.7 billion last year.
In the 1960s and 1970s, NSF provided seminal funding for
fundamental mathematical and process innovations for manufacturing that
industry considered too risky to fund. These led directly to rapid
prototyping--and revolutionized how products are designed and
manufactured.
In the 1980s, NSF supported the very first computer science
departments in U.S. universities, bringing computer science into the
mainstream of research, and providing a training ground for the first
and subsequent generations of computer scientists and entrepreneurs.
Today, NSF provides 82 percent of total Federal support for research in
computer science conducted in the Nation's universities and colleges.
Jobs related to computer and information technologies are among the
most rapidly growing in the Nation according to Bureau of Labor
Statistics projections.
In the 1990s, NSF supported pioneering research in the emerging
field of nanotechnology. Between 2001 and 2010, NSF-supported centers
and networks created 175 start-ups and developed collaborations with
over 1,200 companies.
Investments in basic research often yield unexpected benefits as
well. NSF's support of game theory, abstract auction theory, and
experimental economics provided the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) with its current system for apportioning the airwaves. Since
1994, FCC ``spectrum auctions'' have netted over $45 billion in revenue
for the Federal Government and more than $200 billion in worldwide
revenue.
The NSF FY 2012 Budget Request builds on these past accomplishments
and provides a direction for future success. To fuel the innovations of
the future, NSF continues to support fundamental research and education
in all fields of science and engineering to maintain a global edge in
the competition for new ideas and the most talented people. The core
science and engineering disciplines form the ``building blocks'' for
future innovations, and provide the new ideas and approaches needed to
advance the interdisciplinary research that is a hallmark of
contemporary science and engineering. In all these activities, we keep
a steady focus on the frontier, where discoveries begin.
The NSF FY 2012 Budget Request
The Administration's A Strategy for American Innovation makes clear
the larger rationale for investments in science and engineering
research and education. This is to put knowledge to work--to create the
industries and jobs of the future, and to improve the quality of life
and enhance the security and prosperity of every citizen. NSF
investments support each of the three pillars of this strategy: Invest
in the Building Blocks of American Innovation, Promote Market-Based
Innovation, and Catalyze Breakthroughs for National Priorities.
Invest in the Building Blocks of American Innovation
A robust U.S. science and engineering research enterprise is
necessary to maintain a global edge in the competition for new ideas.
In FY 2012, NSF will continue to support the most promising research
programs and launch several new initiatives.
Integrated NSF Support Promoting Interdisciplinary Research and
Education (INSPIRE) will support new activities to encourage
investigators to undertake the interdisciplinary research that is a
hallmark of much contemporary science and engineering. This effort will
be in concert with disciplinary excellence. INSPIRE will catalyze
interdisciplinary research by seamlessly integrating a suite of new
activities with existing efforts and other NSF investments. The goal is
to foster and support the transformative research that
interdisciplinary research so often produces. INSPIRE is a new $12
million initiative in FY 2012, and will involve participation from all
Directorates.
Science and Engineering Beyond Moore's Law (SEMBL) explores next
generation computing, including quantum computing, that addresses the
limits of current technology. Those limits may be reached in as few as
10 to 20 years. In FY 2012, NSF will invest $96 million to continue
this multidisciplinary program.
Research at the Interface of the Biological, Mathematical, and
Physical Sciences (BioMaPS) is a $76 million investment to investigate
biological systems that provide architectural and operational blue
prints which can guide engineering of adaptive technologies. BioMaPS
will integrate research in the biological, engineering, mathematical,
and physical sciences to better understand and replicate nature's
ability to network, communicate, and adapt. The research will
accelerate the generation of bio-based materials and sensors, and the
advanced manufacturing of bio-inspired devices and platforms.
Global leadership also requires the most knowledgeable and skilled
STEM workers in the world. NSF's approach is to develop the Nation's
talent pool by integrating research and education. This longstanding
NSF practice facilitates the direct transfer of new knowledge to the
private sector. It happens every time graduate students with experience
working at the frontiers of discovery enter the work force. A strong
suit in U.S. competitiveness, this is one of NSF's greatest
contributions to the Nation's innovation system. NSF will support three
new initiatives to strengthen STEM education throughout the nation, and
continue support for highly effective efforts to develop the Nation's
talent and workforce.
Teacher Learning for the Future (TLF), funded at $20 million, is a
new teacher-training research program that will fund innovative efforts
that design, develop, implement and test new teacher-training programs
in cooperation with the Department of Education.
Widening Implementation and Demonstration of Evidence-based Reforms
(WIDER), a new $20 million program to support research on how to
achieve widespread sustainable implementation of improved undergraduate
instructional practices and student outcomes at major universities.
Transforming Broadening Participation through STEM (TBPS), a third
new program, will expand support for activities to broaden
participation of underrepresented groups through partnerships that
match research centers with other institutions committed to broadening
participation. The FY 2012 investment in TBPS is $20 million.
The Faculty Early Career Development program (CAREER) develops the
future scientific and technical workforce through support of young
faculty who are dedicated to integrating the excitement of research
with inspired teaching and enthusiastic learning. In FY 2012, NSF will
invest $222 million to support approximately 606 CAREER awards, an
increase of 60 awards.
The Graduate Research Fellowship program (GRF), funded at $198
million in FY 2012, supports the development of graduate students in
order to cultivate the next generation of STEM workers. In FY 2012, NSF
will award 2,000 new fellowships, sustaining the doubling of new
fellowship awards achieved in FY 2010. In addition, the cost of
education allowance will be increased from $10,500 to $12,000, the
first increase in this level since 1998. The Budget Request also
includes initial funding for a stipend increase to $32,000 that will be
fully implemented in FY 2013.
Community college funding continues to be a priority for NSF in FY
2012. NSF engages community colleges through several programs,
including Advanced Technological Education (ATE), Transforming
Undergraduate Education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics (TUES), the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority
Participation (LSAMP), and the Tribal Colleges and Universities Program
(TCUP). The total investment in community college programs is $100
million.
Promote Competitive Markets that Spur Productive Entrepreneurship.
Advances in technology, economic growth, and a prosperous society
depend on the translation of fundamental discoveries into new
processes, practices, and commercial products that are widely used.
Many NSF activities provide incentives for scientists, engineers, and
educators to undertake use-inspired research that transforms basic
discoveries into applications for the benefit of society and the
economy.
The Advanced Manufacturing initiative will pursue advances in
sensor and model-based smart manufacturing; cyber-physical systems such
as advanced robotics; smart buildings and bridges; and nano-
manufacturing. This initiative holds tremendous potential for
significant short-term and long-term economic impact by developing the
foundation for entirely new classes and families of products that were
previously unattainable. The NSF request for FY 2012 includes $190
million for these activities.
The Wireless Innovation (WIN) Fund, a component of the
Administration's new Wireless Innovation and Infrastructure Initiative
(WI3), will provide $1 billion to NSF over the next 5 years. WI3
proposes to reallocate a total of 500 megahertz of Federal agency and
commercial spectrum bands over the next 10 years to increase the
Nation's access to wireless broadband. NSF will support research on
experimental wireless technology testbeds, more flexible and efficient
use of the radio spectrum, and cyber-physical systems such as wireless
sensor networks for smart buildings, roads, and bridges. A portion of
the receipts generated through electromagnetic spectrum auctions will
provide funding for WIN. NSF's FY 2012 investments will be coordinated
with a number of other agencies, including the Defense Advanced
Research Projects Agency and the National Institute of Standards and
Technology.
Enhancing Access to the Radio Spectrum (EARS), in addition to the
related research funded through the WIN, will support research into new
and innovative ways to use the radio spectrum more efficiently so that
more applications and services used by individuals and businesses can
occupy the limited amount of available spectrum. NSF proposes an
investment of $15 million in FY 2012.
Engineering Research Centers (ERCs) and Industry/University
Cooperative Research Centers (I/UCRC) direct much of their basic
research to problems with potential economic impact. By working closely
with industry, these programs create enabling technologies for national
needs, such as managing the electrical power system, improving
manufacturing and biological processing, and supporting new healthcare
information and telecommunications technologies. They also prepare
students for innovation leadership in a globally competitive
marketplace. The FY 2012 NSF investment is $96 million.
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business
Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, funded at $147 million in FY 2012,
build partnerships between the academic and industry sectors. They
bolster the innovation economy by funding translational research at
U.S. small businesses on topics that span the breadth of NSF scientific
and engineering research and reflect national and societal priorities.
Catalyze Breakthroughs for National Priorities.
In FY 2012, NSF will focus on key national priority areas, where
the expertise of physical, biological, and social scientists and
engineers can help advance U.S. goals through frontier research. NSF-
catalyzed research includes investments in clean energy and the
advancing fields of bio- and nanotechnology, areas that are poised for
innovative breakthroughs.
Cyberinfrastructure Framework for 21st Century Science and
Engineering (CIF21) is a new portfolio that builds on NSF's long
history of providing leadership for cyber infrastructure and
computational science for the U.S. academic science and engineering
community. The $117 million CIF21 will advance data-enabled science
through the development of novel approaches to collect, manage, and
curate the vast quantities of data generated by modern observational
and computational tools. The program will also expand access to cyber
infrastructure to promote collaboration, and support improved community
research networks to connect people, facilities, computers, and other
tools.
The Science, Engineering, and Education for Sustainability (SEES)
portfolio, funded at $998 million in FY 2012, draws together NSF
programs that spark innovations for tomorrow's clean energy solutions.
SEES will promote a cross-disciplinary approach to sustainability
science to explore the environment-energy-economy nexus in order to
inform energy and environmental policies and improve our capabilities
for rapid response to extreme events, such as power grid disruption,
floods, or extreme weather.
Clean Energy investments, a significant component of SEES, will
lead to future clean energy and energy efficiency technologies.
Investments totaling $576 million are found throughout the NSF
portfolio, in core research programs and in activities such as BioMaPS
and SEES.
The National Nanotechnology Signature Initiatives are promising
research themes that have the potential to generate applications with
widespread economic benefit, as well as address national and homeland
security challenges. In FY 2012, NSF will invest $117 million in three
research areas: Nanotechnology for Solar Energy Collection and
Conversion, Sustainable Nanomanufacturing--Creating the Industries of
the Future, and Nanoelectronics for 2020 and Beyond. NSF also supports
advanced manufacturing research through these investments.
The National Robotics Initiative (NRI), a new interagency
initiative for FY 2012, partners NSF with the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration, National Institutes of Health, and the U.S.
Department of Agriculture. NRI will marshal broad science and
engineering support to provide U.S. leadership in the development of
next generation robotics. The focus is on robots that work beside, or
cooperatively, with people in areas such as manufacturing, space and
undersea exploration, healthcare and rehabilitation, military and
homeland surveillance and security, education and training, and safe
driving. Collaboration and coordination strengthens the research effort
and also ensures that agency programs do not overlap. NSF will invest
$30 million in NRI in FY 2012.
Interagency Initiatives
NSF participates in a number of interagency programs that aim to
coordinate research and development activities in areas of critical
national importance.
National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), involving 25 departments
and agencies across the Federal Government, focuses on realizing the
tremendous potential of nanotechnology. Investments in nanotechnology
have led to the discovery and development of entirely new classes of
materials. NSF will increase support for NNI research by 10.6 percent
to a total of $456 million. This investment includes the National
Nanotechnology Signature Initiatives.
The Networking and Information Technology Research and Development
(NITRD) explores new frontiers in computer, information, and networking
science, and coordinates these efforts among multiple agencies. NSF
will increase its investment in these activities by 15.3 percent to
$1.258 billion in FY 2012. The focus of NSF support includes human-
computer interaction and information management, high-end computing
infrastructure and applications, large scale networking, and
cybersecurity and information assurance. Other initiatives in the NSF
budget will explore new techniques in education and workforce training
to exploit cutting edge networking and information technologies.
Homeland Security Activities across NSF will increase by 9.2
percent to about $426 million. The focus is on two general areas:
protecting critical infrastructure and key assets and defending against
catastrophic threats. Approximately 73 percent of this investment
supports research in cybersecurity, emergency planning and response,
and risk management, modeling, and simulation of resilient
infrastructure.
Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction
People and their ideas form the core of a robust science and
engineering enterprise. But leading-edge tools are also needed in many
cases to advance the frontiers and train students for the workplace.
NSF provides the assets that will be central to success in the emerging
``New Era of Observation,'' without precedent in terms of the sheer
scale, scope, reach, resolution and volume of what we are able to
observe. This new era has been enabled by the ``Era of Data and
Information'' where we are now entering an emerging paradigm of data-
enabled science.
NSF provides sophisticated tools to a broad population of
scientists, engineers, students, and educators. All of the projects in
the Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction account
undergo major cost and schedule reviews, as required by NSF guidelines.
The following projects receive continued support:
The Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave
Observatory (AdvLIGO) is a planned upgrade of the existing
Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO).
AdvLIGO will be ten times more sensitive, powerful enough to
approach the ground-based limit of gravitational-wave
detection. The FY 2012 investment is $21 million.
The Advanced Technology Solar Telescope (ATST) will enable
study of the Sun's magnetic fields, which is crucial to our
understanding of the types of solar variability and activity
that can affect communications and navigational satellites in
space and power grids here on earth, and may influence climate.
The FY 2012 investment is $10 million.
The Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) is the world's
most sensitive, highest resolution, millimeter wavelength
telescope. ALMA will provide a testing ground for theories of
planet formation, star birth and stellar evolution, galaxy
formation and evolution, and the evolution of the universe
itself. The FY 2012 investment is $3 million.
The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) will
consist of geographically distributed field and lab
infrastructure networked via cybertechnology into an integrated
research platform for regional to continental scale ecological
research. The FY 2012 investment is $88 million.
The Ocean Observatories Initiatives (OOI) will provide
continuous, interactive access to the ocean through a network
of sensors designed to collect physical, chemical, geological,
and biological data. OOI will produce never-before-seen views
of the ocean's depths. The FY 2012 investment is $103 million.
Terminations/Reductions
NSF continually assesses its portfolio to ensure that investments
align with agency priorities and focus on the frontiers of innovative
science and engineering research. NSF proposes six programs for
termination or reduction in FY 2012.
Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL):
NSF eliminates funding for DUSEL. Termination is based on
National Science Board reviews that concluded the cost and
scope of DUSEL were inconsistent with the agency's traditional
strengths and its role in advancing research and education
across many fields and disciplines. NSF will continue to
solicit proposals for future particle physics research. No
funding is required in FY 2012 for DUSEL.
Graduate STEM Fellows in K-12 Education: NSF eliminates the
agency-wide Graduate STEM Fellows in K-12 Education (GK-12)
program. While the program has been effective in meeting its
overall goals, recent evaluation findings indicate that the
effects of this program's fellowship experience in improving
research skills is mixed, and program design limits the ability
of participants to gain in-depth experience in K-12 teaching.
NSF plans to build on experiences gained during the 10-years of
GK-12 funding to widen the breadth of graduate traineeship
experiences through other programs.
National STEM Distributed Learning Program (NSDL): NSF
eliminates funding for the NSDL program (formerly the National
STEM Digital Library). While NSDL has been successful in
meeting its original goals, an October 2010 preliminary
evaluation by the RAND Corporation, Steps Toward a Formative
Evaluation of NSDL: Phase 2, noted the challenges of sustaining
the collection in the face of changing technology, and raised
concerns about the currency of the collections, peer review of
collections, collaboration across pathways, and lack of
standardization. NSF plans to build from the substantial NSDL
experience to address key areas in cyberlearning through other
programs and activities, such as Cyberlearning Transforming
Education (CTE). No funding is required in FY 2012 for NSDL.
Research Initiation Grants to Broaden Participation in
Biology: NSF eliminates funding for the Research Initiation
Grants to Broaden Participation in Biology program (RIG)
because it did not achieve the goal of broadening participation
in biology. The number of proposals from underrepresented
groups did not increase. RIG concludes in FY 2011.
Science of Learning Centers (SLC): NSF proposes to reduce
funding for the SLC program, which currently supports six
large-scale, long-term centers that conduct science of learning
research. The on-going center review process and reviews from
an external May 2010 Advisory Committee both recommended that
NSF phase the program down as funding for individual centers
concludes and shift resources wherever possible to enhance
support for the science of learning using non-center
mechanisms. NSF expects there may be additional reductions to
this program in future years as funding for individual centers
comes to a close.
Synchrotron Radiation Center (SRC): NSF eliminates funding
for the Synchrotron Radiation Center facility at the University
of Wisconsin. The SRC is 30 years old, and more powerful and
capable facilities have come on-line since 1980.
Model Organization
The National Science Foundation aims to perform as a model
organization in carrying forward its mission. Only 6 percent of the NSF
annual budget is spent on management and administration. The FY 2012
request includes $494 million, an increase of $64 million, for
activities to strengthen NSF's ability to manage its operations
effectively and efficiently. These funds will support:
Staff will include 40 additional full-time equivalents for a
total of 1,365 FTE;
IT investments of $86 million will include NSF financial
system modernization (iTRAK), Research.gov expansion, and
improvements to the operational IT system's reliability and
security;
Headquarters lease expiration funding is $45 million to plan
and prepare for a new headquarters lease; and
Acquisition, part of the government-wide effort to
strengthen the acquisition workforce and improve capabilities
in the pre-solicitation phase of major acquisitions, receives
$2 million.
NSF is committed to promoting strong, independent evaluation to
inform its policy decisions, program management, and performance, and
to sharing publicly available findings online.
OneNSF
The concept ``OneNSF'' characterizes NSF efforts to perform as a
model agency. The National Science Foundation will work seamlessly
across organizational and disciplinary boundaries to create new
knowledge, stimulate discovery and address complex societal problems
and promote national prosperity.
Within this overarching context, the process of setting NSF
priorities involves many considerations and results in our best view of
how to advance the Nation's science, engineering, and education
enterprise. Internally, NSF holds a series of retreats and planning
meetings where directions are developed based on an understanding of
new research frontiers, emerging fields, and opportunities to advance
research and educational goals. NSF also considers opportunities to
coordinate and collaborate with other agencies. Staff from all
Directorates and Offices participate in these activities.
The NSF system of competitive merit review helps to bring the best
ideas forward from every corner of the Nation. NSF continues to accept
and review unsolicited proposals, a practice that ensures that
unanticipated and novel ideas of great promise are heard.
Conclusion
President Obama has spoken of this generation's new ``Sputnik
moment,'' a reference to the challenge of meeting the Nation's economic
and societal needs in the current climate of global competition for new
ideas and talent. NSF's strategic investment in research and education
will help the Nation meet the challenges of our times and move beyond
them.
Mr. Chairman and members of the Subcommittee, I hope my testimony
explains NSF's transformative role in building our Nation's future
prosperity and continued leadership at the frontiers of discovery,
innovation and learning. Robust NSF investments in fundamental science
and engineering have paid enormous dividends, improving the lives and
livelihoods of generations of Americans. The FY 2012 NSF Budget Request
supports leading edge programs and activities that will continue this
success in the future.
This concludes my testimony. I thank you for your leadership, and
will be pleased to answer any questions you may have.
Senator Nelson. Director Gallagher?
STATEMENT OF PATRICK D. GALLAGHER, Ph.D.,
UNDER SECRETARY OF COMMERCE FOR STANDARDS
AND TECHNOLOGY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Dr. Gallagher. Great. Thank you, Chairman Nelson, Ranking
Member Boozman, it is a pleasure.
Let me summarize my brief comments for you this morning
informally. I think there are three things I would like to
mention to set up our discussion that I am very much looking
forward to.
First, the NIST budget request needs to be understood in
the context of the priority setting that Dr. Holdren has
already mentioned. The President has laid out a very
responsible budget, but we find NIST being very well aligned
with the Presidential priority to support the innovation
capacity of the United States. The NIST mission to promote
innovation and industrial competitive through measurement
science and standards and technology is very well aligned with
the President's goal and so the 2012 budget request for a
billion dollars, which is approximately a 17 percent increase,
really needs to be understood in this context.
Also, within the budget request, there are several major
themes in the NIST budget that I wanted to highlight. One of
the key themes is advanced manufacturing. The NIST budget
request includes significant emphasis on promoting the capacity
of U.S. manufacturers and particularly in high technology
related manufacturing areas. And this is important because
manufacturing is central to our capacity as a nation to
innovate. This includes--the details are in the submitted
testimony--nearly $85 million of increases in the NIST
Laboratory programs that are to address measurement barriers
that manufacturers face in emerging areas and also to support
the types of technologies that enable U.S. manufacturers to
compete and thrive in a very competitive international market.
It includes an increase for the Manufacturing Extension
Partnership Program, which is a program that works in
partnership in all 50 states to provide business services to
small and midsize manufacturers. It includes an increase to our
Technology Innovation Program so we can sponsor grants looking
at breakthrough technologies in advanced manufacturing areas,
and a new program, AMTech, that is designed to stimulate the
creation of industrial consortia, very much like the SEMATECH
example that you gave in your opening statement. And this is
critically important, this is the ability to get competing
companies to work together to tackle a shared technical problem
and by tackling that problem, enable the whole sector. And we
think this is going to be a critical asset.
The other major theme in the budget request for NIST is in
infrastructure, in particular, two types of infrastructure.
What I would call cyber infrastructure, there's a very strong
focus on cybersecurity and making sure that the integrity and
reliability of our ability to move information, which is a key
enabler and an innovation economy, is preserved. This includes
core NIST functions in looking at cybersecurity research,
advanced cryptography, biometrics, access control, things of
that type. Also, in support of our national program office
responsibilities for trusted identities in cyberspace and as
our national program we are able to support cybersecurity
education efforts, because humans interact with cyber
infrastructure as well. And both from a workforce perspective
and a participation perspective that is important.
It also addresses cyber infrastructure in the context of
enabling technology infrastructure that we need to advance our
goals. So whether it is smart grid or cloud computing or health
information technology, NIST is working in concert with
industry to support the development of the standards
infrastructure that make these complex systems work and the
request addresses that as well.
But it also touches on physical infrastructure. In
particular, NIST is working with both industry and with state
and local communities to develop technically sound model codes
and standards to ensure that we can build robust and disaster
resistant structures and infrastructure, something that is
clearly on a lot of our minds as we look at the unfolding
situation in Japan.
I mentioned the one new program which is AMTech, the
Advanced Manufacturing Technology Consortia, to develop these
consortia approaches to share technical challenges. The other
program is in the area of wireless infrastructure. It is part
of the Public Safety Innovation Fund which is part of the
larger administration effort in wireless innovation. NIST has a
new program funded from spectrum and set of auctions to work
with the public safety community to develop a network based
communication infrastructure that first responders could use.
So this would enable a broadly interoperable national system of
emergency communication and to enable that sort of leap ahead
technology.
In spite of the sizable increases, we have also focused on
realizing administrative savings wherever we could. The budget
requests incorporate over $11 million in those administrative
savings and offsets. And we certainly understand the context in
which this takes place.
So I will leave it with that and look forward to answering
any questions you may have.
[The prepared statement of Dr. Gallagher follows:]
Prepared Statement of Patrick D. Gallagher, Ph.D., Under Secretary of
Commerce for Standards and Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce
Chairman Nelson, Ranking Member Boozman, and members of the
Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today
to present the President's Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 budget request for the
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). This budget
reflects the important role that NIST plays as part of President
Obama's Plan for Science and Innovation. As the President has said . .
. ``We know what it takes to compete for the jobs and industries of our
time. We need to out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of
the world.'' \1\ The NIST FY 2012 budget clearly lays out the NIST role
in the Administration's priorities by making critical investments in
key areas that will help preserve our Nation's economic security and
strengthen American competitiveness.
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\1\ Remarks by the President in State of Union Address on January
25, 2011.
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Mr. Chairman, I would like to start with a quick mention of the
context of this budget. Overall, this is a very difficult budget
environment. The President made clear that it was important for the
government to live within its means and establish some priorities
within those limits. The President has focused on a number of key
goals, including innovation, infrastructure and education.
Within that context, NIST finds itself with a mission that's very
well aligned to those goals. Over the past few years, numerous reports
have underscored the importance of a robust Federal presence in the
sciences to advance technological innovation. The ``Rising Above the
Gathering Storm'' report and its follow-on, ``The Gathering Storm,
Revisited,'' were a clarion call to action that helped to shape the
America COMPETES Reauthorization Act that this Committee championed and
the President signed into law earlier this year. In addition, in
February of this year, the White House Office of Science and Technology
Policy, National Economic Council, and Council of Economic Advisers
jointly released an update to the 2009 ``Strategy for American
Innovation'' that ``focuses on critical areas where sensible, balanced
government policies can lay the foundation for innovation that leads to
quality jobs and shared prosperity.''
The NIST mission is to promote U.S. innovation and industrial
competitiveness through measurement science, standards and technology.
The NIST mission is very well-aligned with the priority goals that the
President has laid out. The FY 2012 budget for NIST reflects that
alignment.
Mr. Chairman, the President's FY 2012 discretionary budget request
for NIST is $1 billion, a 17 percent increase over the FY2010 enacted
level. The budget maintains the President's commitment to double the
NIST laboratory budget, and to support and enhance our world leadership
in the physical sciences and technology.
The NIST budget is comprised of three discretionary spending
accounts and one new proposed mandatory spending account.
For the NIST laboratories, the budget requests $679 million to
accelerate the development of standards, technology, and measurement
science in areas as diverse as advanced manufacturing technologies,
cybersecurity, and infrastructure. The request reflects a net increase
of $173.6 million over the FY 2011 annualized CR level. We did not
continue funding $10.5 million in previous year earmarks and redirected
this amount to new initiatives. Thus, the budget proposes $178.5
million in laboratory initiatives and $5.6 million in adjustments to
base.
For the NIST Industrial Technology Services (ITS) account, the
budget requests $238 million, an increase of $33 million over FY 2011
annualized CR levels. The account includes NIST's external programs:
the Technology Innovation Program (TIP), the Hollings Manufacturing
Extension Partnership (MEP), the Baldrige Performance Excellence
Program (BPEP) and the newly proposed Advanced Manufacturing Technology
Consortia (AMTech) program. The request includes $12.3 million for the
AMTech, a new cooperative grant program with industry and academia to
foster public-private partnerships to develop needed technology to
support advanced manufacturing industries that will broadly benefit the
Nation's industrial base. Also in the ITS line is a $1.9 million
reduction to BPEP from the FY 2011 annualized CR levels.
The budget requests $84.6 million for the Construction of Research
Facilities (CRF) account; representing a $62.4 million decrease from
the FY 2011 annualized CR level. The request includes $25.4 million for
the continued renovation of the Boulder Building 1 renovation but does
not include $67 million in FY 2010 earmarks and the Construction Grant
Program.
Finally, NIST requests $100 million in mandatory appropriations for
the Public Safety Innovation Fund, NIST's component of the Wireless
Innovation Fund, which itself is part of the President's Wireless
Innovation and Infrastructure Initiative (WI3). This mandatory
appropriation request will fund NIST's safety efforts in this area,
with particular focus on working with industry and public safety
organizations to develop new standards, technologies, and applications
to advance public safety.
Let me speak in more depth about the major thematic initiatives in
this request: manufacturing, infrastructure, and education. These
themes directly relate to the President's stated goals to ``out-
innovate, out-educate, and out-build.''
Out-Innovate: Supporting Innovation for a Strong Manufacturing Base
In order to ``Out-Innovate,'' the U.S. must have a strong
manufacturing base. With that focus innovation in manufacturing is key
to the NIST 2012 budget. In the area of manufacturing, U.S. industry
faces relentless competition that has trimmed the Nation's share of
global manufacturing output from 25 percent in 2000 to about 20 percent
today.
The U.S. manufacturing sector, still the world's largest, is the
Nation's innovation engine. Manufacturers perform half of all research
and development in the U.S., and they employ 17 percent of the Nation's
scientists and engineers. The sector develops, builds, and supplies the
advanced equipment that enables the U.S. military to maintain
technological superiority over our adversaries.
Providing the measurement tools and other essential technical
assistance that existing U.S. manufacturers and aspiring start-ups need
to invent, innovate, and produce--more rapidly and more efficiently
than their competitors--is a top NIST priority. NIST has partnered with
the manufacturing sector for over a century. Today's challenges require
stepping up efforts to enhance and strengthen the Nation's underlying
technical infrastructure, which is integral to our innovation and
advanced manufacturing capabilities.
To reap the economic benefits of our ability to innovate, our
Nation's manufacturing sector must be able to renew itself by adopting
new technology and developing new markets. The nation's manufacturers
must respond quickly and effectively to an ever-changing mix of
requirements, risks, and opportunities, from new regulations to rising
energy costs to emerging technologies and markets. The revitalization
of the U.S. manufacturing base is critical to driving innovation and
job creation in the future and will play a major role in building an
economy that can help raise the standard of living for all
Americans.\2\
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\2\ Executive Office of the President, A Framework for Revitalizing
American Manufacturing, Dec. 2009.
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2012 Manufacturing Initiatives
The President's FY 2012 budget for NIST includes five
manufacturing-related initiatives in NIST's scientific laboratories
that will enable NIST to bolster and diversify needed research and
promote proven services that will strengthen U.S. manufacturing
competitiveness in high-value-added product markets.
Strengthening Measurement Services in Support of Industry
Needs ($20.0M) The U.S. economy depends upon a robust and
reliable physical science-based measurement system. Industry is
increasingly relying upon and utilizing NIST's precision time
and synchronization services to drive innovation. Industries as
diverse as telecommunications, electric power distribution,
broadcasting, and navigation networks, as well as many crucial
applications in national defense, intelligence, and homeland
security rely on NIST calibrations and measurement services. In
aeronautics, for example, NIST calibrations for commercial and
Federal Government partners ensure the accuracy and performance
of altimeters and electrical systems that enable F-18s and
commercial aircraft to fly. This initiative will enhance
systems for distributing NIST measurement services to meet the
growing demand from industry for such services.
Advanced Materials for Industry ($14.2M) The discovery and
optimization of new materials is costly and inefficient. Today,
U.S. researchers can design and create new materials at a rate
that outpaces our ability to support the measurements to
characterize and exploit these discoveries. NIST efforts in
advanced materials development and measurement science can help
manufacturers save millions of dollars in design costs. This
initiative will help to provide that support to industry
through the development of a national measurement and standards
infrastructure necessary to enable computer modeling and
simulation capabilities for discovering new materials and
reliably optimizing structures and properties for manufacturing
processes and product performance and features.
Innovations for 21st Century U.S. Manufacturing: Faster,
Smarter and Cleaner ($13.3M) Innovation is central to
manufacturing, and in turn, to the overall growth and health of
the U.S. economy. The ability to rapidly introduce product
innovations provides a foundation for future growth in U.S.
manufacturing and with it, the creation and retention of high-
skill, well-paying jobs. This initiative will fund efforts to
develop advanced robotics technologies that allow the U.S. to
retain manufacturing competitiveness, and fund programs that
will promote sustainable operations and improve energy
efficiency in both the manufacturing and construction sectors
of the economy.
Measurement Science and Standards to Support
Biomanufacturing ($9.5M) The high cost of biotechnology
medicines is adversely impacting the U.S. healthcare system and
economy. Biotechnology drugs, currently dominated by protein
therapeutics, are the fastest-growing class of pharmaceuticals
and the fastest growing ( 20 percent/year) category of health
care spending.\3\ Inefficiencies in the manufacturing process
contribute to the high cost of these drugs. Under this
initiative, NIST will work closely with industry, the FDA, and
other standards organizations to better understand the
manufacturing process resulting in higher quality biologic
products through continuous improvement of manufacturing
processes. It will also enable the development of agile
biomanufacturing processes required for next generation
products such as stem cells and personalized biotherapeutics.
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\3\ Biotech 2008--Life Sciences: A 20/20 Vision to 2020, Burrill
and Company, 2008.
Measurements to Support the Manufacture and Production of
Nanotechnology-based Products ($28.2M) There remain significant
barriers to the full commercial exploitation of nanotechnology.
The lack of manufacturing and characterization tools adds
significantly to the development cost of nano-based products.
Rigorous measurement science is needed to characterize the
environmental, health, and safety risks of engineered
nanomaterials. NIST's expertise in measurement science as well
as its world-class nanotechnology fabrication facilities at the
Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST) in
Gaithersburg, Maryland, provides industry unique resources to
advance the measurement science needed to enhance our
understanding of the safety of nanomaterials, and fund research
on the development and manufacture of cost-competitive
technologies. This initiative will position the U.S. to be
globally competitive in emerging technologies through safe use
of nanotechnology. It will also provide needed investments in
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the CNST to keep it at the cutting-edge of innovation.
The President's budget strongly supports manufacturing through the
Industrial Technology Services programs.
Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP)
The President's 2012 Budget requests $142.6 million for the MEP
program. This request is a $17.9 million increase over the FY 2011
annualized CR level. The MEP is a Federal-state partnership which
requires a two-thirds financial match from non-Federal sources. Through
its national network of MEP Centers located in every state, 1,400
technical experts help small and medium-sized manufacturers navigate
economic and business challenges and connect to public and private
resources essential for increased competitiveness and profitability.
Through competitively awarded cooperative agreements, NIST MEP will
expand the capabilities of its nationwide network of centers to
accelerate commercialization of technological innovations, adopt
environmentally sustainable business practices, promote renewable
energy initiatives, foster market diversification, and connect domestic
suppliers to manufacturers to assist manufacturers in successfully
competing over the long term in today's complex global manufacturing
environment.
The Technology Innovation Program (TIP)
The FY 2012 request for TIP is $75 million. The proposed TIP budget
represents an increase of $5.1 million above the FY 2011annualized CR
level. TIP funds cutting edge, transformative research and development
projects that address critical national needs and societal challenges
not already being addressed by others. TIP requires a 1:1 match of
funds from the private sector. In FY 2012, TIP expects to hold a
funding competition in one or more of the following research areas:
advanced robotics and intelligent automation, energy, healthcare,
water, civil infrastructure technologies, and manufacturing.
TIP funding will incentivize innovative research and development
(R&D) projects, conducted by small and medium-sized U.S. based
companies, alone or as joint ventures with universities, national
laboratories and other non-profit research organizations. Further, it
will foster research collaborations, enable the creation of
intellectual property in the United States, disseminate new knowledge,
and advance the state-of-the-art in technologies that address societal
challenges. In its most recent round of funding for manufacturing
projects, TIP awardees included those young, small companies which are
the engines of innovation and the future generators of globally
competitive jobs.
Advanced Manufacturing Technology Consortia (AMTech)
NIST is also requesting $12.3M for the Advanced Manufacturing
Technology Consortia (AMTech) program, a new public-private partnership
that will broadly benefit the Nation's industrial base by providing
grants to form and fund industrial consortia to address industrial
driven technological challenges that no one company can address alone.
AMTech is modeled upon NIST's successful partnership, the
Nanoelectronics Research Initiative, which in collaboration with
industry, funds research consortia targeting the nanoelectronics
technology sector.
AMTech will collapse the timescale of technological innovation by
including partners that span the innovation lifecycle from idea to
discovery, from invention to commercialization. Through cost-sharing
and a common research agenda, these consortia would support the
development of innovative new technologies directed at creating high-
wage jobs and economic growth across the industry sector. These
consortia will develop road-maps of critical long-term industrial
research needs and provide support for research and equipment at
leading universities and government laboratories directed at meeting
these needs.
Out-Build: Building the Nation's Infrastructure--Cyber, Physical and
Wireless
To meet the President's challenge to ``Out-Build'' other nations,
NIST is requesting funds in the FY 2012 budget to strengthen the U.S.
infrastructure in three main areas: the cyber infrastructure, the
physical infrastructure and the wireless infrastructure.
Cybersecurity Infrastructure. A secure cyber infrastructure is
vital to the economic vitality and national security interests of the
United States. In addition to enabling more than $200 billion in annual
e-commerce, interconnected networks of computers are essential for
critical functions such as air traffic control, electric power
distribution and the GPS in our cars. The nation's cyber infrastructure
is central to maintaining the timely delivery and quality of public
services that are part of everyday life. Our nation's computers face
ever-increasing threats from malicious individuals, organizations, and
nation states. Currently, our computer security tools are manually
implemented, too complex to be effectively used, and too static to
respond to rapid changes in the threat environment. This allows many
attacks to succeed, causing significant damage and undermining
confidence in vital commercial and public information systems. The
result is a large, direct economic impact--estimates show that
Americans lose billions of dollars each year to cyber crime.
NIST is responsible for cybersecurity research, development of
Federal cybersecurity standards, establishment of methods and metrics
for determining the effectiveness of security controls, and providing
technical support to public and private sector implementation of
security standards and controls. The FY 2012 budget request contains
$43.4 million for cybersecurity related programs and activities that
will strengthen NIST's contribution to the development and promulgation
of effective and usable cybersecurity standards.
The cybersecurity infrastructure request has three initiatives.
Scalable Cybersecurity for Emerging Technologies and Threats
($14.9M) The request would provide improvements to NIST's core
cybersecurity work in support of the Comprehensive National
Cybersecurity Initiative (CNCI), the Federal Information
Security Management Act (FISMA), and other national priorities.
NIST will develop improved security techniques, support the
creation of consensus security standards, increase the
interoperability and usability of security technologies, and
expedite the secure adoption of emerging information
technologies.
National Program Office for the National Strategy for
Trusted Identities in Cyberspace (NSTIC) and NSTIC Grant
Program ($24.5M) The request would support a National Program
Office (NPO) to coordinate Federal activities needed to
implement NSTIC. This initiative is in direct response to the
recommendations of the White House Cyberspace Policy Review and
will raise the level of trust associated with the identities of
individuals, organizations, services, and devices involved in
online transactions. NIST will be responsible for day to day
and overall operation of the NPO. NIST will work with the
private sector to identify potential funding opportunities for
the delivery of NSTIC solutions. Of the $24.5 million for
NSTIC, $7.0 million will support a National Program Office and
$17.5 million will fund the pilot grants.
National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE)
($4.0M) The request supports NICE, which expands the scope of
the Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative's (CNCI)
Education Initiative from the training of the Federal workforce
to a larger national education focus. NIST will develop a
cybersecurity education framework that addresses: national
cybersecurity awareness, formal cybersecurity education,
Federal cybersecurity workforce structure, and cybersecurity
workforce training and professional development.
Interoperability of Infrastructure. Other critical emerging
technologies such as the Smart Grid and national health care
information systems have the potential to transform our society and
revitalize the U.S. economy. To be effective, the many interconnected
components in these systems must be fully interoperable to allow
information to be exchanged and used seamlessly across systems. As a
respected and trusted technical partner, NIST is uniquely positioned to
bring together stakeholders from industry, government, academia, and
standards development organizations to establish consensus-based
interoperability standards and conformity tests. The President's budget
request for NIST contains an initiative that will support continued
efforts in these critical areas as well as provide the infrastructure
necessary to address other emerging interoperability challenges.
The Interoperability Standards for Emerging Technologies
Initiative ($23.8M), will focus on the development of standards
to enable or accelerate the successful development of new
technologies such as a smart electrical grid (Smart Grid),
interoperable electronic healthcare records, and cloud
computing. These technologies have the potential to transform
our society and galvanize U.S. industry, and provide new
opportunities for exports of U.S.-developed technologies. For
each technology to be effective, however, many complex
interconnected components must be built to enable full
interoperability and reduce the full potential of these
technologies. Lack of standards for interoperability can
significantly slow adoption of these emerging technologies,
dampen confidence in industry, and increase the risks of
stranded investments in solutions that quickly become obsolete.
Physical Infrastructure. Buildings in the U.S. consume 72 percent
of all electrical energy produced in this country. Emissions associated
with buildings and appliances are projected to grow faster than those
from any other sector. To ensure adequate supplies of energy and
curtail the projected growth of carbon dioxide emissions, it is
essential to reduce building energy consumption significantly while
minimizing the environmental impacts of buildings during their life
cycles. In addition, many of the Nation's largest buildings and much of
its infrastructure are concentrated in disaster-prone regions where
hurricanes, earthquakes, floods and other hazards are common.
Catastrophic failures in infrastructure as a result of natural
disasters are costly and directly impact our personal and economic
health. NIST is requesting funds for two initiatives that will further
the development of a stronger building infrastructure.
Measurements and Standards to Support Increased Energy
Efficiency and Reduced Environmental Impact initiative ($13.3M)
This initiative will fund research in Net-Zero Energy Building
(NZEB) design. NZEB designs would use as much energy from
renewable sources as they consume. Such design also doubles the
service life of building materials, products, and systems in
order to minimize their lifecycle impacts--this also takes
indoor air quality into account. Current analysis methods are
not able to assess the indoor air quality impacts of key design
decisions or impacts of new technologies. This initiative will
provide the measurement science required to achieve net-zero
energy, high-performance buildings. It will also provide the
measurement science to support gas measurement standards to
ensure their accuracy and comparability.
Measurements and Standards to Support Advanced
Infrastructure Delivery and Resilience ($10.6M) The disaster
resilience of our structures today is determined in large
measure by the building codes, standards, materials, and
practices used during their construction. There are gaps in the
measurement science needed to improve the disaster resilience
of infrastructure exposed to natural and man-made hazards. This
request funds efforts to provide improvements to our Nation's
physical infrastructure to damage from earthquakes, windstorms,
and fire. This funding will also develop comprehensive measures
of construction practices so our Nation's building
infrastructure can be both more efficiently built and more
resilient.
Wireless Infrastructure. The request to create the Public Safety
Innovation Fund (PSIF), a mandatory account within NIST funded at $100
million ($500 million over 5 years) is part of the Administration's
Wireless Innovation and Infrastructure Initiative (WI3).
President Obama called for a National Wireless Initiative to make
available high-speed wireless services to at least 98 percent of
Americans. The WI3 will make it possible for businesses to achieve that
goal, while freeing up spectrum through incentive auctions, spurring
innovation, and supporting a nationwide, interoperable wireless network
for public safety. An important element of this plan is the
reallocation of the D Block for public safety, and some of the proceeds
from the incentive auctions being dedicated to NIST research,
experimentation and testbeds. The funds will also focus on applied
development to foster the development of a next-generation Public
Safety communications network.
Specifically, to spur innovation, the WI3 includes a Wireless
Innovation (WIN) Fund for research and development of emerging wireless
technologies and applications. NIST will focus on applied development
to foster the development of a next-generation Public Safety
communications network. The current systems for 4G high speed wireless
services are not tailored for public safety's requirements. Developing
and implementing such requirements, including capabilities to enable
handsets to operate in peer-to-peer (or without the aid of a central
network) will require technological leadership that NIST can help
provide. NIST, in consultation with agency partners, including the
National Institute of Justice at the Department of Justice and the
Department of Homeland Security, will focus on developing and testing
requirements, standards, wireless applications, and other wireless
technologies in support of an interoperable nationwide Public Safety
Broadband Network.
Out-Educate: Training the Next Generation of Scientists.
In order to ``Out-Educate,'' each agency must do its part. While
NIST does not have a primary mission in education, the future
development of the Nation's scientists is critical to the future of
NIST. NIST has an important role to play in helping to identify,
recruit, and retain the next generation of scientists and engineers to
help drive American competitiveness. There is one initiative associated
with this area:
The Postdoctoral Research Associateship Program ($3.0M) This
highly competitive program is very effective at attracting
outstanding scientists and engineers to consider a career in
science by providing opportunities to work alongside NIST
researchers. I want to thank the Committee for its support in
eliminating the cap on funding for the post-doc program. The
elimination of this cap allows NIST to fund more associates.
The requested increase will enable the program to offer at
least an additional 23 positions per year and keep the pipeline
of bright, new scientists flowing.
National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE)
($4.0M) As mentioned earlier, the request supports NICE, which
expands the scope of the Comprehensive National Cybersecurity
Initiative's (CNCI) Education Initiative from the training of
the Federal workforce to a larger national education focus.
Construction of Research Facilities (CRF): The FY 2012 request
totals $84.6 million, a $62.4 million decrease over the FY2011
annualized level. The request contains $25.4 million to continue the
renovation of the 60-year-old Building 1 on the NIST Boulder campus,
which houses the majority of research and measurement laboratories on
the Boulder campus. The balance of the account, $59.2 million, will
provide funding for NIST to address deficiencies and maintain NIST's
laboratories and facilities. The decrease reflects the elimination of
congressionally-directed projects from FY 2010.
Budget Decreases: Finally, let me touch on two areas in which the
budget reflects savings: The Administration's Administrative Efficiency
Initiative challenged all agencies to identify savings as part of the
budget development process. NIST's FY 2012 budget incorporates over $11
million in administrative savings across the agency in order to make
the agency more efficient and effective in an era of tight budgets.
The Baldrige Performance Excellence Program (BPEP) requests $7.7
million, $1.9 million less than the FY 2011 annualized CR level. The FY
2012 funding supports the continued development of the Baldrige Program
Criteria, dissemination of best practices, and the annual awards
process. At the proposed level, BPEP will evaluate alternative sources
of funding and alternative cost models consistent with the
administration's goal of transitioning the program out of Federal
funding.
Summary
In summary, I would like to note that for more than 100 years NIST
has maintained the national standards of measurement. This role was
assigned by the U.S. Constitution to the Federal Government to promote
industry and ensure market fairness. The FY 2012 budget request for
NIST reflects the Administration's recognition of the important role
that NIST plays in innovation and the impact that the research and
services NIST provides can have on moving the Nation forward by laying
the foundation for long- term job creation and prosperity. By
sustaining our investments in fundamental research, we can ensure that
America remains at the forefront of scientific capability, thereby
enhancing our ability to shape and improve our Nation's future and that
of the world around us.
I look forward to working with you Mr. Chairman and members of the
Committee and would be happy to answer any questions.
______
Biography of Dr. Patrick D. Gallagher, Under Secretary of Commerce
for Science and Technology and Director
Dr. Patrick Gallagher was confirmed as the 14th Director of the
U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and
Technology (NIST) on Nov. 5, 2009. He also serves as Under Secretary of
Commerce for Standards and Technology, a new position created in the
America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010, signed by President Obama
on Jan. 4, 2011.
Gallagher provides high-level oversight and direction for NIST. The
agency promotes U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by
advancing measurement science, standards, and technology. NIST's FY
2010 resources include $856.6 million from the Consolidated
Appropriations Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-117), $49.9 million in
service fees, and $101.5 million from other agencies. The agency
employs about 2,900 scientists, engineers, technicians, support staff,
and administrative personnel at two main locations in Gaithersburg,
Maryland and Boulder, Colorado.
Gallagher had served as Deputy Director since 2008. Prior to that,
he served for 4 years as Director of the NIST Center for Neutron
Research (NCNR), a national user facility for neutron scattering on the
NIST Gaithersburg campus. The NCNR provides a broad range of neutron
diffraction and spectroscopy capability with thermal and cold neutron
beams and is presently the Nation's most used facility of this type.
Gallagher received his Ph.D. in Physics at the University of Pittsburgh
in 1991. His research interests include neutron and X-ray
instrumentation and studies of soft condensed matter systems such as
liquids, polymers, and gels. In 2000, Gallagher was a NIST agency
representative at the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC).
He has been active in the area of U.S. policy for scientific user
facilities and was chair of the Interagency Working Group on neutron
and light source facilities under the Office of Science and Technology
Policy. Currently, he serves as co-chair of the Standards Subcommittee
under the White House National Science and Technology Council.
Senator Nelson. Dr. Abdalati?
STATEMENT OF DR. WALEED ABDALATI, CHIEF SCIENTIST,
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
Dr. Abdalati. Thank you, Chairman Nelson and Ranking Member
Boozman. It is my privilege to be here to give NASA a seat at
the table for this important conversation. I appreciate the
invitation.
And I would like to preface my remarks: I actually had not
expected to see my fellow NASA people, the astronauts, here
this morning. But as I was looking at them it reminded me, as I
am reminded almost every minute of every day that I am at NASA
that they represent the ingenuity, the character, the
perseverance, the integrity, the commitment, any adjective, any
positive adjective you can come up with, that really is
pervasive among our engineers, our astronauts, and our
scientists. Our nation really is stronger and better for it.
And science is a critical element of that investment, a
tremendously important one that we are proud to execute at
NASA. So it really is an absolute privilege to be here and have
the opportunity to have this conversation.
Party because NASA really leads the Nation on a great
journey of discovery, we look for new knowledge across domains
that range from right here at home on Earth to the far reaches
of the universe. Our research budget, besides the missions that
we develop, supports 10,000 scientists, engineers, technicians,
and students throughout the nation. Students, that are a key
part of your research portfolio and in fact, I am happy to say
a former student of mine is sitting right behind me on the
staff of Senator Mark Udall. She came to hear me talk, so she
forgives me for whatever I may have done to her.
These grants and research activities support discoveries
and technologies that fuel a strong economy. As the newly
appointed chief scientist I view it as an honor and a
privilege, not just a job, to work with agency leaders to
support and ensure that our science investments bring the most
value to the nation. And value, not just in terms of scientific
return, but value in terms of elevating the national
competence--the national literacy.
To do this, our investments are focused--rich in content,
but also mindful of the current challenges facing the nation in
this fiscal environment. We at NASA feel, as much as anyone,
these challenges. The 2012 budget request for NASA supports a
diverse science and research and development portfolio, but it
also makes difficult choices. We don't like making those
choices, but we recognize the need to make those choices and do
our part for the good of the nation. But at the same time, our
research budget allows us to continue to inspire the next
generation, and even the current generation, of leaders in
science, technology, engineering and math. And to ensure that
our investments are really of the best quality and the best
value, we develop them through a rigorous process of engagement
of the scientific community through National Academy of
Sciences studies called Decadal Surveys. In Earth science the
view from space provides the context, scale and perspective to
study Planet Earth as a complex system with diverse interacting
components: the atmosphere, the ocean, the land, the ice and
life. By observing their interactions we are able to understand
and develop a comprehensive picture of how the Earth works, how
it is changing, why it is changing and ultimately what those
changes mean for life on Earth.
At the same time, with partnerships through our operational
agencies, NOAA, USGS, the Environmental Protection Agency, we
improve the nation's capabilities to predict climate, to assess
and endure national hazards, to manage resources and to develop
environmental policy. But these benefits are not only realized
here at home, they are also realized abroad. And as just one
example, for the recent devastating earthquakes in Japan, NASA
has been collecting and analyzing--not just acquiring and
``watching,'' data from multispectral, multiangle, and multiple
resolution sensors to support damage assessment and response
activities.
NASA Earth Science, as you are well aware, is an essential
part of the national and international efforts to understand
the Earth's system. It is of economic value, humanitarian
value, and strategic value for the benefit of billions of
people worldwide.
Our space endeavors look far beyond the Earth environment,
in fact tonight one of our missions--the Messenger Mission--is
going to enter Mercury's orbit. It has traveled 5 billion miles
over the last few years, it is finally at its destination and
we look forward to the knowledge it will bring us.
Our portfolio includes missions to study the sun in new
ways, to explore Mars by traversing its surface with robots and
to use high-energy X-rays to search for black holes and map
supernova explosions. The budget also provides stable footing
for the James Webb Space Telescope, which truly is a technical
marvel and will be well worth the investment. In addition,
through funding NASA research and analysis programs, scientists
will continue to use the vast volumes of data from NASA
spacecraft, rockets, balloons, and payloads on the ISS to
further fuel the nation's research and advancements.
And finally, with the extension of the International Space
Station operations to 2020 or beyond, we are able to expand
fundamental knowledge of biological and physical processes in
the microgravity environment. The astronauts talked of 130
ongoing experiments on Station now and the incredible
discoveries that are being made.
NASA science is uniquely targeting not only matters of the
human mind, but also matters of the human spirit, the human
heart. It nourishes our need to explore the unknown. And with a
balanced and diverse portfolio we diligently seek to understand
the world in which we live, the sun that fuels us, our
celestial neighbors and the universe beyond. These endeavors
inspire and serve humankind. They are timeless and they are
priceless, although I realize we do have to put a price on some
of them. And they will continue to enable the United States to
lead the world toward a future that will no doubt exceed what
we can only imagine today.
Thank you.
[The prepared statement of Dr. Abdalati follows:]
Prepared Statement of Dr. Waleed Abdalati, Chief Scientist,
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee, it is my privilege to
appear before you today to discuss NASA's portion of the President's FY
2012 Federal Research and Development and Science budgets. Maintaining
our status as the world's leader in innovation, education, science and
technology is directly linked to our ability as a nation to push the
frontiers of human understanding in innovative and transformational
ways. NASA leads the Nation on a great journey of discovery, seeking
new knowledge across domains that range from right here at home to
distant galaxies and everywhere in between. In collaboration with the
Nation's science community, NASA's space-based and suborbital
observatories conduct scientific studies of the Earth, explore the
nature and behavior of the Sun and other bodies in our solar system,
and peer toward the edges of the universe, back toward the beginning of
time. The International Space Station, with construction complete in
2011, will serve as a fully functional and permanently crewed research
laboratory and technology test bed in orbit around Earth. Work on board
the International Space Station will expand scientific research
opportunities in the areas of biological and physical research as well
as technology development in the microgravity environment.
From space, in space, and about space, NASA's science efforts are
focused on pursuing questions that are rooted at the very core of the
human spirit. These range from a practical curiosity about the
environment in which we live, to a wondrous fascination about what lies
beyond. What child has not peered at the stars, planets and comets in
the night sky and wondered--``What is it like there? How many stars are
out there? Is there life out there? Can we go there someday?'' That
wonder carries with us through adulthood and is a part of who we are.
At the same time, who cannot look at the images of the Earth from
space--a beautiful blue, green, and white globe, seemingly suspended
against a dark and silent backdrop, carrying the whole of human
civilization abuzz on its surface--and not wonder how it works and how
it is changing? There is tremendous value to understanding how and why
our planet is changing and what the future Earth will look like. There
is economic value; there is humanitarian value; there is political
value, and there is value for ensuring our security. NASA Science
inspires and serve humankind in ways that are truly unique and in ways
that are critical for ensuring that we as a society not only survive,
but thrive, in whatever future the human race carves out for itself.
Recognition of NASA's remarkable science contributions comes from
many places. In the simplest sense, it can be seen in the incredulous
eyes of people who see images of the famous Butterfly nebula or the
Martian surface for the first time. It can also be evident in the
appreciation of the farmer whose crop output is increased through the
use of NASA data and information. However, one of the most notable
validations of the value of NASA science comes from objective
assessments by scientific journals. In its report of the top ten
insights of the 2000-2010 decade, the journal Science identifies four
achievements that are directly derived from NASA science investments.
Discover Magazine's 100 Top Science Stories of 2010 include fifteen
NASA stories. American Physical Society's counts three NASA science
stories among its Top Ten Physics-related News Stories of 2010. And the
list goes on.
As NASA's newly appointed Chief Scientist, it is my job, honor and
privilege, to work in conjunction with the leaders of the Agency and
the scientific community to ensure that the Nation's space program
delivers the most valuable science for the taxpayer investment. Doing
so requires that our goals remain focused, rich in content, and mindful
of the resources available in our current, challenging fiscal
environment. NASA's proposed FY 2012 budget request supports a diverse
science and research and development (R&D) portfolio that reflects key
priorities, while making some difficult choices that allow us to
continue to invest in our Nation's future. This budget acknowledges
that we must be good stewards of the tax payers' science and technology
investments, while providing the Nation with the advancements necessary
to maintain our global leadership and inspire our next generation of
leaders in science, technology, engineering and math. The FY 2012
budget supports the key scientific priorities that are developed
through a rigorous process of scientific community engagement by the
National Academy of Sciences known as decadal surveys.
NASA's journey of scientific discovery also helps motivate,
support, and prepare for human expansion into the solar system. Science
missions provide critical insights into the radiation environment of
deep space, the characteristics and compositions of planetary
atmospheres, the terrain and geology of planetary surfaces, and the
nature and origin of small bodies. They identify the hazards and
resources present as humans explore space and the science questions and
regions of interest that warrant detailed examination by human
explorers.
The importance of NASA Science was recognized by Congress more than
a half-century ago and codified in our founding document, the National
Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958. The Act explicitly states:
``The aeronautical and space activities of the United States
shall be conducted so as to contribute materially to one or
more of the following objectives:
(1) The expansion of human knowledge of the Earth and
of phenomena in the atmosphere and space;'' [section
102(d)]
Thus establishing science as a core element of NASA's mission. The
return on investments in NASA science over the years have been
tremendous, and the President's FY 2012 budget request provides for
continued investments that will move the Nation forward in important
and inspiring scientific endeavors.
Earth Science
The view from space allows scientists to study planet Earth as a
complex system with diverse interacting components: the oceans,
atmosphere, land, ice, and life. NASA assets observe processes that are
global in nature with local impacts, and that are local in nature with
global impacts. By observing the interactions of these various
components, we are able to develop a comprehensive picture of how the
Earth works, how it is changing, why it is changing, and ultimately,
what these changes mean for life on Earth. The knowledge we derive from
this comprehensive picture, which is essential for ensuring our well-
being as a society, can only be realized when the Earth is viewed in
the context, scale, and perspective afforded by these space-based
capabilities. From quantifying the impacts of melting ice on sea level,
to understanding the inner workings of hurricanes and tropical storms,
to assessing the health and amount of global vegetation, NASA Earth
Science provides advances in understanding that positively benefit the
lives of billions of people all over the world.
In addition to the scientific research and the new knowledge that
NASA investments provide, NASA Earth Science also has real-time direct
applicability to many national needs. Through our partnerships with
other agencies (e.g., the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), the United States Geologic Survey (USGS), the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)) that maintain forecasting and
decision support systems, we ensure complementary, not duplicative
activities. The result of these partnerships is improved national
capabilities for climate predictions, weather, and natural hazards; the
management of resources; and development of environmental policy.
NASA's Earth Science is an essential part of the national and
international efforts to understand the global environment and use
Earth observations and scientific understanding in service to society.
There are too many examples of the direct societal benefits gained
from NASA's Earth Science missions to list them all here today.
However, I would like to highlight a few for your consideration. Once
such example is the use of the Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS),
currently flying on the Landsat 5 and 7 spacecraft and now in
development for the Landsat Data Continuity Mission. TIRS plays an
important role in the water management efforts in the western United
States. In particular, TIRS measurements are used operationally by
state agencies to monitor snowpack runoff and water consumption on a
field-by-field basis in nine western states (Nevada, Idaho, Wyoming,
Montana, Colorado, New Mexico, Nebraska, North Dakota and South
Dakota). State water managers call TIRS's data the ``gold standard''
for the cost-effective administration of water transfer agreements, and
an irreplaceable tool for western water managers. In 2012, NASA will
begin to work with the Department of the Interior to develop successor
Landsat satellites, through an operational program funded by USGS.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiameter, or MODIS
instrument, on the Terra and Aqua spacecrafts provides data for the
MODIS Rapid Response System developed to provide daily satellite images
of the Earth's landmasses within a few hours of acquisition. This
capability makes the system a valuable resource for organizations like
the U.S. Forest Service and the international fire monitoring
community, which use the images to track fires; the United States
Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service, which monitors
crops and growing conditions; and the United States Environmental
Protection Agency and the United States Air Force Weather Agency, which
track dust and ash in the atmosphere. As a final example, NASA-
sponsored investigations have developed and demonstrated reliable and
accurate detection of volcanic ash clouds using data from instruments
on NASA Earth Science satellites, including the MODIS, MISR, OMI, and
CALIOP instruments on the Terra, Aqua, Aura, and Cloudsat NASA research
missions. The proven utility of these data led to their operational use
by the NOAA National Weather Service to formulate Volcanic Ash
Advisories. These products were used extensively during the Iceland
volcano eruption in April 2010 and more recently, NASA satellite data
were used to produce volcanic ash advisories for aviators across the
Gulf of Mexico during the February 1 eruption of the Popocatepetl
volcano in Mexico.
These practical benefits are not only realized here at home, but
also abroad as is currently the case for the recent devastating
earthquake in Japan. As with the previous earthquakes in Chile, Haiti,
and elsewhere, NASA has been collecting and analyzing data from
multispectral, multi-angle, and multiple resolution sensors to support
damage assessment and response activities. We will continue the vital
work to expand our abilities to observe our planet Earth and make those
data available for decisionmakers and international partners.
NASA's FY 2012 budget request for Earth Science supports the
development and launch of five foundational decadal missions guided by
the priorities in the 2007 National Academy of Science Decadal report.
We had certainly hoped to be examining and distributing new information
from the Glory mission in 2012, but as is sometimes the case in the
high-risk space business, the launch of Glory was unsuccessful. The FY
2012 request does, however, support exciting and high priority missions
that include Aquarius, NPOESS Preparatory Project, Landsat Data
Continuity Mission, and the Global Precipitation Measurement mission.
In addition, the FY 2012 request supports the development and launch of
the Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2, as well as the continued formulation
and development of Soil Moisture Active and Passive (SMAP) and Ice
Cloud and land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2), the first two Tier 1
Earth Science Decadal Survey missions, with targeted launch dates in
November 2014 and January 2016, respectively.
Space Science
Robotic space probes allow us to extend humankind's presence into
Earth's orbit and beyond. Through these missions we learn about our
moon, the outer planets and their moons, asteroids and comets, icy
bodies of the solar system, and we unravel some of the mysteries of our
universe. NASA's FY 2012 budget request supports a robust space science
mission portfolio including the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), the
Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR), the Radiation Belt
Storm Probes (RBSP) and continued support for U.S. scientists through
the research and analysis programs. MSL launches later this year and
will arrive at Mars in August 2012. About the size of a subcompact car,
MSL will assess whether Mars ever was, or is today, an environment able
to support microbial life. The Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array
mission will launch in early 2012 and become the first focusing hard X-
ray telescope to orbit Earth. NuStar will give us new insight into how
black holes are distributed through the cosmos, how heavy elements were
forged in the explosions of massive stars, and what powers the most
extreme active galaxies. The FY 2012 budget provides stable footing for
the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) while the Agency develops a
revised program plan and a reassessment of schedule and lifecycle cost.
The new plan will be reflected in the 2013 President's Budget Request;
however, the FY 2012 investment puts JWST well on its way to enabling
us to view further into the universe and closer to its beginnings than
ever before. Through NASA's research and analysis programs, scientists
will continue to use the vast volumes of data from NASA spacecraft,
sounding rockets, balloons, and payloads on the ISS to further fuel the
Nation's research advancements.
On March 7, 2011, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), National
Research Council (NRC) announced the results of the long-awaited
decadal survey for NASA's planetary missions. In its report, Vision and
Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013-2022, the Academy
outlined the scientific priorities for planetary missions for the next
decade. The committee emphasized the importance of utilizing realistic
cost estimates, and recognized both the challenges we face in the
current fiscal environment and the importance of capitalizing on our
international partnerships to help us accomplish larger, flagship
missions. The committee's two highest priority large-class missions
include the Mars Astrobiology Explorer--Cacher and a Jupiter Europa
Orbiter. The report also strongly endorsed the importance and
fundamental contributions to planetary exploration made by NASA's
competitive Discovery (small missions) and New Frontiers (medium
missions) programs. As with other decadal surveys, NASA is assessing
the committee's recommendations and will use them to guide the
strategic planning for upcoming missions. This report follows another
decadal survey in Astrophysics released in 2010, Astrophysics 2010: New
Worlds, New Horizons in Astronomy and Astrophysics that continues to
shape our astrophysics investments. A similar report for heliophysics
is under way and is expected to be completed in 2012.
Life and Physical Sciences Research
With the extension of International Space Station (ISS) operations
to 2020 or beyond, we are able to expand the fundamental knowledge of
biological and physical processes in the microgravity environment.
NASA's FY 2012 budget provides for investments in this aspect of NASA
research, taking advantage of the unique environment and capabilities
of the ISS research facility. Fundamental space biology research will
investigate the effects of gravity and the space environment on
cellular, microbial, and molecular processes and comparative responses
of whole organisms and their systems. This research will help
scientists better understand the molecular and cellular basis for human
disease and sub-optimal performance, with potential benefits both to
astronaut health and the health of the general population. Under
microgravity conditions, researchers gain important insights into gene
differentiation and the structures of complex macromolecules, with
potential applications in the design of new drugs and the development
of vaccines. Physical sciences research will explore the fundamental
laws of the universe and provide a foundation for the development of
advanced exploration systems that will enable humans to explore space
in a more sustainable and affordable way. In April, the National
Research Council will deliver to NASA the first decadal survey on life
and physical sciences that will provide us with the guidance to ensure
we maximize the return on our science investments in ISS and in life
sciences and microgravity research.
The Human Research Program (HRP) and its associated projects will
continue to develop technologies, countermeasures, diagnostics, and
design tools to keep crews safe and productive on long-duration space
missions. Utilizing the Bioastronautics Roadmap, a risk reduction
strategy developed in conjunction with the Institute of Medicine, the
HRP identifies the top priority risks to crew health and carries out
research targeted at developing countermeasures to reduce these risks.
The ISS is critical to validating many of these countermeasures.
The ISS as a National Laboratory is a national resource to promote
opportunities for advancing science and technology to other U.S.
Government agencies, university-based researchers and private firms.
These other organizations will use the ISS to pursue basic and applied
research in fields such as human health, energy, the environment and
STEM education. NASA currently has Memoranda of Understanding with five
Federal agencies and nine Space Act Agreements (SAAs) with companies
and universities for use of the ISS as a National Laboratory. These
organizations include:
The National Institutes of Health (NIH), which issued a 3-yr
rolling Funding Opportunity Announcement for ISS-based
investigations in March 2009 to include two-phase awards of up
to $1.5M per grant over 5 years. Three first-round grants for
the ground-based phase totaling an estimated $1.3M were awarded
in August 2010;
The National Science Foundation, which funded a study using
ISS as a platform for deploying CubeSats to study the upper
atmosphere; and
AstroGenetix Inc., which continues to make progress on their
vaccine development project.
In support of the National Laboratory effort, NASA recently
released a Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN) for an independent Non-
Profit Organization to manage the multidisciplinary research carried
out by NASA's National Laboratory partners. This organization will: (1)
act as a single entry point for non-NASA users to interface efficiently
with the ISS; (2) assist researchers in developing experiments, meeting
safety and integration rules, and acting as an ombudsman on behalf of
researchers; (3) perform outreach to researchers and disseminate the
results of ISS research activities; and (4) provide easily accessed
communication materials with details about laboratory facilities,
available research hardware, resource constraints, and more. NASA plans
to make an award for this organization in late spring. The NPO will
oversee all research involving organizations other than NASA and
transfer current NASA biological and physical research to the NPO in
future years.
Linkages with Technology
Within NASA, technology and science work hand-in-hand, with
technology enabling science and the science guiding technology. The
Fiscal 2012 budget provides for continuation of our groundbreaking
research into the next generation technologies. The investments are
required to enable NASA's future Science missions as well as those in
Aeronautics and Exploration. NASA invests in technology development in
each of its Science areas. For Science, NASA's technology programs
serve as an innovation engine, investing in the high payoff, high-risk
ideas and technologies of tomorrow that industry cannot tackle today.
This unique work also attracts bright minds into educational and career
paths in STEM disciplines, and enhances the Nation's technological
leadership position in the world.
Conclusion
NASA science contributes directly and substantially to current
national priorities. As a leader in fundamental research, NASA works in
and across the fields of Astrophysics, Planetary Science, Heliophysics,
Earth Science, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences and technology
development in ways that are unique to NASA's mission. The Science
budget funds these missions as well over 3,000 competitively-selected
research grants involving over 10,000 scientists, engineers,
technologists, and their students across the Nation. The U.S. science
community's drive for innovation is unwavering and is ready to produce
the new discoveries and technologies that feed a strong economy.
NASA science is unique--targeting not only matters of the human
mind, but also matters of the human spirit and nourishing our need to
explore the unknown. With a balanced and diverse portfolio, we
diligently seek to understand the world in which we live, the Sun that
fuels us, our celestial neighbors, and the universe beyond. These
endeavors both inspire and serve human kind. They are timeless and
priceless. And they will continue to enable the United States to lead
the world toward a future that will no doubt exceed what we can only
imagine today.
______
Science Program Summary
The President's FY 2012 request for NASA includes $5,016.8 million
for Science. NASA continues to expand humanity's understanding of our
Earth, our Sun, the solar system, and the universe with 56 science
missions in operation and 28 more in various stages of development. The
Science budget funds these missions as well as over 3,000
competitively-selected research grants involving over 10,000
scientists, engineers, technologists, and their students across the
Nation. The Agency selects competed missions and research proposals
based on open competition and peer review. NASA's science efforts
continue to advance a robust and scientifically productive program
while making difficult choices commensurate with the Government-wide
priority to constrain the Federal budget.
The challenges we face have been amplified by the failed launch of
the Glory satellite on March 4th. This loss underscores the challenging
nature of the space business. Reliable and affordable access to space
is vital to NASA's science program.
Earth Science
The FY 2012 budget request includes $1,797.4 million for Earth
Science. NASA's constellation of Earth observing satellites provides
many of the global environmental observations used for climate research
in the United States and abroad.
In early FY 2012, NASA plans to launch the National Polar-orbiting
Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) Preparatory Project
(NPP), continuing selected climate data records and becoming an
integral part of the Nation's operational meteorological satellite
system for weather prediction. We also plan to select new Venture Class
science instruments and small missions in FY 2012.
The Aquarius instrument on the Argentine Satelite de Aplicaciones
Cientificas (SAC)-D mission (launching later this year) will deliver
the first global ocean salinity measurements to the science community
in FY 2012. The Orbiting Carbon Observatory 2 (OCO-2), Landsat Data
Continuity Mission (LDCM), and the Global Precipitation Measurement
(GPM) missions will be in integration and testing in FY 2012. The first
two NRC Decadal Survey missions, Soil Moisture Active/Passive (SMAP)
and the Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2), will
both enter into development during FY 2012. This budget request also
funds robust Research and Analysis, Applied Science, and Technology
programs. In this climate of fiscal austerity there are some
capabilities that will not be developed in order to keep the most
important ones on track. Development of the second two Tier 1 Decadal
Survey missions, the Deformation, Ecosystem Structure, and Dynamics of
Ice (DESDynI); and the Climate Absolute Radiance and Refractivity
Observatory (CLARREO), has been deferred. NASA will continue pre-
formulation work on the DESDynI and review international partner
options. However, the FY 2012 request enables the Gravity Recovery And
Climate Experiment Follow-on (GRACE-FO); the Pre-Aerosols-Clouds-
Ecosystems (PACE); and the Tier 2 missions Surface Water and Ocean
Topography (SWOT); and Active Sensing of CO2 Emissions Over
Nights, Days, and Seasons (ASCENDS) to go forward as planned.
Planetary Science
The Science budget request includes $1,540.7 million for Planetary
Science in FY 2012. NASA and its partners consider the period from
October 2010 to August 2012 (the length of a Martian year) to be the
``Year of the Solar System.''
The Juno mission will launch in August 2011 and arrive at Jupiter
in 2016. The Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission,
following launch in September 2011, will enter lunar orbit and help
determine the structure of the lunar interior from crust to core; the
mission will advance our understanding of the thermal evolution of the
Moon by the end of its prime mission in FY 2012. A webcam is giving the
public an opportunity to watch technicians assemble and test NASA's MSL
``Curiosity,'' one of the most technologically advanced interplanetary
missions ever designed. More than one million people have watched
assembly and testing of Curiosity via a live webcam since it went on-
line in October. Curiosity will launch in early FY 2012 and arrive at
Mars in August 2012; it will be two times as large and three times as
heavy as the Spirit and Opportunity rovers, and will focus on
investigating whether conditions on Mars have been favorable for
microbial life and for preserving clues in the rocks about possible
past life. The MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry and
Ranging (MESSENGER) spacecraft will arrive at Mercury later this
evening and will complete its first year in Mercury orbit in March
2012. MESSENGER's instruments will map nearly the entire planet in
color, image the surface in high resolution, and measure the
composition of the surface, atmosphere and nature of the magnetic field
and magnetosphere. During its nearly decade-long mission, the Dawn
mission will study the asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres--celestial
bodies believed to have accreted early in the history of the solar
system. Dawn will enter into orbit around Vesta this summer and will
depart in 2012 for its encounter with Ceres in 2015. NASA and the
European Space Agency (ESA) have selected the five science instruments
for the 2016 ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter mission. The budget also
supports robust Research and Analysis and Technology programs.
NASA recently received the new National Academy of Sciences Decadal
Survey for Planetary Science, entitled Vision and Voyages for Planetary
Science in the Decade 2013-2022. We are grateful to the Academy and to
all the Survey participants for their hard work and thoughtful
recommendations. NASA will use this Survey to prioritize ongoing
programs and future mission opportunities.
Astrophysics
The FY 2012 budget request includes $682.7 million for Astrophysics
(not including an additional $375 million for the James Webb Space
Telescope [JWST] which is detailed below). This is a golden age of
space-based Astrophysics, with 14 observatories in operation.
Astrophysics research, technology investments, and missions aim to
understand how the universe works, how galaxies, stars and planets
originated and developed over cosmic time, and whether Earth-like
planets and life exist elsewhere in the cosmos.
The FY 2012 budget request reflects the scientific priorities of
the new National Academy of Science Decadal Survey entitled, New
Worlds, New Horizons in Astronomy and Astrophysics. The budget includes
additional funding for the Explorer mission selection planned for 2012,
sustains a vigorous flight rate of future astrophysics Explorer
missions and missions of opportunity, and increases investments in
recommended research and technology initiatives. Funding is also
provided for pre-formulation investments in recommended large missions
beyond JWST, while work on the Space Interferometry Mission (SIM) and
Joint Dark Energy Mission (JDEM) has been brought to a close,
consistent with the recommended Decadal Survey program. The
Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) will complete
its open door flight testing and conduct the first competed science
observations in FY2012. The Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array
(NuSTAR) mission will launch in early 2012. The NASA Astrophysics
budget also supports continuing operations of the Hubble Space
Telescope (HST), Chandra X-ray Observatory, and several other
astrophysics observatories in space. The budget increases funding for
the core Astrophysics research program, including sounding rocket and
balloon suborbital payloads, theory, and laboratory astrophysics.
James Webb Space Telescope
The FY 2012 budget request includes $375 million for the James Webb
Space Telescope (JWST). JWST is now budgeted as a separate theme,
reflecting changes implemented in FY 2011 to improve management
oversight and control over this critical project, as recommended by the
Independent Comprehensive Review Panel's (ICRP) report in November
2010. The project, which was previously managed within the Science
Mission Directorate's (SMD) Astrophysics Division within NASA
Headquarters, and was part of the Cosmic Origins Program, is now
managed via a separate program office at NASA Headquarters. The JWST
Project Manager at Headquarters now reports directly to NASA's
Associate Administrator and the Associate Administrator of SMD. The
lead Center for JWST, Goddard Space Flight Center, has also implemented
changes, with project management now reporting directly to the Center
Director. JWST was the top priority large mission recommended in the
previous NRC Decadal Survey and is considered a foundational element of
the science strategy in the new Decadal Survey for Astronomy and
Astrophysics. Cost growth and schedule issues identified during the
Mission Critical Design Review led to the formation of the ICRP. The
ICRP report concluded that the problems causing cost growth and
schedule delays on the JWST project are associated with cost estimation
and program management, not technical performance. The $375 million
funding in 2012 gives the program a stable footing to continue progress
while the Agency develops a revised program plan that includes a
realistic assessment of schedule and lifecycle cost. The revised
schedule and lifecycle cost will be reflected in the 2013 President's
Budget Request.
Heliophysics
The FY 2012 budget request includes $622.3 million for
Heliophysics. NASA's heliophysics satellites provide not only a steady
stream of scientific data for NASA's research program, but also supply
a significant fraction of critical space weather data used by other
Government agencies for support of commercial and national security
activities in space. Those agencies use the data to protect operating
satellites, communications, aviation and navigation systems, as well as
electrical power transmission grids. The spacecraft also provides
images of the Sun with ten times greater resolution than high-
definition television in a broad range of ultraviolet wavelengths. On
February 6, 2011, the two Solar Terrestrial Relations (STEREO)
spacecraft reached 180 degrees separation; when combined with the Solar
Dynamics Observatory (SDO), these spacecraft will enable constant
imaging of the full solar sphere for the next 8 years, as the solar
cycle peaks and begins to decline again. These three spacecraft working
together and in combination with NASA's other solar observatories will
give us unprecedented insight into the Sun and its dangerous solar
storms that could threaten both satellites and humans in space as well
as electric power systems on Earth. NASA has begun development of a
mission, called Solar Probe Plus, that will visit and study the Sun
from within its corona--a distance only 8.5 solar radii above its
surface.
The FY 2012 budget will enable completion of the Radiation Belt
Storm Probes (RBSP) mission for launch in FY 2012 as well as the
completion of development of the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph
(IRIS) Explorer mission. In FY 2012, the Magnetospheric Multiscale
(MMS) mission will enter its assembly and integration phase, the Solar
Orbiter Collaboration with ESA will undergo Mission Confirmation
Review, and the Solar Probe Plus mission will enter into the
preliminary design phase. NASA has increased funding for the next
Explorer mission selection planned for 2012 to enable selection of up
to two full missions, as well as instruments that may fly on non-
Explorer spacecraft. The budget also supports robust Research and
Analysis and Sounding Rocket operations programs. The National Academy
of Sciences has begun work on the next Decadal Survey for Heliophysics
and we anticipate its release in the spring of 2012.
Life and Physical Sciences
The FY 2012 budget request includes $66.5 million to support
research in the Life and Physical Sciences on the International Space
Station (ISS), including a non-profit organization (NPO) to stimulate,
develop and manage the U.S. national uses of the ISS National Lab. The
ISS has transitioned from the construction era to that of operations
and research, with a 6-person permanent crew, 3 major science labs, an
operational lifetime through at least 2020, and a growing complement of
cargo vehicles, including the European Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV)
and the Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV). The FY 2012 budget
request reflects the importance of this unparalleled research asset to
America's human spaceflight program and will enable fundamental science
advances in the areas of biology and physics in the little-understood
space environment. These science investments will be informed by
recommendations in the National Academy of Science decadal survey for
life and microgravity sciences, which will be released shortly.
Many avenues of research being conducted aboard the ISS may have
terrestrial applications. For example, ISS research has shown that
Salmonella bacteria become more virulent in microgravity (i.e., more
aggressive in causing disease). Scientists have identified the gene
responsible for this increased virulence and are developing a potential
vaccine against Salmonella. AstroGenetix, Inc. has funded their own
follow-on studies on ISS and is now pursuing approval of a vaccine as
an Investigational New Drug with the Food and Drug Administration. They
are now applying a similar development approach to methicillin-
resistant Staph aureus (MRSA).
Microcapsules are tiny micro-balloons used in cancer treatment to
deliver anti-cancer drugs directly to a tumor site. Microcapsules with
improved cancer treatment properties developed on the ISS were
reproduced on Earth and were successful in targeting delivery of anti-
cancer drugs to successfully shrink tumors in ground tests. A device to
produce similar capsules on Earth has now been patented, and clinical
trials of the drug delivery method are beginning.
Numerous plant growth experiments have investigated both the
effects of microgravity, as well as the capability for growing
regenerable food supplies for crew. Technology developed the for
greenhouse flown on the ISS led to a new technology that is widely used
on Earth, killing 98 percent of airborne pathogens (including Anthrax)
for food preservation, doctors' offices, homes, and businesses.
Finally, as part of the ISS National Laboratory effort, the
National Institutes of Health (NIH) are hosting three rounds of
competition for the BioMed-ISS initiative. The first round of grants
for the ground-based phase has been awarded to support the following
important research topics:
Studying bone-cells in a gravity-free environment in order
to uncover new therapeutic targets for osteoporosis and related
bone diseases.
Applying lessons learned from studies of immune cells in the
space environment, where the immune system is suppressed, to a
new model for investigating the loss of immune response in
older women and men.
Using microgravity three-dimensional cell culture models to
generate insights into how the barrier properties of the
intestines, which inhibits the movement of toxins into the
intestinal tract behave, and to explore how the absence of
gravity affects alcohol's ability to compromise this barrier.
The compromise of this barrier and the reduced resistance to
toxin transport is major factor in alcohol-related disease, The
microgravity environment is helping scientists understand the
underlying mechanisms for this process.
Senator Nelson. Thank you, gentlemen.
Senator Boozman.
Senator Boozman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Dr. Suresh, in your testimony you mentioned increasing the
number of international players in the global markets for
graduates STEM degrees. In your opinion what are the--some of
the short term and longer term steps we must take to encourage
more high school and college students to pursue scientific and
technical degrees?
Dr. Suresh. NSF for several decades has played a key role
in STEM education, not just by itself, but also in concert with
other agencies such as the Department of Education. The
distinction between what NSF does, and what other agencies do,
is NSF sponsors research into best models, ways in which our
STEM education can be strengthened, and then we work with other
agencies so that it can be implemented on a larger scale.
For example, Dr. Holdren mentioned, in his presentation,
that recently NSTC has convened a committee on STEM education
which aims to do exactly that. We have a number of programs
that reach out to K through 12. We have a number of programs
that reach out to undergraduate students. We have new programs
that are introduced that will bring the latest science and
technology into STEM education practices in the country. A lot
of our programs are also aimed at supporting the President's
mission of 100,000 new STEM teachers in the country. What are
the best practices? What are the lessons learned?
We also try to incorporate under-represented groups. By the
year 2040 we will be a country with a majority of minorities.
How do we incorporate these groups into the STEM workforce?
These are all part and parcel of activities that NSF is
engaged in.
Senator Boozman. Do we do--do we embrace the scientific
method of studying what we are doing, evaluating the programs
that are working, measuring their effectiveness, and then again
getting rid of the programs that aren't working?
Dr. Suresh. Absolutely. In the Fiscal Year 2012 budget, for
example, in the area of education, there are several programs
that are scheduled for either termination or reduction, not
because these programs have not worked in the past; but we have
funded them for a long time, learned a lot of lessons from
them, and as we launch newer programs with new tools, new
technologies, and new evidence-based research methodologies for
STEM education, we try to realign them. In the area of STEM
education, we have several programs that fall into that
category.
By the way, I should also add, in the area of research and
operations, we have eliminated several programs which will save
the taxpayers more than $100 million. So the budget has been
developed very responsibly.
Senator Boozman. OK. Thank you.
Dr. Suresh. Thank you.
Senator Boozman. Director Gallagher, there have been
concerns that other nations may be using the international
standards setting process to benefit their own domestic
industries. Is this happening? If so, how does this sort of
protective standard setting occur and what impact could it have
on U.S. businesses and scientific research?
Dr. Gallagher. So, standards are interesting because they
are a form of collective behavior among what would normally be
competing companies. And they are powerful. I think that
standards set the conditions for a market to take hold and they
set the conditions for which technologies can evolve so that
you achieve the desirable goals, like interoperability.
But like any powerful collective behavior, it can be
misused. And I think this is always a concern when you are
looking at standards setting. Certainly there are examples of
either developing countries that want to influence
international standard setting to either advantage their local
producers or to meet certain conditions that they feel are
apparent in their markets. The most effective tool we have is
actually to engage more. The truth of the matter is, even our
own producers in this country are producing for a global market
and it is to our own advantage that there be robust,
technically sound standards that our own manufacturers can work
toward.
One of the strengths of the U.S. system is we tend to
bring, because we have an industry led standard setting process
and not a government led standard setting process, the experts
in the technologies right to the table. And I think the cases
where we have seen problems have been when for some reason we
are not aggressive enough in getting our perspectives there
first. So there is a great first mover advantage in the fact
that we bring so much technology and capacity into the
discussions.
So this really just takes a careful monitoring of the
various interests that are taking place and making sure that we
are fully engaged.
Senator Boozman. So it is a focus of the administration?
Dr. Gallagher. Very much so.
Senator Boozman. OK. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Nelson. And Dr. Gallagher, in those standards you
are requesting 24 million for the Interoperability Standards
for Emerging Technologies. Are there other emerging
technologies that NIST should be working on with industry to
develop interoperable standards?
Dr. Gallagher. The answer is yes. It would be sad if we had
a shortage of emerging technologies to work on, so I think that
the list of potential areas where we are being asked to engage
with industry is large. The focus of the request is in three
areas, in particular where the federal government has a great
interest in the formation of these standards.
First, specifically looking at smart grid standardization
so that the smart grid infrastructure is interoperable and
secure. Second, the area of cloud computing where there is
enormous advantage to federal agencies looking toward cloud
services and making sure that cloud providers can still
maintain the security and interoperability we still have access
to our data and aren't locked in to a particular proprietary
answer. And third, in the area of electronic medical records.
Two of those three efforts were actually started with
Recovery Act funding transferred to NIST. And so this request
basically allows us to maintain these programs where we are
working and in many cases with hundreds of industries at the
same time. But our core programs continue to look at evolving
and emerging technology areas like nanotechnology, synthetic
biology and other areas where it is just as important to work
with industry to make sure we are, again, moving out forward
first so we can shape the way these standards take place.
Senator Nelson. Are those standards for the electronic
medical records ready to go?
Dr. Gallagher. Well, I always hesitate to say ``ready''
because the standards setting activities tend to be continuous.
So what I am often looking for is you have a very clear
starting point where you get the activity going but the
technology continues to evolve so that--what I look for has the
effort achieved a maturity where it is self sustaining. And I
think we are still early, I would say, in the case of
electronic medical records. There are still some key issues to
address to make sure that these systems can interoperate and we
can securely and reliably share patient information across
systems, between different doctors.
We also want to make sure these systems are usable. I don't
think doctors want to be struggling with complicated systems
that they can't use. And I think patients want to understand
that they can control how their medical information is used by
different participants in that system. So it is a very active
area but I wouldn't say we are done.
Senator Nelson. Well, they are ready to go out there in the
private sector, because they are setting up these electronic
medical records as we speak. So, tell me about the disconnect.
Dr. Gallagher. Well, this is true in all of these new
technology areas. That is correct, we are deploying electronic
medical records systems, they are commercially available. And
in fact under the HITECH Act we are creating incentives to
lower the barriers for doctors to purchase these systems.
The way you address some of these areas where we are
continuing to evolve standards is largely through upgradability
requirements. So we do make sure, when we are early in a
standards setting process, that if a system doesn't have the
full capability or we haven't reached consensus among the
technical community how we are going to provide for a certain
type of interoperability, there is the pathway to upgrade those
investments so that we can achieve that type of
interoperability.
So I think the capability of these electronic medical
records systems is going to continue to evolve and it is going
to continue to get better. But the road map and sort of the
priority setting that we look at when we engage is to try to
establish the core functionality, provide an upgradability and
then make sure that the technology is moving toward the sort of
the full scale interoperability that we would like to see in
the end.
Senator Nelson. I would like you to provide, to the
committee, a timetable with a copy to the Secretary of HHS on
when you think that these standards are ready.
Dr. Gallagher. I would be happy to work with you.
Senator Nelson. What I would like is a report on your
timetable.
Dr. Gallagher. Right. Right.
Senator Nelson. When you see this, because if you all are
still developing these things 10 years from now that is going
to be too late.
Dr. Gallagher. We will be happy to provide that. I don't
think this is a case where the standards are not going to be
ready in 10 years. There are a lot of standards that are
already in place, all I am pointing out is that the technology
itself is going to evolve and you want a standards setting
process that not just addresses the needs for interoperability
today but is still there working on standards as the technology
itself improves. We worked closely with HHS on this and we
would be happy to give you that time scale.
Senator Nelson. Well, the President is requesting $24
million for this Interoperability Standards for Emerging
Technologies and I take it this is one of the emerging
technologies.
Dr. Gallagher. That is correct.
Senator Nelson. And there are others. You mentioned smart
grid, you said healthcare IT, cloud computing and other
technologies. Could you play a role in coordinating market
participants in the mobile payment industry?
Dr. Gallagher. Yes, we could. In fact there are already
ongoing discussions about roles that we could play in
supporting standards for mobile payment interoperability. In
fact within the Trusted Identity Initiative as well, some of
the authentication technology that you will need to enable
mobile transactions is part of that effort as well. So we
certainly would see a role there.
Senator Nelson. What are you doing on U.S. leadership in
international standards?
Dr. Gallagher. So the NIST role in standards is really a
technical role. One of the ways that we work to achieve robust
international standards is to make sure that the best technical
work is being used as the basis for the standards. So, as I
said before, I think one of the strengths of the U.S.
standardization process is that we tend to put the best
technology and the best technical experts around the table when
these are forming.
The U.S. standards process though is interesting, because
unlike most other countries it is not government setting
standards in the United States, it is industry setting
standards. So the key participants in the international
standards bodies are private sector organizations, not
government organizations. So our role is largely in support of
those private sector organizations to make sure that this work
is technically sound.
We also work with other federal agencies, including our
trade agencies, to make sure that we are sensitive to any
emerging technical barriers to trade, any concerns that these
standards are creating a barrier, so we can work to address
those from our technical perspective.
Senator Nelson. Senator?
Senator Boozman. Along that line, Secretary Gallagher, I
wish we could turn you loose on the government agencies so the
DOD and VA would have the same interoperability. There is just
example after example where the government just doesn't do a
very good job of that at all.
Dr. Holdren, I really did enjoy our visit the other day.
That was very helpful in helping me get up to speed with what
you are trying to accomplish. As you know, two significant
interagencies research programs are up for reauthorization, the
National Nanotechnology Initiative and the Networking and
Information Technology Research and Development Program. How
effective do you believe the interagency research programs are
at furthering transformational research in areas of national
importance, such as energy independence and cybersecurity?
And then also, could you provide some examples of success
resulting from interagency collaborations in either of these
programs?
So we are really--you know, that--we are kind of getting
back to interoperability in a way in that regard also, amongst
our agencies.
Dr. Holdren. Well thank you, Senator Boozman. I enjoyed our
conversation a great deal as well.
And let me say in starting to answer this, that the
question of interoperability among the government agencies is
one that the chief information officer or the chief technology
officer, both of which we have for the first time in this
executive branch, have really been working hard on. I think
they are actually making a lot of progress. It is--it is a huge
challenge, of course, but I think progress is being made there.
As for the----
Senator Boozman. I think so, and yet as someone that has
been on the VA committee in the House and now in the Senate--it
is a huge challenge.
Dr. Holdren. Yes. Absolutely. I understand it, but I do
know that the CTO and the CIO have been working with the VA,
among others, on getting more of this right.
You mentioned both the NITRD Initiative, the Networking
Information Technology R&D Initiative, and the Nanotech as
interagency initiatives that are trying to promote increased
cooperation, not just across the agencies but with the private
sector. And both do have that thrust in trying to get better at
transferring discovery out of the universities and the national
laboratories and into the private sector, through partnerships.
I think we are already seeing many benefits in that domain, in
the nanotech area in particular, which is one in which any
number, I couldn't give you the exact number, but I can try to
find it, any number of new startup companies have been
benefiting from these public/private interactions. And we have,
I know, successful companies marketing new nano-based products
that have come out of this. I think we are getting better and
better at it.
We are also seeing real successes in the clean energy
domain, where the national laboratories, the universities and
the private sector are working more effectively on advanced
batteries, for example, on improving fuel cell technology, on
improving photovoltaic cell technology, as Chairman Nelson
mentioned in his remarks. I think energy already provides us a
rich array of examples in that domain.
The President's Council of Advisors on Science and
Technology (PCAST) has, in the last year, completed major
reviews of both the National Nanotechnology Initiative and the
NITRD Initiative and has made a number of recommendations about
how we can improve the effectiveness of both of those at doing
just what you are talking about. And it is my responsibility to
see that those recommendations, with the approval of the
President, get implemented.
We have been doing that. We have got National Science and
Technology Council subcommittees working hard in both of those
domains.
Senator Boozman. Thank you.
Dr. Abdalati, in the America COMPETES Authorization of
2010, NASA was directed to utilize their resources to create
and support professional development for STEM teachers and STEM
educators at all educational levels. We have had concerns in
the past that NASA has not fully embraced this opportunity and
direction. How does NASA plan on implementing this directive
going forward? And then also, what commitment can you make that
we will see NASA aggressively engage in this area?
Dr. Abdalati. Well, first I think the level of NASA
commitment is coupled to the leadership at NASA, and
Administrator Bolden has made it very clear that this is a very
high priority of his. He has made that clear publicly and he
has certainly made that clear internally. One of the reasons he
wanted a chief scientist, and in particular a chief scientist
who understands NASA but is from academia, was for this
purpose, to have this kind of link, someone who lives and
breaths in the STEM world.
So, the first and most important step is the Agency's
commitment. When you couple that with the commitment of the
President, I think there is great potential for what NASA can
and will do.
We have an Office of Education, and I believe you had the
opportunity to speak with the Associate Administrators from
NASA earlier in the week, and undoubtedly heard about the great
things that our Office of Education is doing in STEM education.
I am personally working to develop a strong relationship with
Mr. Melvin, the lead of that office.
At NASA, There are also education experts embedded within
each of the directorates to ensure that the detailed activities
within the directorates propagate into the educational domain,
leaving the Education Office to manage education activities
from an agency perspective.
So, the biggest issue is the commitment--at the top from
Administrator Bolden, to myself as Chief Scientist, to the
Associate Administrator of Education. I can take, for the
record, your question as to specific actions that will be
undertaken at NASA on STEM education and I can also assure you
that the commitment and support, which is really what makes it
a success, from the President to the administrator on downward
is there.
[The information requested follows:]
In January 2011, President Barack Obama stated that, ``over the
next 10 years, nearly half of all new jobs will require education that
goes beyond a high school education. And yet, as many as a quarter of
our students aren't even finishing high school. The quality of our math
and science education lags behind many other nations. America has
fallen to ninth in the proportion of young people with a college
degree. And so the question is whether all of us `as citizens and as
parents' are willing to do what's necessary to give every child a
chance to succeed.'' This speech echoes findings and calls-to-action by
numerous committees, reports, professionals in education, and leaders
in American industry. In response, the Department of Education has
identified several strategies to improve science, technology,
engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and ways in which Federal
agencies can contribute to the Nation's STEM improvement efforts. NASA
is a strong contributor to the national plan.
Consistent with Section 202 of the America COMPETES Reauthorization
Act of2010, NASA works with professional organizations, academia, and
state/local education providers to identify and address needs in STEM
education. Quality professional development for STEM educators is a
prevalent need. Through the education staff at NASA's Centers, NASA
works cooperatively with states and school districts to identify
content needs and opportunities, and with university partners to ensure
that NASA investments will be effective in improving teaching practice.
NASA also works through communities of practice to identify content
areas and special events that supplement informal education programming
offered by museums and science centers. NASA higher education efforts
increasingly target community colleges, which generally serve a high
proportion of minority students. NASA programs build student STEM
ability, preparing students for study at a four-year institution.
Competitive opportunities support initiatives like the President's
``Race to the Top'' and the Department of Education's ``Star Project,''
which promote state-based education reform and identify replicable
strategies for improving K-12 education.
NASA's education programs aim to increase the number of students
who are proficient in, choose to major in, and pursue careers in STEM
fields. Improving STEM ability, increasing public scientific literacy,
increasing the talent pool of future STEM workers, and developing the
STEM skills of the future workforce are imperatives if the Nation is to
remain globally competitive and sustain a strong economy. NASA actively
works through mutually beneficial relationships with over 500 colleges
and universities, hundreds of K-12 schools and districts, and over 400
museums and science centers to provide education experiences, so that
all students can learn deeply and think critically in STEM disciplines.
NASA supports cutting-edge undergraduate student research that
contributes to NASA missions while training the next generation of
scientists, engineers, and innovators. NASA targets recruitment and
retention of underserved and underrepresented students, including women
and girls, Hispanics, and students with disabilities.
NASA is committed to providing equal access to its education
activities by providing any student with the opportunity to contribute
to the future STEM work force. NASA is responding by focusing its
education investments on areas of greatest national need and ensuring
that the Agency's education programs support national STEM priorities.
With its wealth of science and technology content and its expansive
network of education professionals, NASA is well equipped to address
national needs such as meeting state requirements for educator
professional development. NASA provides practical experience and skills
development for those who will become the future workforce through
internships, fellowships, and student research opportunities. NASA is
especially qualified to attract students to pursue STEM study and
careers. It also is able to engage these future workers through
inspiring NASA missions, fostering collaborative relationships between
students and the current workforce and offering students opportunities
to work in ,.out of this world'' facilities. Hands-on challenges with
expert mentors generate increased interest in STEM study.
NASA has engaged students and teachers in its engineering
challenges and scientific discoveries since its inception. From school
presentations to seeds flown in space, from filmstrips and posters to
podcasts and virtual tours through the galaxies, NASA's education
programs have fostered inquiry, built curiosity, and encouraged
innovation. Generations of Americans have participated in NASA's STEM
education programs, and thereby learned basic skills, discovered new
career paths, and developed interests in emerging academic disciplines.
NASA is actively engaged in collaborations with other Federal
agencies to ensure the Agency's programs are supportive of national
STEM priorities. The NASA Associate Administrator for Education
represents the Agency on the National Science and Technology Council
(NSTC) Committee on STEM Education (CoSTEM). It was established
pursuant to the requirements of Sec. 101 of the America COMPETES
Reauthorization Act of2010. The NASA Office of Chief Scientist is also
participating in the CoSTEM by providing the CoSTEM Executive
Secretary, who works in close coordination with the Office of
Education.
NASA's Earth and space science missions have an essential role in
NASA's education mission. The discoveries and new knowledge from our
missions and research programs consistently engage people's
imaginations, inform teachers, and excite students about science and
exploration. We are committed to utilizing our resources to foster the
broad involvement of the Earth and space science communities in
education and public outreach with the goal of enhancing the Nation's
formal education system and contributing to the broad public
understanding of science, mathematics and technology. NASA's Science
Mission Directorate creates education products using NASA's results in
Earth-Sun system science, solar system research, universe exploration,
and the development of new technologies to support learning. Through a
``Train the Trainer'' model the SMD programs train master teachers, who
reach their peers via in person and online professional development
opportunities that range from one day to week-long workshops. Another
aspect of Teacher Professional development includes providing summer
research opportunities for in-service teachers.
In 2010, NASA chartered an Education Design Team (EDT) to develop a
strategy to improve NASA's education offerings, assist in establishing
goals, structures, processes, and evaluative techniques to implement
new sustainable and innovative STEM education programs. EDT has
completed its task, and its recommendations are reflected in the FY
2012 education budget for NASA's Office of Education.
The FY 2012 budget provides NASA with the resources necessary to
continue this rich tradition in STEM education through support for the
Nation's students and educators, the leveraging of cutting-edge
education technologies, and partnerships with industry. The budget
proposal will:
Increase NASA's impact on STEM education by further focusing
K-12 efforts on middle-school pre- and in-service educator
professional development;
Increase emphasis on providing experiential opportunities
for students, internships, and scholarships for high school and
undergraduate students;
Increase NASA's role in national and state STEM policy
discussions;
Emphasize evaluation and assessment, including external
independent evaluation, to ensure that investments are
providing desirable STEM impacts;
Engage strategic partners with common objectives and
complementary resources; and
Use NASA's unique missions, discoveries, and assets (e.g.,
people, facilities, education infrastructures) to inspire
student achievement and educator teaching ability in STEM
fields.
Senator Boozman. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Nelson. Well, contrary to Administrator Bolden's
emphasis on STEM education, the President's budget cuts $200
million from the 2010 levels across the Federal Government in
STEM education. So Dr. Holdren, why this philosophy? What
performance metrics was your office using when deciding to make
these reductions?
Dr. Holdren. Well, first of all Chairman Nelson, as I have
said, we had to make some very hard choices in this budget. We
all know that we don't have the money to do everything we would
like to do and in this budget we reduced funding or cut funding
for a wide variety of programs across a wide variety of domains
that we would have preferred, under better circumstances, to be
able to more fully fund.
In the education domain, one of the things that I think
needs to be recognized is the extent to which education
activities are spread across a large number of R&D categories,
in which education and training occurs without that particular
label. I know Dr. Suresh could talk about this in greater
detail, in terms of how it works at NSF where you have an
education directorate and it does very important work. But I
would say an even larger part of the education work at NSF goes
on in connection with the research grants across the whole
range of fields and those are going up.
In other cases, we cut programs that seemed to have been on
the metric of cost per student, or cost per new teacher to be
extremely expensive even if successful by some other metrics.
We are looking for ways to get the most bang for the taxpayer's
buck in this domain and in this fiscal climate. We made some
choices based on looking for ways to get more for our money
than some of the more expensive programs on that per teacher or
per student basis.
Senator Nelson. Well, the information that I have is
contrary to that. Dr. Suresh, it says that in your bailiwick of
NSF, that you are actually reducing the funding requested for K
through 12 educational activities. Why do that?
Dr. Suresh. I'm happy to answer that and also provide some
additional information on the point that Dr. Holdren made. If
you look at graduate level funding, for example, one of our
signature programs, which is also a Presidential priority, is
the Graduate Research Fellowships. In 2012, we will have 2,000
more graduate research fellows. Since 1952, NSF has funded
46,000 graduate research fellows.
We are not only increasing the number and funding 2,000 new
fellows in 2012, we are also increasing the cost of the
education allowance from $10,500 to $12,000 because it is long
overdue. What is reflected in the education budget is just a
little more than half of it. The other part of it comes from
research directorates. So this is what Dr. Holdren was
referring to.
Another program like that is the IGERT program which is
also interdisciplinary activities for graduate students. Fifty
percent of the IGERT program support also comes from entities
other than the education directorate within NSF.
With respect to K through 12 education, we have other
activities within the National Science Foundation that pick up
aspects of this. We are also, at this point, strategically
examining, based on evidence, programs that work, have done
well, and that we can share through a variety of directorates
within NSF. In fact, I have charged the head of our EHR
directorate to look at two possibilities: how to engage all of
the research directorates in educational activities, and also
how to make sure that all of the best practices of the various
research directorates are incorporated into the education
activities.
Senator Nelson. Well, following on that, it is true that
the President's budget has a 3.8 percent increase for STEM
education, in NSF. But when you get down into the weeds you see
that Kindergarten through 12th grade is reduced by 15 percent.
And I just heard the President give a speech about how
important it is to get kids turned on to science and technology
and education and mathematics. And I hear the Secretary of
Education saying this all along. So I am wondering, if the
policy is being set by the President, why is it being
implemented by this 15 percent reduction and this cancellation
of the NSF graduate and Kindergarten through 12th programs.
Tell us about that.
Dr. Holdren. Mr. Chairman, if I could say a word about the
priorities and then I will turn it back to Dr. Suresh for some
of the details. But one of the things that we are doing to
implement the President's priorities is getting the private
sector and the philanthropic sector much more heavily engaged
in supporting K through 12 STEM education. The President's
Educate to Innovate Initiative, which he first rolled out in
November, 2009, with something over a quarter of a billion
dollars in private sector and philanthropic support for
improving K through 12 STEM education, now has over $700
million in philanthropic and private sector support and has a
new component called Change the Equation, which has a 100
leading high tech CEOs contributing expertise and person power
from their companies to work with teachers in classrooms, to
provide role models and to provide more realistic and more
hands-on experience for science and math and engineering
students in K through 12.
So one of the things we are doing, we are being creative
here in getting more of the society engaged in this effort and
more of the society engaged in paying for it.
Senator Nelson. Is that filling this 15 percent cut to STEM
education for K through 12?
Dr. Holdren. Well, I can provide you an analysis of the
extent to which the specific functions are being covered. I
can't do that off the top of my head, but I think--even as we
are forced in a time of great fiscal constraint, to economize
in our federal budget--we are succeeding in bringing in
resources for these very purposes, from the philanthropic and
private sectors, I think is significant.
Senator Nelson. Senator?
Senator Boozman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Director Gallagher, the--can you tell us in regard to
nanotechnology, can you discuss some of the standard setting
challenges that we face there?
And then also, as we reauthorize the National
Nanotechnology Initiative, can you tell us how you feel that
perhaps we could improve the current situation? You know, what
do we need to do to improve the bill as we go forward, in other
words improve the authorization?
Dr. Gallagher. Thank you. So the NIST program, the NIST
portion of the NNI includes our mission to advance measurement
science and provide measurement capability. In the realm of
standard setting, one of the key areas for any new emergent
technology, and nanotechnology is a classic example, is as we
move from the science realm into the technology development
realm, in particular commercial technology development, is the
acceptability in the market of these products that contain
nanotechnology.
And for this technology, it centers around questions of
environment and health and safety. So a key part of the NIST
effort and part of our request is to develop the supporting
measurement capabilities so that we can assess risk of
engineered nanoparticles so that you can determine whether
there has been an environmental release, how do you
characterize whether environmental samples contain
nanoparticles. And it is really important, in fact it is
imperative that this effort be very strong and move quickly
because if public concerns about the safety of nanoparticles
get ahead of where our science is, in terms of being able to
articulate this, we will see a very significant barrier,
through fear of these--and you will certain see that. So I
think that is one of the most urgent standards needs in the
area of nanotechnology.
I think the NNI has reflected this very effectively in
their strategy. From my perspective, the most important
ingredient in the NNI initiative was the fact that you talked
about the difficulty of many different agencies participating
in something. This is one of those success stories where we
have had a very broad interagency effort that is working
extremely well together with really an integrated strategy
approach. And, from my perspective, that is what I would like
to see in any reauthorization effort.
Senator Boozman. Very good.
Just one more thing. Dr. Suresh, the--it is my
understanding the National Science Board is beginning a review
of modification to the merit review criterion at the NSF,
specifically the intellectual merit and broader impacts
criterion. What changes are being considered to ensure
proposals that have received excellent reviews are funded?
Dr. Suresh. Thank you for the question, Mr. Ranking Member.
As you know, NSF funds proposals based on two criteria. The
first and primary criterion is that it has scientific
excellence. Then the additional criterion, the second
criterion, is the broader impact, which encompasses a lot of
different aspects, from translation to the marketplace to
broadening participation and a variety of other factors.
In the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 there
was language requesting the director of the National Science
Foundation to provide a report to Congress within 6 months of
the enactment of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act. So
that is due to Congress in June of this year.
Almost in parallel with that, the National Science Board
had established a task force to look into this. Because these
two happened in parallel they were initially out of synch. So
what we have done recently, since the passage of the America
COMPETES Act, is to align the two together so that we will have
one synergized version of the sentiments that develop from the
study, that will be communicated broadly.
In addition to that, we have launched outreach to the
entire scientific community in the U.S. seeking their input on
broader impact. This is currently on the National Science
Foundation website, and a lot of letters have gone out. We have
also sought input from the broader community. So we have had a
number of teleconferences, joint teleconferences, between the
Foundation and the Board. It is our expectation that we will
have a cohesive set of recommendations ready by about early May
or so, so that the report will be submitted to Congress on
time.
Senator Boozman. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Nelson. Dr. Holdren, the President's budget had a
considerable increase in NIST as well as the National Science
Foundation, but it kept NASA flat-lined for the next several
years. You want to explain that philosophy?
Dr. Holdren. Well, first of all Chairman Nelson, the
President had been clear from early in the administration about
the importance he ascribed to investing in fundamental research
as the foundation for advances all across the spectrum of
applications. And that spectrum of applications of course
includes space. But the President said, look what I think we
need to do is get NSF, the DOE Office of Science and the NIST
Laboratories on a doubling trajectory. And he has remained
committed to that even through these budget difficulties.
I would add that it is less expensive to do that than to
expand the NASA budget by enough to do everything we would all
like to do. And I think you and I share an appreciation for the
importance of space and a desire to do more there. But in this
budget environment the President felt that NASA could not be
exempt and that we needed to try to meet the goals of the 2010
NASA Authorization Act with a budget that did not go up overall
compared to the 2010 appropriation.
The division of the investments in NASA included, again,
some difficult cuts that I would have preferred not to make,
the President would have preferred not to make. We cut Earth
Science research. I would have preferred not to do that, as the
President would have preferred not to do it. We cut some of the
investments in robotic missions, robotic precursor missions for
the Human Exploration Program. I would have preferred not to do
that.
We don't have as much money for some of the major elements,
including the heavy lift vehicle where we asked for a
substantial amount of money but not as much as was authorized.
Part of that difficulty, as you know, is that we have still not
been freed from the constraints of the 2010 appropriation
language. I know you have introduced a bill to do that, we very
much appreciate it. But in order to be ready to spend as much
in 2010 as one might have liked to spend, one needed to have
done certain things in 2011 which we have not been able to do,
because of the constraints of being under a continuing
resolution which keeps those--the 2010 constraints on the
Constellation Program in place.
So these were tough choices, there is no question about it.
And I for one would have been happy had we been able to do more
across a wide range of government programs, but fiscal
responsibility is a big part of the message that we are all
working with at this juncture.
Senator Nelson. Are you aware that we had all the Associate
Administrators of NASA here last Tuesday and they testified
that the language that you just referred to, requiring the
investment in Constellation, which by the way will be stricken
in this continuing resolution, but that NASA has not spent very
little if any additional money, that it would not be spending
in the development of the new heavy lift rocket?
Dr. Holdren. I haven't had a chance to review that
particular testimony. There have been a few other issues on my
plate in the last week, as I know you will understand.
Senator Nelson. Well, fine but I bring it----
Dr. Holdren. But----
Senator Nelson.--to your attention, because it has been the
conventional wisdom of what--and talked about in the press,
what you just said and what we are told in practice is exactly
the opposite, that the language which required--it was Richard
Shelby putting in the language to protect Constellation back a
year ago and it is obsolete language that needs to be stricken,
and it will be in this coming CR. However, when asked that
question the two Associate Administrators involved in this said
that very little additional money had been spent because of
that requirement that would not have been otherwise spent.
Dr. Holdren. Well, there is the question of what was spent
that what--that otherwise wouldn't have been and there is also
the question of what was not spent that otherwise would have
been. I would want to look at that testimony and talk to those
folks. It is my impression there have been some constraints. I
think they probably said, well the constraints perhaps have not
been all that bad. But my bottom line, Senator, is I am
delighted that you are getting rid of that restriction in the
continuing resolution going forward. And I thank you for that.
Senator Nelson. Well, my bottom line is that I want a space
program that is robust.
Now, the President originally had come forth with a NASA
budget a couple of years ago that was a $6 billion increase. It
was one of the few agencies that was getting a substantial
increase. And now with it being flat-lined, as with regard to
the President's recommendation, flat-lined at the 2010 level,
that $6 billion is evaporating. And yet the President's request
lessens the heavy lift capability development and increases the
commercial. Can you explain that?
Dr. Holdren. I can certainly try. First of all, as
Administrator Bolden has made clear and we agree, we have to
continue to make the International Space Station and our
capacity to get U.S. astronauts to it and back from it, a
continuing backbone of our human space exploration program. And
in our judgment, and I think in yours too, Senator, the
duration of the gap during which we have to rely entirely on
the Soyuz for the transport of our astronauts back and forth
after the retirement of the shuttle, is a matter of concern. We
think it is very important to reduce that gap and we think that
commercial crew provides the best opportunity for doing that
and that we need to make those investments in order to keep
that gap to a minimum and to be able to use the International
Space Station as the superb scientific and technology
development platform that it is.
Again, on the question of the heavy lift and on the
question of the $6 billion increase over 5 years that we
thought previously we would be able to get, I think it is a
shame that the budget constraints under which we are now
functioning make it impractical to get that increase. We are
going to do absolutely the best we can to pursue all of the
goals of the 2010 NASA Authorization Act with the money that we
think is prudent and likely to be available.
I am personally very much hoping that the President's
proposal gets fully funded. And I know you are going to try to
help us with that. But my bigger worry is what difficulty we
will be in if we can't get the $18.7 billion through in the
2012 budget.
Senator Nelson. Well, let's talk reality now, because we
are now facing the situation that the President's request for
flat-lining NASA is in peril. We are facing, in the House
position, significant cuts. Cuts that we had testimony the
other day that would mean 4,500 people immediately laid off by
NASA. I am talking about the additional cuts as enacted by the
House. Over 800 of those would come from Goddard, about 800 of
those would come from Kennedy, about a little more than over
800 would come from Johnson. And then you can go around to all
the centers and you could see what would add up to the 4,500
immediate job cuts from those centers, the bulk of which is
coming from those three centers that I just mentioned.
What we are going to vote on at three o'clock today is
another continuation for 3 weeks, and it is not going to have
these cuts. But we are coming down to the moment of truth in
another 3 weeks on enacting a budget for the remaining 6 months
that not only is going to affect NASA but it is going to affect
every one of your two other agencies, NIST as well as NSF. NSF
would be down 4.4 percent, if you followed the House position,
and NIST would be down 18.6 percent.
So why don't you, the three of you share with us, and Dr.
Holdren first, what those kind of gargantuan cuts would do to
these various programs.
Dr. Holdren. Chairman Nelson, first of all, you and I and
the President and I am sure the colleagues here to my left are
all on the same page in this. We don't favor those cuts, those
cuts are not what the President proposed, either in his 2011
budget or in his 2012 budget. And again, as I said when we were
talking about NASA in particular, my worry is what happens if
we don't get the $18.7 billion. I want to get that $18.7
billion because I think we can keep the most important stuff
going, I think we can move a robust space program forward,
which you and I and the President all want.
But if we experience these deep cuts that have been
proposed by some in the House, it is going to be devastating. I
think it is going to be devastating across the whole domain of
investment in science, engineering, mathematics, innovation,
which we have agreed have been the sources of our economic
strength, the sources of our global leadership, the sources of
our national security, the sources of our environmental
equality. These cuts are a bad idea.
Senator Nelson. I would love to get $18.7 billion for NASA.
The House position is $18.1 billion, that is $600 million less
and that would do what I just outlined. And of course
additionally it would have those cuts that I just talked about
for your two agencies.
Dr. Suresh, you want to tell us what it would do to you?
Dr. Suresh. Quite substantial damage, if you will. Let me
just give you some numbers. Last year, in 2010, Fiscal Year
2010, we received 55,000 proposals for funding at the National
Science Foundation and we could have funded a lot more than we
actually ended up funding, but we funded 13,000. There are so
many outstanding young people out there whom we could not fund.
Let me get specifically to the current House language and
where we are and what damage it will do to NSF. The overall NSF
cut will mean, if the House position passes, 900 fewer awards
with a potential loss of 12,630 people from the Fiscal Year
2010 enacted level. If we compare that to the Fiscal Year 2011
request, there will be 2,075 fewer awards and a potential loss
of nearly 30,000 people. This is for all of NSF.
I can give you some numbers just for research. If we
compare that to the 2011 request, there will be 20,200 fewer
people who will be supported for research in the country.
You mentioned STEM education earlier. 4,500 people will be
lost from NSF support for STEM education. Yesterday I read the
research funding in China is increasing 50 percent over the
next few years, and that is the competition that we are facing
at this point.
Senator Nelson. OK. Dr. Gallagher?
Dr. Gallagher. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
For NIST, to understand the impact of H.R. 1 or what it
would have on the agency, it is important to point out that
NIST has two types of programs. The NIST Laboratory program is
an intramural program that are employees working in the
laboratories. The MEP and TIP programs are extramural, that is
they fund extramural research grants and cooperative programs.
And that changes the impact on the two.
At the proposed levels that were in that bill, for the
intramural laboratory program the impact would be substantial.
It was not deep enough, in our initial analysis, that we
believe we would have to furlough employees, but the reduction
to our other object accounts was significant enough that it
would prevent us from renewing any new agreements. It would
certainly result in a freeze. It would result in a curtailing
of a number of our programs. Two of the most impacted programs
are the ones that were being supported through other agency
transfers under the Recovery Act; specifically smart grid and
health IT would be very strongly impacted.
In the extramural programs the Technology Innovation
Program would not be able to fund any awards this year and the
MEP program would have enough funding for the basic centers but
none of the new services that--in the Next Generation MEP
Program would be funded.
Senator Boozman. Again, I've been very supportive of NASA
and will. I think as our astronauts demonstrated, you know, it
has been a great success story through the years, it is
something that our Nation can be very, very proud of. I think
the concern is, is that with a proposed one and a half trillion
dollar deficit that over a period of 10 years, one and a half
trillion dollar deficits as far as the eye can see, that an
additional $13 trillion debt after 10 years, that's a real
problem.
Admiral Mullen testified a couple of months ago that our
greatest threat to national security wasn't al Qaeda or
Afghanistan or any of those threats, but was the debt. And so
as we are wrestling around with this, you know, we do have to
keep that in mind.
My commitment is to, again this is something that, you
know, this is something that only the government can do. You
know, I think we all agree with that and I think, you know,
Senator Nelson also agrees with, you know, the magnitude of the
problem that we face. My concern, though, is as we look at the
budget and things is that you have an authorization that is in
regard to NASA. Money is being authorized in various programs
and I think as the testimony or the--in listening to the
senators, you know, as we have heard testimony, expressed
feedback back, I think that we are pretty unanimous that those
dollars need to be spent as they were authorized, as opposed to
going in a different direction with the intent of the
authorization that was really diligently worked out and worked
out in good faith where, you know, we felt like we had reached
a deal and now there is some concern that perhaps there is some
variation from that.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Nelson. We are going to wrap up here. And we have
got a number of other questions to submit for the record.
I just want to say this. We had talked earlier about the
need for clean energy, therefore the reduction of our
dependence particularly on foreign oil. And one of you had
commented in response to me commenting about this competition
on photovoltaic which is another good example, that if we are
successful in designing a better photovoltaic cell we could
surely help ourselves in that realm.
I just want to put into the record here, that China is
investing up to $660 billion over the next decade in clean
energy research. And South Korea is planning to invest $85
billion over the next 5 years in clean energy research. So Dr.
Suresh, we will let you be the clean up hitter here. Why don't
you tell us what role NSF can play in increasing research and
development of clean energy?
Dr. Suresh. We have requested in excess of $550 million in
the Fiscal Year 2012 budget for clean energy research, which
will involve every office and directorate in the National
Science Foundation. And this forms part and parcel of an
umbrella that we call SEES: Science, Engineering and Education
for Sustainability. As you mentioned in your opening remarks
Mr. Chairman, and as my colleagues here have pointed out, this
is an area where from NSF's perspective there are significant
opportunities for new basic discoveries, which in concert with
other agencies will lead to major economic benefits and society
impact for the country.
NSF is very committed to clean energy. We are looking at
every aspect of clean energy. And this will really tap into the
innovative spirit of the scientific workforce in the country.
Senator Nelson. Gentlemen, we thank you for your public
service. We thank you for your testimony today.
The hearing is adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 12:15 p.m., the hearing was adjourned.]
A P P E N D I X
Prepared Statement of Hon. John D. Rockefeller IV,
U.S. Senator from West Virginia
America's expertise in science, technology and innovation has made
us a leader in the global economy. But our role as a global leader is
being challenged, and we need to be smart about how to maintain our
competitive edge.
Realizing the danger of inaction, this Committee worked to pass the
America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010, which cleared both the
Senate and the House with overwhelming bipartisan support.
But we still have a long way to go. Countries, like China and
India, are devoting far more resources into research and development.
They are finding new ways to use technology to deliver cleaner energy,
cleaner water, cleaner air and more economic opportunity.
And that's what brings us here today.
I think in some ways we have become too comfortable in our previous
success. We still remember our potential--and forget where we are
today. Our future depends on the investments we make to keep this
Nation competitive. Without a strong, bold and daring vision, we risk
falling behind.
For me this takes particular urgency in my state of West Virginia.
West Virginia is in the midst of transitioning from a more industrial
economy to one that, in the future, I hope is based more on technology.
Our universities are thriving but we need to do more. We need the
infrastructure for that. We are headed in the right direction but still
have steps to take.
America COMPETES offers a blueprint for our innovation
infrastructure. It puts science and research investments on a doubling
path over 10 years and strengthens science, technology, engineering and
mathematics (STEM) education.
However, in light of today's fiscal debate, we find our commitment
to an innovative America in danger. This is despite the fact that the
President's Deficit Commission itself called for an increase in
government support for science R&D as a long-term gain for the budget.
The President's FY 2012 budget proposal--with its call for
increases in science at the National Science Foundation and the
National Institute of Standards and Technology--sets the right agenda
for the future. However, we must first take action in this fiscal year.
We simply cannot afford to continue jeopardizing our Nation's future by
failing to invest today.
This hearing is an opportunity to identify the hurdles we must
overcome on the path toward a more competitive America. I am pleased to
welcome to this Committee a group of witnesses who have tremendous
insight into the challenges we face.
Dr. Holdren, President Obama's chief science advisor, is
responsible for the broad Federal science portfolio as the Director of
the Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Dr. Suresh, the new Director of the National Science Foundation, is
in charge of directing funding to the most innovative researchers in
the country--people who seek to solve our most difficult scientific
problems.
Dr. Gallagher, the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and
Technology, leads the agency best equipped to bring government and the
private sector together, conducting cutting-edge measurement research
for new technologies.
And, last but not least, we have Dr. Abdalati. As NASA's Chief
Scientist, Dr. Abdalati works to integrate science across the space
portfolio.
I want to thank our witnesses again for being here today. I look
forward to their testimony.
______
Response to Written Question Submitted by Hon. John D. Rockefeller IV
to John P. Holdren
Question. One R&D subject requiring significant improvement is the
field of forensic science. As I'm sure you know, the National Research
Council studied the forensic science system in the United States and
found scientific deficiencies as described in their February 2009
report, ``Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path
Forward.'' That report recommended, ``removing all public forensic
laboratories and facilities from the administrative control of law
enforcement agencies or prosecutors' offices.'' On March 9, 2009, the
President issued a memorandum on scientific integrity, which was
followed by your memorandum on December 17, 2010, with more specific
guidance to the executive branch. How can the standards you outlined in
your memo be applied to protect the integrity of forensic science
regardless of where/why it's conducted?
Answer. First of all, a subcommittee of the National Science and
Technology Council has been developing recommendations regarding how
best to implement the changes called for in the National Research
Council (NRC) report on forensic sciences. Approximately half of the
NRC issues have been addressed by the Subcommittee in draft form to
date, and recommendations relating to the rest of the NRC's findings--
including the one relating to the independence of forensic
laboratories--are expected by this fall.
A number of elements from my December 17, 2010, Memorandum to the
Heads of Departments and Agencies are relevant to the issue of ensuring
scientific independence for forensic laboratories. For example, my
Memorandum notes in Section I that the integrity of scientific
information generally is important ``both to ensure the validity of the
information itself and to engender public trust in government.'' That
is especially true when the science is linked to the criminal justice
system, given that individuals' freedoms are directly at stake in such
cases.
Second, my memorandum also calls for the ``setting of clear
standards governing conflicts of interest.'' Again, this is relevant to
the issue of laboratory independence raised by the NRC, which found in
its report that conflicts can arise when forensic laboratories are in
fact--or are perceived to be--too closely affiliated with law
enforcement or prosecutors' offices.
A third area of relevance is my Memorandum's emphasis on the
accurate conveyance of scientific and technological information. The
NRC report noted that overly close relationships between forensic
laboratories and law enforcement or prosecutors' offices can bias the
reporting of results--a problem potentially exacerbated by another
problem raised by the NRC: non-standardized forms and tools for
reporting results. My Memorandum addresses the issue of how best to
report scientific findings generally, calling for ``a clear explication
of underlying assumptions; accurate contextualization of uncertainties;
and a description of the probabilities associated with both optimistic
and pessimistic projections, including best-case and worst-case
scenarios where appropriate.''
______
Response to Written Question Submitted by Hon. Bill Nelson to
John P. Holdren
Question. Basic research is the foundation of our economy; however,
basic R&D only creates jobs when innovations are commercialized. What
actions is the Administration taking to facilitate technology transfer
and commercialization? Please provide specific examples of agency
efforts in this regard. A recent report in the Wall Street Journal
indicated that the percentage of organizations off-shoring R&D in the
next 5 years is expected to double. How does OSTP see this impacting
future U.S. innovation? What is the administration doing to keep that
R&D spending in the United States?
Answer. The Administration's recently revised A Strategy for
American Innovation (February 2011) describes many of the
Administration's actions to facilitate technology transfer and
commercialization. For example:
The Department of Commerce's Office of Innovation and
Entrepreneurship promotes innovation-based, high-growth
entrepreneurship in pursuit of job creation and economic
growth. The Office plays a leading role in developing policy
recommendations and implementing initiatives to increase the
efficiency and effectiveness of efforts to commercialize
technology through university and federally-funded research.
The Small Business Administration's Innovation Fund will
support up to $1 billion in private-sector financing over the
next 5 years by matching private capital raised by investment
funds that are seeking to deploy capital in early-stage
innovative small businesses.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research
Service (ARS) established the Agricultural Technology
Innovation Partnership Program (ATIP) to provide opportunities
for the private sector to commercialize research outcomes
arising from USDA R&D investments.
In addition, the Department of Energy (DOE) established a new
policy on technology transfer and commercialization of innovations from
the DOE National Laboratories, with the goal of reducing barriers to
working with the DOE National Labs, increasing interactions with the
private sector, communicating opportunities, and communicating
outcomes.
The Administration also announced a program as part of Startup
America to facilitate start-up companies in identifying and obtaining a
low-cost option to license Lab technologies. These options facilitate a
startup in its first-year activities to raise capital and establish
itself before facing the deferred costs of a license to commercialize
the technology.
OSTP is concerned about increased off-shoring of R&D investments by
U.S. companies. If these trends continue and are not matched by strong
R&D investments in the United States, there could be negative impacts
on our Nation's capacity to innovate and compete in the global economy.
Encouragingly, data show that, in recent years, off-shoring of R&D has
been more than offset by increased ``on-shoring'' of R&D by foreign-
owned companies investing in R&D capabilities in the United States and
by increased U.S. R&D investments by U.S.-owned companies (National
Science Board, Science and Engineering Indicators 2010). The
Administration has proposed several policies designed to keep R&D
spending by both U.S.-owned and foreign-owned companies here in the
United States. A leading example is the 2012 Budget's proposal to
simplify, expand, and make permanent the Research and Experimentation
(R&E) Tax Credit. The Treasury Department recently released an analysis
showing that, if implemented, this proposal could leverage more than
$100 billion in U.S. private-sector R&D over the next 10 years. The R&E
Tax Credit can only be claimed for R&D performed in the United States
and thus provides an incentive for companies to perform R&D in the
United States rather than abroad. It is important to note that
virtually all nations have R&D tax incentives. Many nations have tax
incentive structures that are stronger than the current U.S. credit.
Therefore, the proposal to improve and expand the U.S. R&E tax credit
is essential to compete effectively for domestic and foreign corporate
R&D capital.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Mark Warner to
John P. Holdren
Question 1. In the coming months the Senate and House will debate
the FY 2012 Federal budget. In light of the Nation's current fiscal
situation, there is a potential for budget cuts to programs throughout
OSTP. Could you prioritize the programs that you would allocate the
most resources to should cuts occur? If not, why not? Can you merge
existing research programs? If not, why not?
Answer. In the spirit of shared sacrifice to address the fiscal
situation, the 2012 Budget for OSTP requests $6.65 million, a 5 percent
reduction from the $7.0 million 2010 enacted funding level. Sustaining
the capabilities of OSTP's staff is a top priority in the Budget, and
therefore resources for OSTP personnel and staff support are preserved.
In the 2012 Budget, OSTP has proposed to reduce spending on other
contractual services, resulting in fewer reports and technical analyses
from the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology
(PCAST). Because OSTP does not itself fund research, Federal research
program mergers are not an appropriate strategy in the search for
reductions in OSTP's 2012 Budget.
Question 2. The National Science Foundation manages a small stream
of Federal funding which helps to support the Industry-University
Cooperative Research Centers and Engineering Research Centers. These
programs appear to be significant in that they help to bridge the gap
known as the ``valley of death,'' which many new companies and
technologies face in their growth cycles. These programs are a
relatively small investment of Federal resources, leveraged by private
sector contributions and they reaffirm the strong comparative value of
industry financial support.
a. Is OSTP engaged in any assessment of the strengths and
weaknesses of these types of programs, in comparison with other types
of research programs offered by NSF, to determine whether or not our
current mix of Federal R&D spending is optimal? If not, why not?
b. Is OSTP engaged in any assessment of these types of programs, in
comparison with programs such as Small Business Innovation Research
(SBIR), Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR), Engineering Research
Centers (ERC), Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry
(GOALI) Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers (I/UCRC),
Materials Research Science & Engineering Centers (MRSEC), National
Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (NNIN), Nanoelectronics Research
Initiative (NRI), Nanoscale Science & Engineering Centers (NSEC),
Partnerships for Innovation (PFI), and Science and Technology Centers
(STC) to determine which programs are the most effective? If not, why
not?
c. Has OSTP begun considering which programs are the most valuable
in terms of future U.S. competitiveness? Do these assessments account
for the need to consolidate and reduce duplicative programs and to get
more value out of Federal research dollars? If not, why not?
Answer. OSTP is well aware of and supportive of NSF's I/UCRC
program and related efforts to improve the commercialization of
promising ideas arising from NSF support of university-based research.
I defer to NSF to provide details of its assessments of I/UCRC and
other programs. OSTP is briefed regularly on both NSF-supported
external assessments and NSF in-house assessments of programs in the
NSF portfolio, and we work cooperatively with OMB and NSF as part of
the annual budget process to optimize NSF and other Federal R&D
investments based on the results of these assessments. In these ongoing
discussions with OMB and NSF, we do not look at assessments of
individual programs in isolation; rather, we look at the entire
portfolio of programs organized around similar goals--for example
commercialization of Federal research or Federal support of STEM
education. These ongoing discussions consider which Federal programs
are the most valuable in terms of future U.S. competitiveness and also
consider the fiscal environment in which tough choices have to be made,
including potential terminations or reductions in Federal programs, to
maximize the impact of Federal research dollars.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Roger F. Wicker to
John P. Holdren
Question 1. I recognize the contributions NSF, NIST, and NASA have
made to society and American innovation, but we are in dire economic
times. Non-defense discretionary outlays grew 5.6 percent over the last
decade. The continued deficits of our Federal Government are not
sustainable and our country's growing debt is a threat to national
security. With our current fiscal condition in mind, can you tell me
how many jobs your budget proposal will create for Americans?
Answer. We do not have precise, prospective estimates for the job-
creation impacts of the 2012 Budget although, as we describe in the
answer to Question 3 below, we are working to improve impact measures
for Federal R&D funding.
Question 2. Is the creation of jobs a top priority for funding R&D
at your respective agency?
Answer. Because OSTP does not itself fund research, Federal R&D
programs would not be affected by the proposed reductions in OSTP's
2012 Budget.
Question 3. How do you measure the impact Federal R&D funding has
on job creation?
Answer. The Federal Government relies on numerous metrics to
measure the impact of Federal R&D funding on important national goals
including job creation. Under OSTP's leadership, the National Science
and Technology Council's Interagency Task Group on the Science of
Science Policy released a report in November 2008 (The Science of
Science Policy: A Federal Research Roadmap) that assesses existing
impact measures for Federal R&D and sets out a research agenda for
improving these measures. Since then, we have been working with the
Federal research agencies to make progress on the roadmap's research
agenda, with special attention to developing more real-time impact
measures and to building a data infrastructure (STAR METRICS) for
collecting better impact measures.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. John D. Rockefeller IV
to Patrick D. Gallagher
Question 1. One R&D subject requiring significant improvement is
the field of forensic science. As I'm sure you know, the National
Research Council studied the forensic science system in the United
States and found scientific deficiencies as described in their February
2009 report, ``Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A
Path Forward.'' That report called out several areas where NIST could
significantly contribute to needed improvements, such as ``to develop
tools for advancing measurement, validation, reliability, information
sharing, and proficiency testing in forensic science and to establish
protocols for forensic examinations, methods, and practices.'' What do
you see as NIST's role in improving forensic science overall and how
would you specifically propose to address the above recommendation?
Answer. NIST is aware of the National Research Council report, and
is committed to addressing the important issues in forensic science in
part by serving as co-chair (with Department of Justice's Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives) of the interagency
Subcommittee on Forensic Science in the Committee on Science of the
National Science and Technology Council. This Subcommittee is currently
working to respond to the report's 13 recommendations.
NIST has a mission-oriented focus on measurement science that is
well-matched to the needs of the forensic science community (e.g.,
determining accuracy, efficacy, and quality assurance of measurements).
NIST also provides measurement services in many areas such as reference
materials, reference databases, and calibration services for a wide
range of customers.
NIST has a long history of providing innovative solutions to
technological forensic science challenges like those described in the
2009 NRC report. One example is the development at NIST of truncated
DNA polymerase chain reaction primers to accurately detect and identify
DNA short tandem repeats (STRs) in highly decomposed and partially
incinerated human remains recovered from Ground Zero at the World Trade
Center in 2001.
The current efforts at NIST in forensic science-related areas are
largely driven by funding from other agencies (e.g., DOJ, DHS, and DOD)
on a short-term directed task basis. This has allowed NIST to establish
some competency in certain forensic science areas. For example, NIST
research in human identity and forensic DNA testing, developed in
collaboration with the National Institute of Justice (NIJ/DOJ), has
resulted in the development of standard reference materials, new
testing methods, inter-laboratory validations, and the creation of
training materials.
Question 2. That report also described the importance of nationwide
interoperability for Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems
(AFIS) and the difficulty in achieving that goal. NIST has a history of
working on AFIS interoperability issues. Can you please describe the
technical challenges and legal barriers preventing interoperability of
the multitude of systems that comprise AFIS, the role of NIST in
addressing these issues, and specific actions that NIST might take to
enhance interoperability?
Answer. While NIST participates in the National Science and
Technology task force on AFIS Interoperability, the bulk of NIST's work
in this area is targeted at addressing the technical challenges to AFIS
interoperability.
Some of the key technical challenges to AFIS interoperability are
linked to the identification and recognition of features in latent
fingerprints.
The issue of AFIS interoperability arises in the latent
fingerprint forensic application. Because latent images can be
of arbitrarily poor quality, a successful recognition requires
human assistance. Typically, a trained latent examiner will
mark the minutia points and other features that appear in
images, and submit the markup, and sometimes the image, to a
remote AFIS identification server. A list of zero or more
possible candidates will be returned by an AFIS machine, and
the examiner will adjudicate the latent against the
``exemplar'' candidate images (e.g., collected in a prior
arrest).
AFIS interoperability is defined as the ability of AFIS A to
be able to correctly find matching fingerprints when the
examiner used a latent workstation intended for AFIS B.
The interoperability issue arises because the fingerprint
examiner will use a vendor-supplied ``latent workstation''
which embeds graphical user interface tools to assist the
examiner. More importantly, the workstation also embeds vendor-
specific encodings of the minutia points, and there are
semantic differences in the way the coordinates and angles of
minutiae are computed even if that information is transmitted
in a standardized format (the generic fields of Type 9 of ANSI/
NIST ITL 1-2007).
A second challenge is that different AFIS minutia extraction
algorithms report different numbers of minutiae from the same
input image because some minutiae are missed, and others are
detected erroneously. The differences are influential on the
core AFIS matching algorithms.
To address these AFIS interoperability issues, NIST has been active
in research and standardization in three areas:
1. NIST has conducted tests of latent fingerprint technology in
its ELFT (Evaluation of Latent Fingerprint Technologies)
program. In its recent phase, the new standardized Extended
Feature Set (EFS, proposed for the 2011 ANSI/NIST standard) was
implemented by the major AFIS vendors, and evaluated at NIST.
Those tests also tested image-only searches, which do not
require examiner markup. As stated above, interoperability is
assured at the image-level.
2. In addition, NIST runs the Minutia Exchange (MINEX) test
which measured the recognition accuracy available from
standardized minutia records generated by vendors A and B when
matched with an algorithm (AFIS core) from vendor C.
3. NIST is the standards development body for the ANSI/NIST ITL
standard. It includes Type 9 for fingerprint features,
including minutiae and EFS. NIST also serves in the ISO/IEC SC
37 committee which is developing a standardized conformance
test for the correct placement semantics of minutiae. That
standard will become part of ISO/IEC 29109-2.
Looking forward, NIST's participation in other appropriate
standards bodies and technical scientific working groups will help to
realize AFIS interoperability. Further engagement with the AFIS
industry and the consolidation of technical findings into standards
will also further this objective.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Bill Nelson to
Patrick D. Gallagher
Question 1. Basic research is the foundation of our economy;
however, basic R&D only creates jobs when innovations are
commercialized. What actions is NIST taking to facilitate technology
transfer and commercialization? Please provide specific examples of
agency efforts in this regard.
Answer. The President has made investment in R&D, and the resulting
economic growth that comes through innovation, a cornerstone of his
economic policy. I want to applaud this Committee for its foresight and
leadership in advancing the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of
2010 which continued the doubling path for NIST and the National
Science Foundation and the Department of Energy's Office of Science.
This Committee and the Administration agree that such investments in
R&D are fundamentally important to accelerating technological
innovations which, when commercialized, can have transformational
impacts.
NIST's critical role in this effort is to promote U.S. innovation
and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science,
standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and
improve our quality of life. NIST's programs from the laboratories to
the extramural programs provide a ``tool kit'' that addresses unique
needs and gaps spanning the entire innovation and technology
development cycle. From incentivizing and supporting long-term
industry-led directed basic research to accelerating technology
deployment and adoption by America's manufacturers, the NIST extramural
programs along with the NIST laboratories, provide a critical
infrastructure that supports the type of high-tech innovation,
development, and manufacturing that is critical for our Nation's long-
term sustainable economic growth and job creation.
The NIST laboratories provide measurement solutions to
innovators and manufacturers that increase efficiency and
facilitate the use and adoption of advanced technology. For
example the NIST work in advanced sensors, robotics, and
modeling and simulation will provide the infrastructure that
facilitates the adoption of new technology systems that will
help manufacturers:
transform a new idea into production easily
reconfigure a factory to produce multiple types of
products using the same facility
adapt to changes in production while maintaining high
quality and minimizing waste
organize subcontractors, OEMs, and customers into
efficient and dynamic supply chains
The new AMTech will collapse the timescale of technological
innovation by including partners that span the innovation
lifecycle from idea to discovery, from invention to
commercialization. Through cost-sharing and a common research
agenda, these consortia would support the development of
innovative new technologies directed at creating high-wage jobs
and economic growth across the industry sector. These consortia
will develop road-maps of critical long-term industrial
research needs and provide support for research and equipment
at leading universities and government laboratories directed at
meeting.
TIP funds small companies and consortia of small companies
and universities to support high-risk transformational Research
and Development. TIP funding helps small companies develop and
demonstrate new high-risk, cutting edge technologies, when no
other sources of funding are available.
MEP helps small and medium manufacturers strengthen their
competitive positions by accelerating the adoption of
technological innovations, facilitating the adoption of
environmentally sustainable business practices, promoting
renewable energy initiatives, fostering market diversification,
and connecting domestic suppliers to manufacturers to assist
manufacturers in successfully competing over the long term in
today's complex global manufacturing environment.
Question 2. Please provide to the Committee and the Secretary of
HHS a timetable for the development of the electronic medical records
standards.
Answer. Based on industry and national needs, NIST anticipates the
need for standards in emerging areas and plays a critical role by
participating early in the development process and by helping ensure
that the requisite infrastructural standards and associated tests are
robust, complete, and unambiguous.
Timeline for Electronic Health Records (EHRs) Standards
Standards, implementation specifications, and certification
criteria for EHRs are scheduled to be adopted through rulemaking by HHS
every 2 years consistent with its proposed sequence for the stages of
meaningful use. This sequence will indicate needs over time for
standards development, where NIST will likely play an important role.
Standards for Stage 1 Meaningful Use: complete
Electronic Health Records that satisfy Stage 1 Meaningful Use
standards and certification criteria are already available for
physicians' practices and many hospitals. Recent surveys show that more
than 80 percent of all hospitals and 40 percent of all office-based
physicians intend to achieve meaningful use and qualify for incentive
payments by using certified EHRs in a meaningful way. We anticipate
that these numbers will increase in time, especially as the private
sector continues to embrace the opportunity to innovate with less
expensive and more user friendly EHRs.
Standards for Stage 2 Meaningful Use: operational by 2013
Stage 2 Meaningful Use may stipulate additional and enhanced
standards and certification criteria that could lead to more robust
interoperable EHRs and greater adoption rates.
The two Federal Advisory Committees (FACAs) established by the
HITECH Act, namely, the HIT Policy Committee and the HIT Standards
Committee, are advising the National Coordinator for Health Information
Technology within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on
the priorities for Stage 2 and, subsequently, the requisite standards.
NIST is represented on the HIT Standards Committee as well as on its
workgroups.
Based on the advice of these advisory committees, as well as on
broad public input, ONC implements its Standards and Interoperability
(S&I) Framework to: establish use cases; identify and harmonize
standards; prepare implementation specifications, reference
implementations, and pilot demonstrations; develop tests procedures;
and, implement the certification process. It is anticipated that the
proposed standards and certification criteria for Stage 2, will be
published in the 4th quarter of CY 2011.
Standards for Stage 3 Meaningful Use: operational by 2015
Stage 3 Meaningful Use activities will follow the same sequence as
those for Stage 2. It is anticipated that Stage 3 requirements will be
more stringent than those of Stage 2.
The above timeline and work plan will result in operational EHRs by
the deadline of 2014.
Question 3. Last year you testified that the Technology Innovation
Program (TIP) had the right ingredients for innovative research, but at
the current level of funding, we wouldn't see a large national impact.
The FY 2012 request of $75 million for this program is $4.9 million
less than last year's request. What metrics are you using to evaluate
the performance of this program? Are we making progress on the research
in areas of critical national need targeted by the program? How long
does NIST intend to maintain TIP in a pilot phase before deciding
whether or not to expand the program?
Answer. Measurement of program performance is a top priority for
TIP. TIP measures outputs as short-run indicators of progress toward
program goals. TIP measures outcomes in the longer run to assess the
program's impact.
Each year, TIP estimates the following performance results as
measures of key outputs and indicators of progress in meeting short-run
program goals:
Number of TIP projects funded
Evidence of fostering research collaborations
Patents, papers, and publications developed through the TIP
projects that accelerate the creation and dissemination of
knowledge
A full description of TIPs performance measurement practices can be
found in the TIP Annual report (http://www.nist.gov/tip/upload/
tip_2009_annual_report
.pdf)
Since its authorization, the program has awarded 38 grants during
the period FY 2008-2010, representing a TIP investment of approx $136
million, for a total investment of about $280 million in new high-risk,
high-reward research:
In 2008, $42.5 million from TIP funds supported nine
projects in advanced sensor technologies for civil
infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and water systems, for a
total of $88.2 million in new research (TIP + awardee cost
share).
In 2009, TIP funded twenty projects at $71M, for a total
potential new research investment of $145.6M, to address
critical national needs in manufacturing and civil
infrastructure.
In 2010, TIP provided more than $22.2 million for nine
projects for advanced manufacturing research in electronics,
biotechnology and nanotechnology, for a total of $45.9 million
in new research.
Despite being a young program, results from the R&D are already
being shared and tested, which is indicative of the impact of the
program. Technologies in civil infrastructure have been tested in state
highway facilities and several of the projects have agreements with
state transportation authorities (e.g., California, Michigan, and
Massachusetts) to serve as test beds for this next generation of
technologies.
The scientific findings from these projects are also being actively
shared within the scientific community, enabling these efforts to
benefit R&D in areas beyond the organizations partnering with TIP. In
March 2011, organizations working with TIP in the 17 civil
infrastructure projects presented 47 research papers at a smart
structures conference hosted by SPIE. This interaction across
scientific disciplines allows TIP participants to share important R&D
findings that can subsequently be used by other researchers. These
early research results and strong partnering relationships suggest the
research currently underway has laid the foundation for transforming
today's research into tomorrow's solutions.
The FY12 request supports the Administration's priorities of
promoting technological innovation and providing support for
manufacturing.
Question 4. How is the AMTech (Advanced Manufacturing Technology
Consortia) Program different from existing activities at NIST, such as
the TIP and Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) programs?
Answer. AMTech will collapse the timescale of technological
innovation by including partners that span the innovation lifecycle
from idea to discovery, from invention to commercialization. Through
cost-sharing and a common research agenda, these consortia would
support the development of innovative new technologies directed at
creating high-wage jobs and economic growth across the industry sector.
These consortia will develop roadmaps of critical long-term industrial
research needs and provide support for research and equipment at
leading universities and government laboratories directed at meeting
these needs. This approach deepens industrial involvement in
determining how to best leverage government resources to promote
technological innovation.
TIP funds small companies and consortia of small companies and
universities to support high-risk transformational Research and
Development toward targeted and immediate needs. The cost-share
provisions of TIP enable TIP to leverage significant non-Federal
investment for high-risk, cutting edge technologies, and serves as an
important source of funding when no other sources are reasonably
available. In contrast to TIP funds, which are given to single
institutions or small groups of awardees, AMTech provides a framework
for entire industry sectors to address pre-competitive research needs.
Participants in an AMTech consortium include both large industry
players, with acknowledged expertise in the critical needs facing a
particular sector, as well as small and medium enterprises, whose
smaller organization may allow for increased agility and innovation.
NIST's MEP program complements AMTech by helping small and medium
manufacturers strengthen their competitive positions through assistance
provided by a nationwide network of centers and field staff consisting
of over 1,400 technical experts. MEP helps small and medium
manufacturers by accelerating the adoption of technological
innovations, facilitating the adoption of environmentally sustainable
business practices, promoting renewable energy initiatives, fostering
market diversification, and connecting domestic suppliers to
manufacturers to assist manufacturers in successfully competing over
the long term in today's complex global manufacturing environment.
______
Response to Questions Submitted by Hon. Roger F. Wicker to
Patrick D. Gallagher
Question 1. I recognize the contributions NSF, NIST, and NASA have
made to society and American innovation, but we are in dire economic
times. Non-defense discretionary outlays grew 5.6 percent over the last
decade. The continued deficits of our Federal Government are not
sustainable and our country's growing debt is a threat to national
security. With our current fiscal condition in mind, can you tell me
how many jobs your budget proposal will create for Americans?
Answer. As the President has said, ``The first step in winning the
future is encouraging American innovation.'' The Administration in
February proposed a record $66.8 billion investment in civilian
research and development reflecting its firm belief that investment in
civilian research is a key ingredient for cultivating the innovation
that is so important to growing the American economy of the future.
NIST's mission is to promote U.S. innovation and industrial
competitiveness through advances in measurement science, standards and
technology to enhance U.S. economic security and improve the quality of
life of U.S. citizens. The foundational nature of measurements have a
multiplier effect on job creation. While NIST does not directly count
the number of jobs created, NIST programs have a direct and measurable
impact on the number of jobs created and retained. A 2009 survey of
NIST's Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) clients indicated that
as a direct result of the MEP program, the MEP clients had created
17,721 jobs, and retained 54, 354 jobs.
Similarly, we know from anecdotal data that grants made by NIST's
Technology Innovation Program (TIP) or the Small Business Innovation
Research (SBIR) program awards are often the key resource that enable
the continued existence of small businesses involved in very technical
and specialized R&D and innovation related research or
commercialization activities. In its 3 years of existence, TIP has
awarded 38 grants covering civil infrastructure and manufacturing.
These 38 projects have supported 88 small and medium-sized businesses.
As yet another example, NIST research in developing measurement
techniques and instrumentation at the nanoscale to examine an exciting
new form of carbon, graphene, has resulted in the commercialization of
a new breakthrough product, an ultra-high vacuum compatible dilution
refrigerator. A manufacturer of specialty scientific instrumentation is
now manufacturing this refrigerator for commercial sales, thereby
creating and supporting jobs in manufacturing and service.
Question 2. Is the creation of jobs a top priority for funding R&D
at your respective agency?
Answer. Creation and preservation of high quality U.S. jobs is a
key priority for the Administration. NIST does its part by enabling job
creation through the development and dissemination of its products and
services such as new measurement technologies, improving existing
measurements, supporting manufacturing and innovation related programs,
cyber security awareness, education and practices, etc. These products
and services underpin numerous industries such as manufacturing,
healthcare, automotive, financial services, etc. NIST developed
technologies and services enable manufacturers to improve their
products, processes and efficiency thereby making their companies more
competitive.
The effort to design, develop, and implement a ``smart'' electrical
grid is one such example. One estimate by the GridWise Alliance, a
Smart Grid industry group, anticipates up to 280,000 new jobs (http://
gigaom.com/cleantech/smart-grid-could-create-280000-smart-jobs/)
related to the realization of a Smart Grid. Next generation photo-
voltaic panels are another example of where NIST's foundational efforts
can lead to significant job growth in a high tech sector. The advanced
photo-voltaic industry already counts 93,000 solar-panel related
positions in the U.S. (http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/details/beitrag/
solar-jobs-in-the-us-on-the-rise_10000
1376/). Further technological advancements are anticipated to grow that
number.
Question 3. How do you measure the impact Federal R&D funding has
on job creation?
Answer. Measuring the impact of Federal R&D funding on job creation
is a complex problem that NIST cannot address on its own. However, as
the President has stated, we need to ensure that the Nation out-
innovates, out-educates, and out-builds the rest of the world in the
years ahead.
NIST participates in the Science and Technology for America's
Reinvestment: Measuring the Effect of Research on Innovation,
Competitiveness and Science (STAR METRICS) project, a multi-agency
project led by the National Institutes of Health, the National Science
Foundation (NSF) and the White House Office of Science and Technology
Policy, in partnership with research institutions. STAR METRICS is
developing a common framework that can be used to assess the impact of
Federal R&D investments including number of jobs created through
Federal R&D funding.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. John D. Rockefeller IV
to Dr. Subra Suresh
Forensics
Question. One R&D subject requiring significant improvement is the
field of forensic science. As I'm sure you know, the National Research
Council studied the forensic science system in the United States and
found scientific deficiencies as described in their February 2009
report, ``Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path
Forward.'' That report indicated, ``Research is needed to address
issues of accuracy, reliability, and validity in the forensic science
disciplines.'' Does NSF have any current grant programs that would
address this need? If yes, how many awards have been made over the past
year in these areas of research? How could these programs be expanded
to more specifically target this need? If no, how could NSF address
this recommendation? This report also commented that ``to correct some
of the existing deficiencies, it is crucially important to improve
undergraduate and graduate forensic science programs.'' How could NSF
improve the education and training in forensic science?
Answer. NSF does not have a specific program focused on forensic
sciences. However, the Foundation supports basic scientific research in
dozens of scientific fields, and some of this research is useful in
forensic settings. In FY 2010, it is estimated that 85 awards, for a
total of $22.5 million, were made for programs relevant to forensic
research.
NSF recommends that to address the issues mentioned, practitioners
and basic scientists should be brought together to look at areas of
mutual interest. Improvements could be made in areas such as how basic
scientists could better communicate results to practitioners, how
practitioners could better communicate needs to basic scientists, how
to develop collaborations, or how to assess the quality of a piece of
scientific research. In addition, workshops, advanced training
partnerships, or research coordination networks might be useful to
focus on areas of specific interest to both groups, such as neural
aspects of pattern matching. These interactions would also be essential
to improving education and training in the forensic sciences.
EPSCoR
Question. The EPSCoR Interagency Coordinating Committee was
established in FY 1993 to coordinate Federal EPSCoR and EPSCoR-like
programs to maximize the program's impact and minimize duplication in
states receiving EPSCoR support from more than one agency. NSF chairs
the committee. This coordination mandate was expanded in the 2010
America COMPETES Reauthorization. The committee is designed to ensure
the EPSCoR programs are effectively addressing their missions, and we
would like to be kept informed of its activities. Please provide
specifics on how often this committee meets, what agencies have
attended, and what business has been conducted. What could be done to
improve the effectiveness of the coordination mandate?
Answer. The EPSCoR Interagency Coordinating Committee (EICC) meets
annually. Recurrent agenda topics include eligibility criteria by
agency, current priorities, budget, key program thrusts, and
synergistic partnerships for investment, evaluation, and communication.
In addition to these meetings, EICC members are invited to participate
in NSF EPSCoR national conferences and annual project directors and
project administrators meetings; committee members and agency
representatives routinely participate in these meetings.
Five agencies currently fund EPSCoR or EPSCoR-like programs: the
Department of Energy, the National Institutes of Health, the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, and the National Science Foundation.
The last meeting of EICC took place on May 9, 2011 and the
discussions focused on the EPSCoR specific items in Section 517 of
Public Law 111-358, the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010.
The next meeting is targeted for mid-August, 2011 and will also focus
on of the issues listed in this Act and action plans expected to
improve effectiveness of cross-agency coordination.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Bill Nelson to
Dr. Subra Suresh
Research Funding Activities
Question 1. Basic research is the foundation of our economy;
however, basic R&D only creates jobs when innovations are
commercialized. What actions is NSF taking to facilitate technology
transfer and commercialization? Please provide specific examples of
agency efforts in this regard.
Answer. Although NSF awards to individual investigators frequently
result in innovations that are commercialized, we recognize that the
road from discovery to commercialization is challenging. Several types
of NSF awards provide opportunities to speed technology transfer and
commercialization. For example, many of NSF's Centers programs require
a plan for knowledge transfer and encourage partnerships with industry.
Centers programs that encourage partnerships with industry include the
Science and Technology Centers (STC) program, the Engineering Research
Centers (ERC) program, and the Centers for Chemical Innovation (CCI). A
recent American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
review of the Science and Technology Centers program found that a
majority of the STCs served as a springboard for start-up companies.
Centers also provide a rich student training environment that
encourages innovation. Many of the students involved in center research
activities obtain jobs working for industry partners. The National
Center for Innovation Education program (a collaborative effort of the
Engineering Directorate and the Directorate for Education and Human
Resources) funds a comprehensive and coordinated set of activities to
address the challenge of educating engineers to be innovators.
In addition to the integration of knowledge transfer into these
programs from across the foundation, there are also specific targeted
programs that facilitate technology transfer and commercialization. The
Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships (IIP), within the
Directorate for Engineering, has several programs that support these
goals: the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, the Small
Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program, the Partnerships for
Innovation (PFI) program, the Industry/University Cooperative Research
Centers (I/UCRC) program, and the Grants Opportunities for Academic
Liaison with Industry (GOALI) program.
Question 2. There has been discussion that NSF should implement
blind proposal review to avoid institutional bias in grant awards.
Please provide NSF's views on blind proposal review. How is NSF
encouraging fair competition among all colleges and universities in the
review of research proposals?
Answer. Program officers at the National Science Foundation come
from a broad range of colleges and universities and understand that
high-quality research is conducted at both small and large
institutions. Program officers also recruit reviewers and panelists
from diverse types of institutions. Thus, a broad range of perspectives
are brought to bear throughout the review process. Program officers
also receive training on the importance of building a robust portfolio,
which includes funding diverse types of institutions as one element.
One of the examples of representative activities provided in NSF's
guidance on broader impacts is the involvement of faculty and students
at community colleges, colleges for women, undergraduate institutions,
and EPSCoR institutions. NSF considers the ability to recognize these
broader impacts related to institutional type to be extremely
important. If proposal review were blind to the identity of the
institution we would lose our ability to recognize these important
characteristics. Another important disadvantage to blind review is that
it would limit our ability to evaluate information about the
availability of specific facilities necessary to conduct the proposed
research.
Question 3. What is NSF doing to raise awareness of its programs
among all colleges and universities, including community colleges?
Answer. The National Science Foundation regularly makes outreach
presentations to diverse institutions across the country in an effort
to help increase their awareness and participation in NSF programs.
Program Officers conduct outreach when visiting academic institutions
(including community colleges) or participating in scientific meetings.
NSF hosts informational booths at scientific meetings such as the
annual meeting of the AAAS. In 2010, two Regional Grants Conferences
were organized by the Office of Budget, Finance, and Award Management,
and hosted by Jackson State University and Case Western Reserve
University. The Office of Legislative and Public Affairs also organizes
``NSF Days'' held at various locations throughout the country. In 2010,
the foundation hosted ``NSF Days'' in Arizona, California, Florida,
Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee. Representatives
from most of NSF's directorates and offices attended each of these
conferences.
An NSF Day hosted by a research or masters level institution
includes presentations on NSF's history, proposal and merit review
process, Foundation-wide programs, and international programs. Breakout
sessions are held by directorate and on proposal preparation. These
provide excellent networking opportunities and allow informal
conversations with NSF program officers. NSF Days at community colleges
are focused on programs of interest to two-year institutions. In
addition to a general introduction to NSF, workshops include
presentations on the Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program and
other programs in the Division of Undergraduate Education.
Additionally, there is a proposal presentation and usually a panel of
local principal investigators who have previously won NSF awards
talking about their experiences.
NSF began conducting Community College NSF Days in 2003. A total of
seven events have taken place, all at the invitation of the community
colleges themselves. Examples from 2010 include a workshop at Rio Hondo
Community College in Whittier, California, where 75 people from 22
different institutions participated, and a workshop at Clark College in
Vancouver, Washington, where 33 people attended from 7 community
colleges in Oregon and Washington. In addition, NSF has held 67 regular
NSF Day events, which included attendees from community colleges. In
total, over 730 community colleges representatives have attended either
Community College NSF Days or NSF Days.
Outreach workshops are sponsored by individual directorates, as
well as EPSCoR, the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program,
and other NSF-wide programs. The ATE program regularly sponsors a
workshop for the Council for Resource Development (CRD) which includes
grants officers from community colleges. NSF outreach to scientists and
engineers from underrepresented groups includes efforts such as
workshops for tribal colleges and minority-serving institutions,
including historically black colleges and universities.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Mark Warner to
Dr. Subra Suresh
Wireless Technologies
Question 1. In its March 2010 National Broadband Plan, the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) recommended that NSF should fund a
``wireless testbed for promoting the science underlying spectrum
policymaking.'' As stated in the FCC's plan, ``Wireless testbeds can
permit empirical assessment of radio systems and the complex
interactions of spectrum users, which are nearly impossible to assess
through simulation or analytical methods. As a result, they can reveal
a great deal about how sharing can best be facilitated, how spectrum
rights might be established, and the impact of dynamic spectrum access
radios on existing and future communications services.'' The
President's FY12 budget request for the NSF includes a plan to invest a
large portion of the receipts from spectrum auctions in targeted
research and experimental wireless technologies that expect to improve
spectrum efficiency. Of the $150 million investment from the new
Wireless Innovation (WIN) Fund proposed for FY12, how much would be
made available for wireless technology testbeds, including those
recommended by the FCC?
Answer. $65 million is proposed for developing wireless technology
testbed research and experimentation in FY12.
Question 2. How would these testbed funds be made available to
small business entrepreneurs to test their innovative, spectrum
efficient wireless technologies?
Answer. NSF provides grants to small businesses through its Small
Business Innovation Research & Small Business Technology Transfer
programs, as well as through many of its core programs in all the
science and engineering directorates. If WIN funding becomes available
to NSF, competitions will be organized to specifically target small
business entrepreneurs who are interested in trying out their new ideas
on the wireless testbed.
NSF is piloting the use of prizes through Challenge.gov in an
effort to go beyond NSF's traditional grantee pool and to reach out to
small businesses and entrepreneurs. Two competitions are under
development with prizes to be given during the course of the next year.
More generally, a suite of wireless testbeds will be made available
for pre-commercial, open use by small business entrepreneurs across the
country.
Question 3. How would these testbed funds potentially be combined
with additional amounts from the WIN Fund to be distributed to other
agencies such as the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
and the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST)?
Answer. The Director of the National Science Foundation will
consult with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Commerce, the
Secretary of Energy, and the Attorney General in carrying out the
wireless testbed research and experimentation.
NSF plans to sponsor workshops with these mission agencies to
explore areas of mutual research interest and to foster collaboration.
As these agencies carry out the research and exploratory development of
wireless applications and services related to their missions, the
wireless testbed will be made available for testing their new ideas.
In addition, NSF co-chairs (with the National Telecommunications
and Information Administration) the Wireless Spectrum R&D (WSRD) Senior
Steering Group of the National Information Technology R&D (NITRD)
program. Through WSRD, NSF consults and collaborates on a regular basis
with all Federal agencies that have active interests in wireless R&D,
including testbeds. WSRD is presently conducting an inventory of all
Federal testbed activities, and we expect that WSRD will play a key
role in coordinating Federal testbeds going forward.
Question 4. What would be the necessary steps for NSF to coordinate
with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration
(NTIA) to use portion of these testbed funds to support NTIA's existing
``Spectrum Sharing Innovation Testbed'' program?
Answer. The Institute for Telecommunications Sciences (ITS), the
research and engineering laboratory of the NTIA, in Boulder, CO has
very specific goals. It uses a spectrum sensor van to carry out
spectrum surveys or measurements of the radio spectrum and analysis of
spectrum interference, which feed back into improved Federal management
of the spectrum. Their experiences will be invaluable to NSF as it
moves forward with the development of its national-scale wireless
testbed. NSF plans to work with ITS in at least two different ways: 1)
to foster investments in the tools and techniques used to carry out
spectrum measurement; and 2) to foster investments in new models of
propagation and detection. NSF would take these steps early on to
ensure that ITS becomes a true partner in these endeavors.
Question 5. What steps have been taken to coordinate these NSF
initiatives with the FCC?
Answer. NSF has worked closely with several of the authors of the
FCC Broadband Plan in the development of its testbed plans. The FCC is
represented on the NITRD WSRD Senior Steering Group, through which
coordination on testbed activities is being facilitated. In August
2010, NSF held a spectrum-focused workshop (the EARS workshop) that
included presentations by FCC Commissioner Meredith Atwell-Baker and
Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, which helped set the stage for close
collaboration among the regulatory agencies and NSF. NSF is also in
routine contact with the FCC Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Doug Sicker,
and he recently participated in an early review of the next stage of
development in the wireless testbed at NSF.
Question 6. In what other ways could NSF ensure a more rapid return
on these proposed innovation investments from the new WIN fund?
Answer. NSF has a long history of investing in networking testbeds
at university campuses across the United States. NSF is currently
funding the federation of these testbeds to provide interoperability
and to increase accessibility. Testbed resources (e.g., sensor and bus
networks, cloud computing) that were previously available only to local
researchers will now be available more broadly across the country via
the new wireless testbed.
NSF's testbed activities to date have focused on networking
technologies, which are a very important part of many wireless
technologies. At this point, cognitive radios are part of the testbed
as well as data obtained from some radars and remote sensing devices.
There are other wireless devices and services, such as, radio and
television broadcasts, navigation beacons, point-to-point links, many
unlicensed devices (including white space devices and ultrawideband
systems), and related applications that need to be included, and that
operate outside of network models. With WIN funds, NSF would be able to
expand its investments to include a wider variety of wireless testbed
capabilities. Their use would speed the time-to-market of new concepts
and new technologies that can make more efficient and more innovative
use of the radio spectrum, or that expand access to the radio spectrum
to traditionally underserved populations and areas.
In developing the wireless testbed, NSF will deploy a spiral
development methodology that over a short period of time will increase
the scale, novelty, and types of technologies that are deployed in a
comprehensive national-scale wireless testbed.
A series of workshops and prize competitions are already being
planned; which will allow NSF several ways to reach beyond the
principal investigator research community to the entrepreneurs and
small businesses that normally do not submit proposals to NSF. First,
it will facilitate the development of partnerships across academia,
industry, and government. Second, it will enable NSF and others to
showcase and broadly advertise the types of new ideas developed through
these competitions and demonstrate what might be possible with
innovative new wireless technologies. Third, it will allow for more
rapid technology transfer from prototype, to testbed, to business
models; especially for wireless gigabit applications and services in
areas of national interest, including health, education,
transportation, energy, and advanced manufacturing.
University-Industry Partnerships
Question 1. A recommendation from the 2008 study called Encouraging
Industry-University Partnerships: Report from the Engineering Advisory
Committee, Subcommittee on Industry-University Partnerships was as
follows, ``The Engineering Advisory Committee's Subcommittee on
Industry-University Partnerships (EAC-UIP) was convened in the Spring
of 2007. The group first conducted a workshop to study the landscape of
partnership programs at NSF (plus DARPA and NASA) and identify best
practices. This was followed by an analysis of NSF's current portfolio
of partnership programs, which examined funding levels, the relative
roles of small and large industry, and where partnerships fit along the
``innovation supply chain'' (discovery-to-commercialization process).
We also reviewed the National Science Board's decision to discontinue
industry cost-sharing as part of a larger moratorium on cost-sharing,
and submitted a recommendation to them that industry investment be
reinstated by the Foundation.
All members of the Subcommittee believe that industry investment in
NSF-funded research is of long-term strategic importance and should be
encouraged. Requiring or endorsing industry contributions helps
incentivize academics to form partnerships outside the academic
environment. It also sends an important message to the public about the
project's relevance--and that industry and government are both vested
in R&D.
Our discussions identified several issues that make university-
industry partnerships challenging. From these, the Subcommittee
formulated the following recommendations to the Engineering Director:
1. Expand existing partnership programs so as to better fill
the university-industry landscape.
2. Pilot new partnering programs that address the remaining
gaps in the university industry landscape.
3. Expand mechanisms to motivate/reward industry financial
investment in NSF sponsored projects, by extending matching-
funds supplements to other ENG programs.
4. Continue participating on the National Academies' UIDP, and
do whatever possible to expedite the release of software to
assist in negotiating partnership IP.
5. Take a more proactive role in making companies more aware of
the benefits of investing and participating in NSF-sponsored
research projects.
6. Mount an awareness campaign with the goal of helping
companies understand NSF's partnership programs.
7. Take a proactive role in making faculty aware of the
benefits of seeking and participating in partnerships with
industry.
8. Mount an awareness campaign with the goal of helping
university administrators and faculty understand NSF's
partnership programs.
9. Champion, within NSF, the need to offer many different types
of university-industry partnership mechanisms--and encourage
the broader adoption of partnership mechanisms so that they are
available to a much wider cross-section of faculty researchers.
10. Continue monitoring the progress of all university-industry
partnership mechanisms, Foundation-wide, and periodically re-
assess them to ensure that the number and type of opportunities
meet the diverse needs of academic and industry constituencies.
Question A. How many of these recommendations have been implemented
at NSF?
Question B. Which recommendations have not and what are the reasons
why not?
Question C. Based on these recommendations, what is NSF doing to
increase funding for these types of partnership programs?
Answer. In order to answer this question, we have chosen to address
each of the individual recommendations separately and then provide
specific answers to a, b, and d at the end. In addition to the specific
details below, it is important to note that the Engineering Directorate
has made these recommendations a focus of directorate presentations to
professional societies, universities, etc., to emphasize the portfolio
of partnerships with industry we support, and the role of translational
research in our investments.
Recommendation 1: Expand existing partnerships programs so as to
better fill the university-industry landscape.
The Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers (I/
UCRC) program's Fundamental Research Program (FRP) funds
centers to embark into new areas of discovery ripe for
exploration and innovation. The I/UCRC has modified the FRP to
require industry inspired proposals, thus building upon and
expanding the existing partnerships of the center.
The I/UCRC program has extended its membership duration from
a maximum of 10 to 15 years (Phase III) with decreased NSF
funding in the third phase. This allows for continued building
of partnerships on the NSF brand.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) firms are joining
the I/UCRC and increasing small business memberships in the
center Industry Advisory Boards (IABs).
Recommendation 2: Pilot new partnering programs that address the
remaining gaps in the university-industry landscape.
Both the Translational Research in the Academic Community
(TRAC) and Accelerating Innovation Research (AIR) programs seek
to leverage existing partnerships to advance innovative
capacity. I/UCRCs have had the highest response among center
programs to the AIR Program Solicitation.
The Partnerships for Innovation (PFI) program's ultimate
goal is to enable business partners to grow and radically
change how businesses are doing what they do and thereby
contribute to U.S. competitiveness.
Recommendation 3: Expand mechanisms to motivate/reward industry
financial investment in NSF sponsored projects, by extending matching-
funds supplements to other ENG programs.
The concept of extending matching funds is prohibited by
current National Science Board policy. The I/UCRC and ERC
programs are the only partnership programs eligible for
matching funds.
The I/UCRC program contains a component entitled Cooperative
Opportunities for Research between I/UCRCs (CORBI) where
industry members of two separate centers allocate money to fund
collaborative research between the centers. NSF matches the
amount committed by both centers' Industrial Advisory Boards
(up to $50,000 for each center pair collaborating).
Recommendation 4: Continue participating on the National Academies'
UIDP, and do whatever possible to expedite the release of software to
assist in negotiating IP.
NSF is continuing to support the UIDP effort and has
provided focused support through various program initiatives
within ENG's Industrial Innovation and Partnerships (IIP)
division.
NSF is actively participating with UIDP's release of their
``TurboNegotiator'' software and assisting in organizing
negotiating workshops on selected technology areas using
`TurboNegotiator' as a tool.
Recommendation 5: Take a more proactive role in making companies
more aware of the benefits of investing and participating in NSF-
sponsored research projects.
NSF program directors play a significant active role in
marketing I/UCRC concepts to member companies at planning grant
meetings for the formation of new centers and IAB meetings for
existing centers. Program directors also have discussions with
companies off-line.
NSF personnel have created awareness within 30 industries
during UIDP annual meeting presentations.
IIP has joined the Industrial Research Institute (IRI),
composed of approximately 200 Fortune 500 companies, and
participated in their External Technology and Innovation
Leadership networks.
NSF has presented at both American Society of Mechanical
Engineers (ASME) and Council for Chemical Research (CCR)
meetings.
Recommendation 6: Mount an awareness campaign with the goal of
helping companies understand NSF's partnership programs.
This is a current practice with SBIR companies through such
activities as the I/UCRC membership supplemental Dear Colleague
Letter. IIP personnel also routinely talk to various large
companies and other agencies at various I/UCRC meetings.
The responses to recommendation #5 also addresses this
recommendation.
Recommendation 7: Take a proactive role in making faculty aware of
the benefits of seeking and participating in partnerships with
industry.
This is an on-going effort with all potential faculty and
faculty within existing centers.
The new PFI solicitation requires collaboration with two or
more small businesses. The generous lead time, use of Letters
of Intent (LOI), and program director's interactions with
potential principal investigators (PIs) represent aggressive
attempts to promote partnerships.
NSF personnel participate in approximately eight ``NSF
Days'' annually across the country.
Recommendation 8: Mount an awareness campaign with the goal of
helping university administrators and faculty understand NSF's
partnership programs.
The I/UCRC program has not separately mounted an awareness
campaign for university administrators; however, the I/UCRC
program staff takes every opportunity to discuss the Center
model with university tech transfer offices and others.
The PFI program requires the participation of a senior
university administrator by requiring them to lead the research
effort.
Several senior administrators were made aware of the PFI
solicitation and served on PFI review panels.
NSF personnel presented partnership program information at
the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) annual
conference and conducted a UIDP webinar. IIP personnel
participated in UIDP panels.
Recommendation 9: Champion, within NSF, the need to offer many
different types of university-industry partnership mechanisms--and
encourage the broader adoption of partnership mechanisms so they are
available to a much wider cross-section of faculty researchers.
The new/recent AIR, TRAC, and i6 Challenge solicitations are
good examples of the different types of university-industry
partnership mechanisms and their availability to a larger pool
of researchers.
The NSF Director has articulated partnership mechanisms in
his recent FY 2012 budget press conference and in other venues.
Recommendation 10: Continue monitoring the progress of all
university-industry partnership mechanisms, Foundation-wide, and
periodically re-assess them to ensure that the number and type of
opportunities meet the diverse needs of academic and industry
constituencies.
The I/UCRC program has made evaluation a cornerstone of the
program since its inception over 30 years ago. Each center has
an appointed evaluator that provides information to the I/UCRC
Program on the center structure and operations. Data is
aggregated on an annual basis for use in case studies and
longitudinal studies of center impact and program
effectiveness.
NSF is looking to develop mechanisms for measurement through
STAR METRICS and the Data Information Management System (DIMS)
that are ongoing approaches.
Question A. How many of these recommendations have been implemented
at NSF?
Answer. NSF has implemented 9 out of 10 recommendations.
Question B. Which recommendations have not and what are the reasons
why not?
Answer. Implementing recommendation #3 would require a change in
NSF policy.
Question C. Based on these recommendations, what is NSF doing to
increase funding for these types of partnership programs?
Answer. The NSF FY 2012 Budget Request includes a total $19.50
million for Accelerating Innovation Research (AIR). These funds will
expand on the AIR 2011 launch and will build stronger university
industry collaboration by engaging industry in defining high risk
fundamental research that has the potential to overcome scientific/
engineering barriers to innovation and thus impact on its innovation
readiness for third party investment.
______
Response to Written Question Submitted by Hon. Kay Bailey Hutchison to
Dr. Subra Suresh
STEM Education
Question. During the reauthorization of the America COMPETES Act,
the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee created a
STEM-Training grant program at the National Science Foundation. As you
know, this program is designed to increase the number of qualified STEM
teachers in America's classrooms and was a recommendation in the
Gathering Storm report and its many follow-up reports.
Could you please provide the Committee with a timeline for
implementation of this program? Specifically, what role does the NSF
intend to have in implementing this STEM-Training grant program? How
soon will the NSF begin funding the programs first class of STEM
teachers in training?
Answer. The NSF has a long-standing history of investing in the
improvement of STEM teacher preparation and continuing professional
development, and is committed to the President's goal of preparing
100,000 STEM teachers. The FY 2012 Budget Request includes Teacher
Learning for the Future (TLF) within the Directorate for Education and
Human Resources. TLF is focused on building understanding, through
research and demonstration, about what it takes to prepare truly great
STEM teachers. NSF's Office of Integrative Activities, in conjunction
with the Directorate for Education and Human Resources, will convene a
stakeholders' workshop early in FY 2012 to focus on best practices in
STEM teacher preparation. In preparation for the workshop, NSF will
engage in planning and mapping of current programs concerned with
teacher preparation (including the Noyce Scholars program, the Math and
Science Partnership Program, and the proposed TLF program). These
programs already incorporate key elements of teacher preparation
programs that have demonstrated success in terms of pupil learning,
including attention to replication of effective programs, and could be
expanded or reconfigured to address new expectations.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Roger F. Wicker to
Dr. Subra Suresh
Budget Priorities and Performance
Question 1. I recognize the contributions NSF, NIST, and NASA have
made to society and American innovation, but we are in dire economic
times. Non-defense discretionary outlays grew 5.6 percent over the last
decade. The continued deficits of our Federal Government are not
sustainable and our country's growing debt is a threat to national
security. With our current fiscal condition in mind, can you tell me
how many jobs your budget proposal will create for Americans?
Answer. It is not possible to provide accurate and reliable,
prospective estimates for the number of jobs that will be created by
investing in basic research, or for the proportion of created jobs
which will go to American citizens. The Science and Technology for
America's Reinvestment: Measuring the Effect of Research on Innovation,
Competitiveness and Science (STAR METRICS) collaboration project,
currently in Phase I, will measure the impact of science spending on
job creation in the academic sector.
Question 2. Is the creation of jobs a top priority for funding R&D
at your respective agency?
Answer. Stimulating long-term economic growth and job creation is a
long-standing priority for NSF. As the only Federal agency specifically
dedicated to the support of basic research and education across all
fields of science and engineering, NSF connects forefront science and
engineering with potential economic, societal, and educational benefit.
NSF's high-risk, potentially transformative investments enable
important discoveries and cutting-edge technologies that help to keep
the Nation globally competitive, prosperous, and secure.
Question 3. How do you measure the impact Federal R&D funding has
on job creation?
Answer. NSF co-leads the STAR METRICS collaboration. STAR METRICS
is a Federal and research institution collaboration to create a
repository of data and tools that will be useful to assess the impact
of Federal R&D investments. In the project's first phase, it is
developing uniform, auditable and standardized measures of the impact
of science spending (ARRA and non-ARRA) on job creation, using up-to-
date data from research institutions' existing database records.
Clean Energy
Question. NSF has requested a 13 percent increase in overall
funding compared to 2010 enacted levels. Within this request is a
substantial increase for programs related to climate change--including
$576 million for Clean Energy Investments. The Department of Energy's
Office of Science also supports areas of basic energy science, climate
change, and science education. To what degree do increases for research
related to clean energy by NSF overlap or duplicate the efforts by the
Department of Energy's Office of Science?
Answer. In FY 2012, NSF will continue to strengthen its long-
standing investments in basic clean energy related research. In FY
2010, the clean energy portfolio was $324 million, which grows to $576
million in the FY 2012 request. The portfolio is quite diverse,
including research related to fuel cells, biofuels, solar and wind
power, process efficiencies for vehicles and electrical transmission,
and many other topics. Research is supported in nearly all NSF
directorates and offices through both existing core programs and in the
newer investment areas, such as Science, Engineering and Education for
Sustainability (SEES) and Research at the Interface of the Biological,
Mathematical and Physical Sciences and Engineering (BioMaPS).
Avoiding overlap of effort across agencies is important to NSF. In
order to leverage, not duplicate, Federal investments, the Foundation's
activities in the energy arena are developed in consultation with the
Department of Energy (DOE), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA), and other Federal agencies. NSF
provides research support to the academic community and focuses on
early stage to pre-competitive programs that complement DOE's
activities. An example of this synergy is the Foundational Program to
Advance Cell Efficiency (F-PACE), which is a DOE/NSF joint program in
photovoltaics. DOE picks up support for clean energy research at the
pre-competitive through commercialization stage. Other existing NSF
programs focusing on innovation (such as Engineering Research Centers,
the Industry-University Cooperative Research Centers Program, the
Accelerating Innovation Research program, and supplements for
Translational Research in the Academic Community) are excellent
examples of programs where NSF's strength at the most basic end of the
innovation and education chain benefits and could increasingly benefit
both agencies in meeting national needs for energy security. There are
many examples where NSF-DOE complementarity has benefited discovery and
innovation, for example, current leaders of a number of DOE energy
research centers got their start with NSF Research Initiation Awards
and/or CAREER awards.
In expanding research related to clean energy, NSF will make unique
contributions to the pursuit of energy efficiency and new energy
sources. NSF's mission to pursue fundamental basic research makes us
ideally situated to investigate important questions outside the
interests of other agencies. Further, in FY 2012, NSF has proposed
increased funding for an approach to clean energy using a ``pathways''
approach that integrates research on topics that range from resource
characterization, to the technology needed to develop and efficiently
utilize a resource, to the social and environmental impact of
widespread adoption of that energy source. The span of NSF's interests
in natural and social sciences, engineering, and science education
differentiates us from other agencies and enables us to take on such a
complex topic in such a comprehensive manner. It also enables NSF to
target resources at educating graduate, postdoctoral, and early career
scientists who will be able to use interdisciplinary knowledge and
skills to address a critical scientific and societal challenge and
collaborate adeptly with private and public partners.
EPSCoR
Question. Funding for the Experimental Program to Stimulate
Competitive Research (EPSCoR) has received a modest increase in NSF's
FY2012 budget request. This is a long-standing, successful program that
helps institutions from smaller states, such as Mississippi, compete
for merit-based research funding. Can you explain the reasoning for
your request for substantial increases in climate change funding while
successful programs such as EPSCoR only receive modest support?
Answer. The FY 2012 Request for EPSCoR funding is consistent with
the NSF growth trend for the Research and Related Activities account
for FY 2009 through FY 2012.
Climate change and its associated impacts on energy, environment,
and water are important to many EPSCoR jurisdictions. One objective of
the EPSCoR program is to catalyze fuller participation of EPSCoR
researchers in all of the Foundation's activities. EPSCoR jurisdictions
are also eligible to submit proposals to the Foundation's climate
change programs.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Bill Nelson to
Dr. Waleed Abdalati
Question 1. Basic research is the foundation of our economy;
however, basic R&D only creates jobs when innovations are
commercialized. What actions is NASA taking to facilitate technology
transfer and commercialization? Please provide specific examples of
agency efforts in this regard.
Answer. Since its inception, NASA has worked to find ways to
facilitate the transfer of its cutting-edge technologies to the public
sector. NASA has a long and successful history of transferring its
technology for public good, with long-standing efforts involving NASA's
field centers dedicated to patenting and licensing new technology.
NASA's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business
Technology Transfer (STIR) programs tap the innovative potential of
hundreds of small businesses around the country; the products of those
efforts serve specific NASA mission needs as well as those of customers
in the private sector and other government agencies. The SBIR and STIR
programs are the foundation ofNASA's investment in early stage
technology development, and often serve as technology pathfinders for
larger efforts that are adopted by prime contractors and the NASA
centers.
In addition, NASA has developed a program to foster the release of
NASA software for a wide range of applications; and also uses Space Act
Agreements for many ofNASA's innovative partnerships. In terms of
volume, NASA executed over 1,000 new collaborative R&D relationships in
2010 and has over 4,000 that are currently active. These numbers
reflect a close alliance between R&D development at NASA's field
centers and the commitment by the field center technology transfer
professionals to foster application of that technology for commercial
development and other objectives.
Many NASA technologies are transferred to existing companies, or to
new companies that are created to take advantage of NASA's inventions.
These inventions and technologies provide more than just an economic
benefit: many of them improve the environment, make us healthier and
safer, and improve our quality of life.
Several recent examples of successful NASA technology transfer are
highlighted below and represent a fraction of the wide range of
technology transfer efforts undertaken at the NASA field centers.
A ground-based inflatable antenna based on a design
developed for space communication is now providing high-
bandwidth communication in remote areas and after emergencies
such as the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.
A technique for strengthening metal engine components that
undergo extreme heat and stress is being applied to completely
eliminate a common failure in modular hip implants.
Light sensors invented by NASA researchers provide imaging
capabilities for digital cameras, web cameras, automotive
cameras, and one of every two cell phone cameras on the planet.
NASA funding supported the development of a whole aircraft
parachute system that is now standard equipment on many of the
world's top-selling general aviation aircraft and is credited
with saving 246 lives to date.
Fuel cell technology originally devised for generating
oxygen and fuel for missions to Mars has been adapted to
generate clean energy on Earth, providing an environmentally
friendly, scalable power source for a host of Fortune 500
businesses.
Bacteria isolated for use in water-purifying technology for
the International Space Station is providing a safe,
environmentally sound method for oil spill cleanup and for
cleansing municipal and industrial wastewater.
Each year NASA documents 40-50 of the top recent technology
transfer successes such as the ones listed above, in its annual Spinoff
publication (http://spinoff.nasa.gov). More than 1,700 of these top
successes have been published in Spinoff and are documented online and
available via a searchable database at this website.
Feeding this pipeline of innovation are new technologies developed
by NASA. In FY 2010, NASA documented the development of 1,647 new
technologies through new technology reports (NTRs). NASA seeks to make
these technologies available to industry, academia and other agencies
for further development and application. Each month 40-50 recent NTRs
are published in NASA TechBriefs, the largest circulation design
engineering magazine in the country, reaching over a quarter of a
million technologists in all industries. The monthly magazine features
exclusive reports of innovations developed by NASA and its industry
partners/contractors that can be applied to develop new and improved
products and solve engineering or manufacturing problems. In addition
to the print edition, TechBriefs is also available online at http://
www.techbriefs.com/.
In addition to these longstanding technology transfer efforts, NASA
is engaged in new and exciting ways to push its innovations out to the
public.
The Agency is an active participant in the Federal Laboratory
Consortium, a national organization chartered by Congress to foster
technology transfer from Federal laboratories to the private sector.
NASA currently has several individuals serving on FLC planning
committees, and NASA researchers have also played an active part
presenting their technologies at various FLC forums and encouraging
private sector collaboration/partnership development, such as a
nanotechnology partnership forum held at the National Institute of
Standards and Technology last September, and a recent forum at the
College of William and Mary dedicated to energy technology
partnerships, energy efficiency, and energy conservation.
In addition to conducting research in support of future human
missions into deep space, astronauts aboard the ISS will carry out
experiments anticipated to have terrestrial applications in areas such
as biotechnology, bioengineering, medicine, and therapeutic treatment
as part of the National Laboratory function of the Station.In support
of this effort, in February 2011, NASA released a Cooperative Agreement
Notice (CAN) for an independent Non-Profit Organization to manage the
multidisciplinary research carried out by NASA's National Laboratory
partners. This organization will: (1) act as a single entry point for
non-NASA users to interface efficiently with the ISS; (2) assist
researchers in developing experiments, meeting safety and integration
rules, and act as an ombudsman on behalf of researchers; (3) perform
outreach to researchers and disseminate the results of ISS research
activities; and (4) provide easily accessed communication materials
with details about laboratory facilities, available research hardware,
resource constraints, and more.
NASA has also initiated several innovative approaches to licensing,
such as one through collaboration between NASA's Goddard Space Flight
Center and Ocean Tomo, to use live auctions as a means to broadcast a
range of NASA technologies available for licensing. NASA also recently
published a Request For Information (RFI) seeking ideas from industry
for innovative ways to inform the public of available NASA licenses and
for new ways to create these licenses.
NASA is also actively engaged in several initiatives to bring NASA
technology to areas traditionally not associated with the civilian
space program. For example, a recent partnership with the Colorado
Association for Manufacturing and Technology (CAMT) has resulted in the
development of a regional economic cluster aimed at bringing NASA
technology, high tech jobs, and small businesses together to focus on
accelerating the process for bringing advanced aerospace and
environmental technologies to market. NASA intends to look for
additional regional opportunities and partners across the country to
strengthen the U.S. economy by partnering technology developed for the
space program with other industrial and research sectors, such as bio-
agriculture, robotics, and alternative energy.
Additionally, NASA is constantly seeking new ways to use its
technology for public benefit. Recent partnerships have NASA providing
medical, engineering, and psychological support for the rescue of the
trapped Chilean miners; providing space-based remote sensing as well as
ground-based remediation technology for the oil spill cleanup in the
Gulf Coast; and launching aerial support of wildfire management along
the West coast. NASA-derived robots have even been deployed to analyze
the damaged Fukushima nuclear reactor following the recent earthquake
and tsunami in Japan.
To help communicate to the public the linkage between NASA's
research and technology and benefits from resulting commercialized
products, NASA created a web feature called NASA @ Home and City which
is available online at http://www.nasa.gov/city. This website makes it
easy to see how space technology improves our everyday lives, from the
bedroom, bathroom or kitchen to the hospital, grocery store, firehouse,
or sports arena.
NASA technologies make a difference in our lives every day.
Knowledge provided by weather and navigational spacecraft, efficiency
improvements in both ground and air transportation, super computers,
solar- and wind-generated energy, the cameras found in many of today's
cell phones, improved biomedical applications including advanced
medical imaging and even more nutritious infant formula, as well as the
protective gear that keeps our military, firefighters and police safe,
have all benefited from our Nation's investments in aerospace
technology. By investing in space and aeronautics technology, NASA will
continue to make a difference in the world around us.
Question 2. Your testimony indicated that your goal is to deliver
the most valuable science for the taxpayer investment. How will you
determine what the most valuable science is? What metrics are used to
evaluate the performance of current investments?
Answer. NASA science provides value in several ways that include,
but are not limited to: (a) increasing basic knowledge, as we gain new
insights into our ever changing universe, (b) inspiring future
generations to pursue science and engineering professions through our
performance of incredible technical and scientific feats such as
sending rovers to explore the surface of Mars, and (c) directly
improving the human condition, for example through critical insights
into the behavior of our changing planet with continual and improving
Earth observations.
While the intrinsic value of these pursuits may be clear in a
qualitative sense, ensuring that we deliver the most valuable science
for the taxpayers' investments requires that we develop means of
objectively assessing relative value of and returns on our investments.
This is challenging, because in science, the importance of a theory,
observation, or discovery may not be fully realized until long after
its occurrence.
Nonetheless, there are means by which we can increase the
likelihood that our investments are of the greatest value, and at NASA
we employ a number of such strategies. These include the following:
Widely advertising our funding opportunities
By reaching as broad an audience as possible, we ensure the
greatest likelihood of receiving the most creative ideas, and the
highest quality proposals. We advertise funding opportunities through
the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation
System (our online database of potential investigators) as well as
through our website and other mechanisms.
Relying on competition and peer review for the vast majority
of our investments
Except in a few instances that require results on very short time
scales, or specific expertise that exists in-house, our research is
selected through competition and rigorous peer-review. Even the few
direct-funded activities are subject to peer review prior to award. By
relying on this process, we ensure that the scientific investigations
and the missions we support are of the highest quality as judged by
experts in the relevant areas.
Relying on recommendations from the external scientific
community
NASA has a long history of seeking advice from the National
Research Council (NRC) to help us develop priorities for our
investments. The most visible are our decadal surveys, which lay out
science priorities and mission priorities which we at NASA work
diligently to follow. By relying on these recommendations for our
largest, multi-billion-dollar science investments, we ensure that we
are investing our resources in the highest-priority science as
indicated by the broader scientific community. This advice extends to
establishing priorities for infrastructure investments and reviewing
our strategic plans.
Seeking advice through our Federal Advisory Committees
In addition to the NRC recommendations, we also rely on
recommendations on scientific matters from the NASA Advisory Council
and in particular its Science Committee, and discipline-specific
subcommittees. These groups, comprised of scientific leaders who have a
comprehensive understanding of NASA, provide advice on the execution
ofNASA science programs. NASA carefully considers their advice and
implements it according as commensurate with broader NASA and national
objectives, availability of resources, and capabilities of the agency.
Reviewing annual progress reports of individual scientists.
and making funding renewal contingent on satisfactory progress
Scientists are required to demonstrate measurable progress in their
scientific investigations in order to continue to receive funding under
multi-year grant proposals. These annual gates provide opportunities to
terminate unproductive projects or to provide guidance on projects that
are not fully living up to their promise.
NASA also has established metrics for evaluating the returns from
our science investments. We submit with our annual budget requests an
Annual Performance Plan that outlines the annual performance goals we
intend to achieve in science with the budget requested; at the end of
each fiscal year we report our success in achieving those goals in our
Performance and Accountability Report. The annual performance goals
cover the breadth of NASA's science research, and we rely on the
subcommittees of the NASA Advisory Council Science Committee to
evaluate our progress in our many research areas.
In addition, NASA uses several other indicators to assess the value
of the science we fund. While these measures do not report the annual
progress of our research as our annual performance goals do, they serve
as informal markers of the utility of our research results.
Tracking the number and quality of publications and
citations in the peer-reviewed scientific literature of NASA
funded investigations, projects or missions.
The currency of many scientific endeavors is the peer-reviewed
literature. Citation indices make it very easy to track the
publications associated with particular grants or research topics, as
well as particular investigators and how often these are cited by other
publications. Moreover, journal impact factors provide a means of
assessing the quality of the publications in which these papers appear,
and thus provide some insight into the significance of the publications
themselves. While the numbers themselves are not a sole metric for
scientific quality, they do provide a useful tool as part of a broader
assessment strategy.
The use of research results by partner agencies
The employment of NASA research results by other agencies within
the U.S. Government is an indication that the science undertaken has
produced a capability to support other national objectives and is of
direct value to the Nation. This is primarily the case with our Earth
Science investments, and past examples include the use of ocean
altimetry and ocean surface winds in weather forecasts, algorithms for
forest fires detection and associated products now in use by the U.S.
Forest Service, and the continuity of Landsat measurements for use by
the U.S. Geological survey.
Tracking the number and quality of various awards and
recognitions made to NASA sponsored researchers
When the achievements of scientists in the NASA community are
recognized as making profound contributions to the body of knowledge,
such recognition is an indication of the significance and value of the
research supported. These awards can include scientific achievement
(e.g., Nobel prizes, professional society awards), or fellowships to
scientific organizations (such as the National Academies and
professional societies).
The amount of and nature of media coverage of our research
and findings.
While this is not typically a very good measure of science quality,
it is an indication of relevance and interest in the research and
missions being pursued, and is an appropriate element of our value-
assessment portfolio.
Question 3. One of NASA's largest scientific investments is
arguably the International Space Station (ISS). With final assembly now
complete, the program is shifting its focus toward the research
opportunities afforded by the ISS's microgravity environment. The FY
2012 budget request proposes a 70 percent increase in the ISS research
budget to utilize this investment. How are ISS research activities
improving life here on Earth? What is NASA doing to ensure that this
facility is effectively utilized as a National Lab?
Answer. The ISS has transitioned from the construction era to that
of operations and research, with a 6-person permanent crew, 3 major
science labs, an operational lifetime through at least 2020, and a
growing complement of cargo vehicles, including the European Automated
Transfer Vehicle (ATV) and the Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV).
The Station is the largest crewed spacecraft ever assembled,
representing a unique research capability aboard which the United
States and its partner nations can conduct a wide variety of research
in biology, chemistry, physics and engineering fields which will help
us better understand how to keep astronauts healthy and productive on
long-duration space missions.
In addition to conducting research in support of future human
missions into deep space, astronauts aboard the ISS will carry out
experiments anticipated to have terrestrial applications:
ISS research has shown that bacteria can become more
virulent in microgravity (i.e., more aggressive in causing
disease). In several cases, scientists have successfully
identified the genes responsible for this increased virulence
and are now developing vaccine candidates. AstroGenetix, Inc.
has funded its own follow-on studies on ISS and is now
preparing to submit Investigational New Drug applications to
the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of both
salmonella-induced food poisoning and methicillin-resistant
Staph aureus (MRSA).
Microcapsules are tiny micro-balloons used in cancer
treatment to deliver anti-cancer drugs directly to a tumor
site. Microcapsules with improved cancer treatment properties
developed on the ISS were reproduced on Earth and were
successful in targeting delivery of anti-cancer drugs to
successfully shrink tumors in ground tests. A device to produce
similar capsules on Earth has now been patented, and clinical
trials of the drug delivery method are planned at M.D. Anderson
Cancer Center and the Mayo Clinic.
A Japanese scientist crystallized the HQL-79 protein (human
prostaglandin D2 synthase inhibitor protein) on the ISS,
producing an improved structure that identified the location of
critical hydrogen bonds that were not previously known. This
allowed drug design for a candidate treatment to inhibit the
progression of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Continuing work is
examining other proteins and viruses.
Numerous plant growth experiments have investigated both the
effects of microgravity, as well as the capability for growing
regenerable food supplies for crew. Technology developed for a
greenhouse flown on the ISS is now widely used on Earth,
killing 98 percent of airborne pathogens (including Anthrax)
for food preservation, doctors' offices, homes, and businesses.
The ISS will also serve as an incubator for growth of the low-Earth
orbit space economy. NASA is counting on its Commercial Resupply
Services (CRS) suppliers to carry cargo to maintain the Station. It is
hoped that these capabilities, initially developed to serve Station,
may find other customers as well, and encourage the development of
further space capabilities and applications.
Non-NASA research into areas such as biotechnology, bioengineering,
medicine, and therapeutic treatment will be enabled by the National
Laboratory function of the Station. NASA has 5 Memoranda of
Understanding (MODs) with other U.S. Government agencies, and 9
agreements with non-government organizations to conduct research aboard
the ISS. NASA will pay for the transportation and ISS infrastructure
costs (i.e., use of power, thermal control systems, communications,
etc.) associated with National Laboratory research, and provide some
grant funding for experiments conducted by research institutions.
However, experiments sponsored by private firms will be funded by the
National Laboratory partners--not by NASA. On February 14, 2011, NASA
released a Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN) for an independent non-
profit organization to manage the multidisciplinary research carried
out by NASA's National Laboratory partners. This organization will: (1)
act as a single entry point for non-NASA users to interface efficiently
with the ISS; (2) assist researchers in developing experiments, meeting
safety and integration rules, and acting as an ombudsman on behalf of
researchers; (3) perform outreach to researchers and disseminate the
results of ISS research activities; and (4) provide easily accessed
communication materials with details about laboratory facilities,
available research hardware, resource constraints, and more. The Agency
anticipates making a selection in late spring with final award by mid-
summer.
As a tool for expanding knowledge of the world around us; advancing
technology; serving as an impetus for the development of the commercial
space sector; demonstrating the feasibility of a complex, long-term,
international effort; and, perhaps most importantly, inspiring the next
generation to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics, the ISS is without equal.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Kay Bailey Hutchison to
Dr. Waleed Abdalati
Question 1. Could you provide an example of the type of content and
outreach activities you expect to participate in?
Answer. As a scientist and a teacher of science, I have always
valued the opportunities I've had to reach out to students, other
educators, and members of the public. As NASA Chief Scientist, I have
the opportunity to serve as the face of NASA's incredible science
capabilities to a wide range of audiences, and I intend to make full
use of that opportunity. From giant distant galaxies to molecules of
air and water here on Earth, I believe that science plays a critical
role in our Nation's future, and I plan to communicate that as broadly
and effectively as I can through as many channels as possible. It is
for this reason that I have working with me an experienced
communications officer who works directly with our Office of
Communications and is developing a multi-faceted public communications
strategy, which will emphasize the importance of science in the
agency's and the Nation's future.
I plan to partner with the NASA Office of Education on science
projects designed for K-12 STEM students and educators that use the
inspirational nature of our pursuits and discoveries. I plan to speak
at events that reach large numbers of science teachers. In an effort to
target higher education, I also plan to visit universities around the
country where I will reach out directly to undergraduate, graduate and
post-graduate students and faculty through seminars and academic
lectures to encourage them to seek and find opportunities to thrive in
science careers. My office is actively engaged in OSTP's Committee on
STEM Education.
I will reach out directly to members of the American public through
events such as science festivals, lectures at museums and science
centers, television, radio, print media, and social media. I look
forward to taking advantage of NASA's web-based interactive programs
such as science casts and web chats and will encourage participants to
pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math. I have a
long history of public outreach through channels such as these, and I
look forward to using my position as Chief Scientist and the NASA
communication infrastructure to expand the reach of the agency. Through
NASA's Open Government initiatives, I will interact directly with
citizen scientists and encourage them to take an active role in the
Nation's space program and in doing so rediscover its magic and wonder
and practical value.
Question 2. In the America COMPETES Authorization of 2010, NASA was
directed to utilize their unique resources to create and support
professional development for STEM teachers and STEM educators at all
levels. We have had concerns in the past that NASA has not fully
embraced this opportunity and direction. How does NASA plan on
implementing this directive going forward? Could you provide a timeline
and status update on implementing this directive?
Answer. In January 2011, President Barack Obama stated that, ``over
the next 10 years, nearly half of all new jobs will require education
that goes beyond a high school education. And yet, as many as a quarter
of our students aren't even finishing high school. The quality of our
math and science education lags behind many other nations. America has
fallen to ninth in the proportion of young people with a college
degree. And so the question is whether all of us `as citizens and as
parents' are willing to do what's necessary to give every child a
chance to succeed.'' This speech echoes findings and calls-to-action by
numerous committees, reports, professionals in education, and leaders
in American industry. In response, the Department of Education has
identified several strategies to improve science, technology,
engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and ways in which Federal
agencies can contribute to the Nation's STEM improvement efforts. NASA
is a strong contributor to the national plan.
Consistent with Section 202 of the America COMPETES Reauthorization
Act of 2010, NASA works with professional organizations, academia, and
state/local education providers to identify and address needs in STEM
education. Quality professional development for STEM educators is a
prevalent need. Through the education staff at NASA's Centers, NASA
works cooperatively with states and school districts to identify
content needs and opportunities, and with university partners to ensure
that NASA investments will be effective in improving teaching practice.
NASA also works through communities of practice to identify content
areas and special events that supplement informal education programming
offered by museums and science centers. NASA higher education efforts
increasingly target community colleges, which generally serve a high
proportion of minority students. NASA programs build student STEM
ability, preparing students for study at a four- year institution.
Competitive opportunities support initiatives like the President's
``Race to the Top'' and the Department of Education's ``Star Project,''
which promote state-based education reform and identify replicable
strategies for improving K-12 education.
NASA's education programs aim to increase the number of students
who are proficient in, choose to major in, and pursue careers in STEM
fields. Improving STEM ability, increasing public scientific literacy,
increasing the talent pool of future STEM workers, and developing the
STEM skills of the future workforce are imperatives if the Nation is to
remain globally competitive and sustain a strong economy. NASA actively
works through mutually beneficial relationships with over 500 colleges
and universities, hundreds ofK-12 schools and districts, and over 400
museums and science centers to provide education experiences, so that
all students can learn deeply and think critically in STEM disciplines.
NASA supports cutting-edge undergraduate student research that
contributes to NASA missions while training the next generation of
scientists, engineers, and innovators. NASA targets recruitment and
retention of underserved and underrepresented students, including women
and girls, Hispanics, and students with disabilities.
NASA is committed to providing equal access to its education
activities by providing any student with the opportunity to contribute
to the future STEM work force. NASA is responding by focusing its
education investments on areas of greatest national need and ensuring
that the Agency's education programs support national STEM priorities.
With its wealth of science and technology content and its expansive
network of education professionals, NASA is well equipped to address
national needs such as meeting state requirements for educator
professional development. NASA provides practical experience and skills
development for those who will become the future workforce through
internships, fellowships, and student research opportunities. NASA is
especially qualified to attract students to pursue STEM study and
careers. It also is able to engage these future workers through
inspiring NASA missions, fostering collaborative relationships between
students and the current workforce and offering students opportunities
to work in ``out of this world'' facilities. Hands-on challenges with
expert mentors generate increased interest in STEM study.
NASA has engaged students and teachers in its engineering
challenges and scientific discoveries since its inception. From school
presentations to seeds flown in space, from filmstrips and posters to
podcasts and virtual tours though the galaxies, NASA's education
programs have fostered inquiry, built curiosity, and encouraged
innovation. Generations of Americans have participated in NASA's STEM
education programs, and thereby learned basic skills, discovered new
career paths, and developed interests in emerging academic disciplines.
NASA is actively engaged in collaborations with other Federal
agencies to ensure the Agency's programs are supportive of national
STEM priorities. The NASA Associate Administrator for Education
represents the Agency on the National Science and Technology Council
(NSTC) Committee on STEM Education (CoSTEM). It was established
pursuant to the requirements of Sec. 101 of the America COMPETES
Reauthorization Act of 2010. The NASA Office of Chief Scientist is also
participating in the CoSTEM by providing the CoSTEM Executive
Secretary, who works in close coordination with the Office of
Education.
NASA's Earth and space science missions have an essential role in
NASA's education mission. The discoveries and new knowledge from our
missions and research programs consistently engage people's
imaginations, inform teachers, and excite students about science and
exploration. We are committed to utilizing our resources to foster the
broad involvement of the Earth and space science communities in
education and public outreach with the goal of enhancing the Nation's
formal education system and contributing to the broad public
understanding of science, mathematics and technology. NASA's Science
Mission Directorate creates education products using NASA's results in
Earth-Sun system science, solar system research, universe exploration,
and the development of new technologies to support learning. Through a
``Train the Trainer'' model the SMD programs train master teachers, who
reach their peers via in person and online professional development
opportunities that range from one-day to week-long workshops. Another
aspect of teacher professional development includes providing summer
research opportunities for in-service teachers.
In 2010, NASA chartered an Education Design Team (EDT) to develop a
strategy to improve NASA's education offerings, assist in establishing
goals, structures, processes, and evaluative techniques to implement
new sustainable and innovative STEM education programs. EDT has
completed its task, and its recommendations are reflected in the FY
2012 education budget for NASA's Office of Education.
The FY 2012 budget provides NASA with the resources necessary to
continue this rich tradition in STEM education through support for the
Nation's students and educators, the leveraging of cutting-edge
education technologies, and partnerships with industry. The budget
proposal will:
Increase NASA's impact on STEM education by further focusing
K-12 efforts on middle-school pre- and in-service educator
professional development
Increase emphasis on providing experiential opportunities
for students, internships, and scholarships for high school and
undergraduate students;
Increase NASA's role in national and state STEM policy
discussions;
Emphasize evaluation and assessment, including external
independent evaluation, to ensure that investments are
providing desirable STEM impacts;
Engage strategic partners with common objectives and
complementary resources; and
Use NASA's unique missions, discoveries, and assets (e.g.,
people, facilities, education infrastructures) to inspire
student achievement and educator teaching ability in STEM
fields.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Roger F. Wicker to
Dr. Waleed Abdalati
Question 1. I recognize the contributions NSF, NIST, and NASA have
made to society and American innovation, but we are in dire economic
times. Non-defense discretionary outlays grew 5.6 percent over the last
decade. The continued deficits of our Federal Government are not
sustainable and our country's growing debt is a threat to national
security. With our current fiscal condition in mind, can you tell me
how many jobs your budget proposal will create for Americans?
Answer. The number of jobs created depends on many factors and
assumptions making a specific number challenging to defend. However we
have regularly observed that NASA's investments have immediate direct
effects, as well as long term and indirect effects on jobs and economic
growth. NASA's research and development work has been shown to
stimulate new business lines that create future jobs. This is validated
in the National Research Council (NRC) report ``Rising Above the
Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter
Economic Future'' by the Committee on Prospering in the Global Economy
ofThe 21st Century, chaired by Norman R. Augustine. NASA has provided
numerous achievements in the fields of aeronautics, electronics,
computers, aerospace systems, health technology, imaging detectors,
telescopes, and high performance materials, for example. These
technologies for NASA's science and engineering achievements are
transferred into the Nation's economy through industries that apply
them in innovative ways. The NRC reported Research and Development
(R&D)investments, like those that NASA's missions require, have
``social rates of return of from 20-100 percent, with an average of 50
percent.''
In the near-term, NASA will facilitate the growth of the commercial
space industry through its commercial cargo and crew development Space
Act Agreements and with launch vehicle demands from its science and
human exploration missions. These emerging commercial space industries
have the potential to help drive the Nation's economy in the 21st
century. Already, we see growth with Space Exploration Technologies
(SpaceX) which was founded in 2002. Working on NASA and other
contracts, SpaceX has grown from 150 employees in 2005 to over 1,100
employees today. The advances made through aeronautics research will
expand airspace capacity, enable fuel-efficient flight planning, reduce
the overall environmental footprint of aviation, diminish delays on the
ground and in the sky, and improve the ability of aircraft to operate
safely in all weather conditions. NASA will continue architecture
planning for a Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) capable of taking
human explorers to distant locations throughout the inner solar system.
The Space Launch System (SLS) Program will develop the heavy lift
vehicle that will launch the MPCV, other modules, and cargo for these
missions. The ISS is the centerpiece of NASA's planning for extended
space missions, as it serves as a research laboratory and technology
test bed for basic and advanced studies in life sciences, human health,
material sciences, Earth science, and fundamental physics. A new
independent non-profit organization is being established to coordinate
and oversee all of the ISS research and technology efforts and extends
the reach of the ISS as a National Lab to further encourage the
Nation's investments in R&D.
NASA technology investments are of benefit to more than the
Agency's missions and the aerospace industry. As one example, consider
the case of Bloom Energy. In 2000, NASA and the University of Arizona
developed the Mars Oxygen Generator, a two-pound experiment designed to
generate oxygen for life support and fuel production on Mars. The
device used solid oxide electrolysis cells to convert carbon dioxide
and water into oxygen and fuel. When operated in reverse as a fuel
cell, this device has been shown to produce clean, reliable electricity
here on Earth. Development and commercialization of this technology as
a NASA spin-off began with the founding ofBloom Energy in 2001 with a
team of8 people, and now supports a direct and contracted workforce of
around 1,000 people. Largely supported by the private sector, Bloom has
moved their ``Bloom Box'' beyond the early demonstration phase,
generating electricity at prices lower than traditional methods while
producing half the amount of greenhouse gases. They expect to add 1,000
cleantech jobs as they quadruple their manufacturing capacity.
NASA's investments in the Small Business Innovation Research
program helped Dr. John Langford grow Aurora Flight Sciences. Created
in 1989 with two employees in two small rented offices, today, Aurora
is home to over 750 employees. Aurora Flight Sciences has grown to
support a corporate headquarters in Manassas, VA and operates
production plants in Bridgeport, WV and Columbus, MS and a Research and
Development Center in Cambridge, MA. The firm's annual revenues exceed
$75 million. Aurora is a worldwide leader in the design of unmanned air
vehicles (UAV's), robotic aircraft that can fly a variety of missions
from research on the planet Mars to defense reconnaissance. Over the
years, Aurora has been the recipient of numerous Small Business
Innovative Research (SBIR) grants with NASA and Defense Advanced
Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
Question 2. Is the creation of jobs a top priority for funding R&D
at your respective agency?
Answer. The top priority for R&D funding at NASA is creating
capability and providing knowledge. Funding R&D leads not only to
direct employment opportunities, but innovations that create new
products, services and industries, which in turn expands employment,
creating the jobs that make our Nation great and make our Nation
competitive in the world. By fueling the imagination and creativity of
the national spirit, NASA is a major player in developing interest in
science, technology and engineering fields.
As NASA explores space and our planet, it stimulates U.S. economic
growth in numerous ways. NASA's Aeronautics program performs the mid-
and long-term research that provides the technologies that keep the
U.S. aerospace industry competitive in the global marketplace. NASA's
development programs provide demand for workers who are best in the
world at what they do, further supporting the competitiveness of our
aerospace industry. The challenge of living and working in space--
either with people or robots--drives the continual improvement of
technologies, many of which are then applied to the day-to-day life of
the taxpayers through the marketplace. The agency's competitive, peer-
reviewed basic research programs support the education and training of
the aerospace workforce of tomorrow. By providing demand for scientists
and engineering professionals, promoting technology innovation, and
preparing the workforce of the future, NASA strives to enhance the
health, growth, and long-term competitiveness of the Nation.
A further example of the priority NASA places on job creation is in
the Agency's Space Technology Implementation Plan. NASA's plan
emphasizes partnering, small business innovation, and technology
development; all elements that support job creation. NASA also will use
novel approaches to facilitate technology transfer, ensuring its
technologies are infused into commercial applications, to promote the
creation of new jobs and to advance new products and services that will
benefit the Nation and the world. This was an important element of the
2010 NASA Authorization Act and appropriating the President's 2012
budget request will enable the implementation of these space technology
plans.
Question 3. How do you measure the impact Federal R&D funding has
on job creation?
Answer. NASA does not currently collect quantitative data on the
impact of its R&D funding on job creation.
Each year NASA documents 40-50 of the top recent technology
transfer successes in its annual Spinoff publication (http://
spinoff.nasa.gov). More than 1,700 of these top successes have been
published in Spinoff and are documented online and available via a
searchable database at this website. The Agency is also an active
participant in the Federal Laboratory Consortium, a national
organization chartered by Congress to foster technology transfer from
Federal laboratories to the private sector. NASA technology transfer
activities are reported annually through an FLC collected report.
There are many organizations, both within the U.S. and
internationally that are working to improve measurement of R&D funding
on job creation. For example, the Organization for Economic Co-
operations and Development (OECD) has defined several metrics related
to science and technology impacts. Some examples are Gross Domestic
Expenditure on R&D (GERD), GERD as a percentage of GDP, Total
researchers, Government researchers, Business Enterprise researchers,
total R&D personnel, and many others. (see the following link: http://
www.oecd.org/dataoecd/30/35/34250656.pdf).