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NSF PR 99-46 (NSB 99-140) - July 30, 1999

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National Science Board Calls for Significant New Investment in Research on the Environment

Basic environmental research is essential to the nation's wellbeing and economic growth, according to a report released today by the National Science Board (NSB), the policy-making body of the National Science Foundation (NSF). The interim report, Environmental Science and Engineering for the 21st Century: The Role of the National Science Foundation, discusses the need for the U.S. to make a significant new investment in the basic science and engineering discovery necessary to understanding the environment. It maintains that NSF is uniquely positioned to provide leadership in basic environmental research in the future.

"Discoveries over the past decade or more have revealed new linkages between the environment and human health, our nation's prosperity and the well-being of our citizens," says Eamon Kelly, chair of the NSB. "But just as we are beginning to better understand these linkages, the rate and scale of modifications to the environment are increasing. These alterations will present formidable challenges in the new century -- challenges which we are now only minimally equipped to meet."

The report states, "Within the broad portfolio of science and engineering for the new century, the environment is emerging as a vigorous, essential and central focus."

The report has been produced by the NSB Task Force on the Environment, established in August, 1998, to help NSF to define the scope of its role regarding environmental research, education and scientific assessment, and to determine the best means of implementing activities in this area. The Task Force, chaired by Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., was charged with reviewing the scope of current NSF activities related to basic research, education and scientific assessment on the environment. It was also tasked with developing policy guidance for NSF that will be used to design activities consistent with the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) strategy, the goals of the NSF Strategic Plan, and the activities of other agencies and organizations.

Recommendations of the report include:

• Basic environmental research, education, and scientific assessment should be one of the highest priorities of the National Science Foundation. Therefore, an increase of $1 billion for environmental research in the Foundation's budget over the next five years is recommended.
  
  
• NSF will make its environmental activities more visible, better integrated, more cohesive and more sustained.
  
  
• Interdisciplinary research requires significantly greater investment and more effective support mechanisms, and basic environmental research within all relevant disciplines should be enhanced.
  
  
• NSF should actively promote partnerships that include both domestic and international collaborations.
  
  
• The National Science and Technology Council should examine how priorities in the environment are established and coordinated and the merit of designating a lead agency in environmental research.
  
  
• NSF should enhance its formal environmental education efforts while supporting significantly more such efforts through informal educational vehicles.
  
  
• High priority should be given to enhancing infrastructure for innovative environmental information networking capacity.
  
  
• NSF should take the lead in enabling a coordinated, digital, environmental information network.

The National Science Board serves as the governing board of the National Science Foundation and provides advice to the President and the Congress on matters of national science and engineering policy.

See also: Statement by NSF Director Rita R. Cowlell

 
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