NSF PR 96-1 - January 5, 1996
Government Shutdown Impact on Science Grows More Serious
As the second government shutdown continues toward
a fourth week, the impact on the nation's scientific
research is becoming apparent. About $100 - 120 million
in research grants by the National Science Foundation
(NSF) have gone unmade since the shutdown began December
15, delaying the support of some 2,000 people to carry
out research and education activities. This figure
grows by about $10-12 million daily.
During the shutdown, the National Science Foundation
(an independent federal agency charged with maintaining
the health of all non-medical fields of science and
science education) cannot process research grants
or other awards to the more than 2,000 institutions
it regularly supports. "The situation is beyond frustrating,
" said NSF Director Neal Lane. "It is now endangering
the nation's science research and education base,
and many of the advances the nation has come to take
for granted will be in peril soon if this budget impasse
isn't resolved.
NSF's annual budget is about $3.2 billion annually.
All but four percent is used for research and education
awards made through competitive merit review. On an
average day, NSF normally receives about 240 proposals
for science and engineering research and education,
and makes about 80 awards. Each day the shutdown continues
represents lost or delayed support to some 200 people
(scientists, engineers, students and teachers).
Dozens of proposal review panels, meetings, and workshops
have already been cancelled or are threatened. Continuing
grants that have expired (such as the second or third
year of three-year grants) are not being paid; 156
such grants expired on December 31, and another 266
will expire on January 31. Major research institutions
funded by NSF, such as astronomy observatories and
science and technology centers, are facing payroll
problems and deferral of their own contracts.
All of NSF's six research directorates -- as well
as the science education directorate, the science
and technology centers program, the Antarctic research
program and various interdisciplinary and interagency
programs -- have been affected by the shutdown.
Specific examples include:
The San Diego Supercomputer Center is unable to meet
lease payments with computer vendors and is suffering
a $23,000 penalty every 15 days for failure to meet
its contractual obligations.
The Antarctic research program has just enough funding
to finish out the current summer seasons, but the
funding hiatus jeopardizes next year's summer research
season. The two Anarctic research vessels may be forced
to cease operating, which would forego the upcoming
winter research cruises and postpone vital ocean sciences
research activities.
The National Radio Astronomy Observatories (NRAO)
in New Mexico, West Virginia and Arizona are seeking
ways to carry over funding from other sources in order
to continue operations. The National Optical Astronomy
Observatories in Arizona and New Mexico face possible
layoffs unless contract deferrals are arranged.
A new research program in optical science and engineering
is jeopardized by the cancellation of a major review
panel involving at least 100 people to review more
than 600 proposals.
Technical support to state, urban and rural education
reform projects funded by NSF has been suspended,
which may adversely impact these multi-million-dollar
efforts.
A critical review panel for ocean sciences, scheduled
to review proposals for a series of cruises later
this year, has been postponed.
The release of the much-anticipated biennial report,
Science Indicators, has been delayed.
Some 20 cooperative agreements with other institutions
have expired and will be without awarded funding,
and interagency projects are slowing or coming to
a standstill.
The impact of the NSF shutdown also goes beyond U.S.
borders; for example, NSF is planning to postpone
an Executive Council meeting of the Inter-American
Institute for Global Change Research (scheduled next
week), which is hosted by NSF and involves the 16
major countries of the Americas.
"Researchers funded by NSF will have to find other
funds to maintain their science projects, or close
them down," said Lane. "The quality operations for
which NSF is frequently praised are in danger of being
compromised; and, if the shutdown continues, we may
have to prioritize activities for the rest of this
fiscal year. In this already tough budget environment,
such a prospect is very disheartening. I am anxious
for a resolution to the budget impasse, so that we
can return to the business of ensuring a healthy and
productive future for coming generations."
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