Press Statement - July 30, 1999

PS 99-14
Media contacts:	Cheryl Dybas	(703) 292-8070	cdybas@nsf.gov or
	Peter West	(703) 292-8070	pwest@nsf.gov

Statement by Dr. Rita R. Colwell
Director
National Science Foundation

On Release of NSB Interim Report, "Environmental Science and Engineering for the 21st Century: The Role of the National Science Foundation"

The National Science Board (NSB) today released an interim report on Environmental Science and Engineering for the 21st Century: The Role of the National Science Foundation. NSF welcomes this report, which highlights the critical importance of basic research on the environment to the nation's well-being and economic growth. The report reflects many months of hard work by the NSB Task Force on the Environment, including obtaining input on environmental science and engineering in general, and the activities of NSF in particular. It looks at where we are, and where we should be going in the next century, and makes recommendations on the NSF role in fundamental environmental research and education.

Meeting the environment challenges of the new century will require significant scientific and technological advances, as well as rapid communication of these advances to all sectors of society. While the report may be modified after a period of public comment, NSF intends to begin considering how best to accomplish its recommendations in the context of the broad range of Federal activities in this area which are coordinated by the National Science and Technology Council.

See also: press release.