Established by the U.S. Congress through the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 “to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; and to secure the national defense,” NSF finds itself at the epicenter of unprecedented competition and demands as to how to carry out its mission. Attending to the realities of changing domestic demographics, globalization and national security while protecting traditional as well as emerging research grant recipients is a challenge — even for an agency with a $5 billion annual budget.
Dr. Rita R. Colwell, who became the 11th director of the National Science Foundation in 1998, recently spoke with Black Issues’ Editor in Chief Frank Matthews about these matters as well as about building a diverse work force, the grant-making process and the challenges facing minority-serving
institutions and community colleges.
BI: What is the biggest misconception about the National Science Foundation (NSF) and what it does?
