Congressional support for increased funding for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science continues to grow. On April 11, the House approved its comprehensive energy package which includes a Science Committee bill authorizing annual boosts of between 9.7 percent and 15 percent for the Office of Science in the next four years. This culminated a major push by the physical science and engineering community in support of the underlying Office of Science legislation originally sponsored by Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL) and enthusiastically supported by the entire Science Committee. Ironically, however, Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) and several other key supporters ended up voting against the omnibus energy bill because of its inclusion of controversial provisions including allowing drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

In the Senate, meanwhile, the Energy Committee completed about half the provisions in its own version of a comprehensive bill before adjourning for the two-week Easter recess. Office of Science issues will be taken up when the Committee reconvenes the last week in April, and authorization amounts are expected to be "robust" in the words of a key Committee staffer. Meanwhile, Senators John Warner (R-VA) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) spearheaded a 39-Senator letter to Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) and Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) declaring bipartisan support for the Office of Science. The letter points out that despite the importance of the research conducted under the Office of Science, its budget has remained flat in real dollars for over a decade. "We urge you, during the upcoming budget resolution and appropriations process, to increase funding for the Office of Science by ten percent over the request level," the letter concludes. "This bold yet necessary step will strengthen our nation’s scientific capabilities and the role that the physical sciences play in our energy security and economic growth."

NSF – LAWMAKERS URGE APPROPRIATIONS TO FOLLOW DOUBLING PRESCRIPTION

One of the messages carried by participants in this year’s Science-Engineering-Technology Congressional Visits Day was to make appropriations for the National Science Foundation meet the goals set forth in the NSF "doubling" bill passed last year and signed by President Bush. The President’s proposed budget calls for only a 3.2 percent increase in FY2004 over the actual levels in FY2003 – far short of the $6.39 billion called for in the authorization law. The issue is gaining visibility on both sides of Capital Hill.

In the Senate, Administration witnesses were roundly chastised at hearings by Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Christopher Bond (R-MO) and ranking minority member Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), both of whom called the President’s request "paltry" and "disappointing." In the House, a letter is being circulated for bipartisan signatures calling on Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman James Walsh (R-NY) and ranking minority member Alan Mollohan (D-WV) to provide for the $6.39 billion in FY2004. The letter points out the importance of investing now in research for the future, and in expanding NSF’s education programs to support development of a 21^st century workforce. Congressmen Walsh and Mollohan have been leaders in the effort to pass the NSF authorization and to back it up with appropriations. The letter’s authors – Reps. Vern Ehlers (R-MI), Nick Smith (R-MI), Ralph Hall (D-TX), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Rush Holt (D-NJ) – hope to gather a large number of signatures from both parties to bolster Reps. Walsh and Mollohan.

The National Science Foundation has released a report, "Graduate Enrollment Increases in Science and Engineering Fields" (www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/infbrief/nsf03315/start.html) which show a 4 percent overall increase in the number of graduate students enrolled in S&E programs in 2001 over 2000. The greatest gain in science fields was in computer sciences, and biomedical engineering led in engineering fields with an 11 percent increase, followed by an 8 percent increase in metallurgical/materials engineering. The report notes that an increase of students with temporary visas accounted for much of the recent increase in graduate science and engineering enrollment.

The National Science Foundation has requested proposals for two materials programs, with proposals due this summer.

"Cooperative Activities in Materials Research between the National Science Foundation and the European Commission" (www.nsf.gov/pubs/2003/nsf03564)

is a continuation of the cooperative activities in materials research between NSF and the European Commission (EC) initiated in 2000. NSF will accept proposals from U.S. organizations to support the U.S. side of innovative collaborative research with scientists from the countries of the European Union and affiliated countries. Proposals also are solicited for the development of electronic networking among European and U.S. materials research centers to facilitate cooperation and interaction among materials researchers in the U.S. and the European Union. The budget may include equipment, operating costs and coordination costs for the network. The proposal deadline is July 18, 2003.

"Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials (PREM)" can be found at www.nsf.gov/pubs/2003/nsf03565/nsf03564.pdf. It is intended to enhance the quantity and quality of materials research opportunities for students and faculty members at participating minority-serving institutions. The activity will produce models for developing long-term materials education and research relationships between minority-serving institutions and MRSECs and other groups, centers and facilities supported by NSF’s Division of Materials Research. The proposal deadline is August 15, 2003.