On May 7, the House overwhelmingly passed the first major legislation codifying the Federal investment in nanotechnology. The bill, passed by a vote of 405-19, would authorize $2.4 billion over the next three years for federally funded research into nanotechnology, which is the Administration’s highest science and technology priority in the fiscal year 2004 budget. The funds would go to projects sponsored by the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, the Department of Commerce, NASA, and the Environmental Protection Agency. The bill provides a formal structure for coordination of research across the agencies, emphasizes interdisciplinary research, addresses societal concerns raised by nanotechnology, requires outside reviews of the program, promotes efforts to commercialize nanotechnology applications, and provides incentives for U.S. citizens and legal residents to pursue degrees in science and engineering. As bill sponsor Mike Honda (D-CA) said, "Nanotechnology has the potential to become a $1 trillion global market in a little over 10 years and as such, countries around the world are in a race to develop their nanotechnology industries. It is imperative that in this race, the U.S. must be first across the finish line."

A similar bill, S.189, sponsored by Senators George Allen (R-VA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), is pending in the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, where Committee Chairman John McCain (R-AZ) has given it a high priority.

SCIENCE FARING WELL IN DOE LEGISLATION

While the fate of omnibus energy legislation is still very much up in the air because of controversy over fuel economy, Alaska oil drilling and other issues, both the House and Senate bills include fairly generous authorizations for the Office of Science.

The bill passed last month in the House includes a Science Committee bill authorizing annual boosts of between 9.7 percent and 16 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).

In the Senate, the bill reported out by the Senate Energy Committee and on the Senate floor as this report was written would increase the authorization level for the Office of Science to $5.4 billion in FY2008 from the current budget of $3.3 billion. It also would create a new Under Secretary for Energy and Science, with the Director of the Office of Science elevated to Assistant Secretary for Science.

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.

NSF MATERIALS RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PROPOSALS

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.