10 



ent in their focus on the need to insure the highest possible quality of undergradu- 

 ate instruction in our nation's universities and colleges. 



As I mentioned earlier, the education and training program function accounts for 

 approximately 20 percent of our overall budget and will total $657 million, an in- 

 crease of 5.3 percent over FY 1996. Many activities, such as Research Experiences 

 for Undergraduates, Research in Undergraduate Institutions, and the Faculty Early 

 Career Development program cut across our research and education functions. One 

 could argue that all NSF programs have an education and training component, since 

 they develop participants' knowledge and skills. Likewise, there are many cross-cut- 

 ting interdisciplinary activities such as earthquake research, biotechnology, civil in- 

 frastructure systems, environment and global change, high performance computing 

 and communication, manufacturing, and materials. These interdisciplinary activities 

 interact with one another and also contain a coordinated, focused educational com- 

 ponent. 



A third principle guiding our budget planning is working in partnerships. Our in- 

 vestments directly involve 200,000 researchers, teachers, and students, and over 

 2,000 colleges, universities and research institutions, including almost 600 busi- 

 nesses. Indirectly, our programs affect literally millions of people, but this larger im- 

 pact would not be possible without partnerships. In forming partnerships, we bring 

 together the best minds in our society, sharing ideas and resources in order to im- 

 prove research and education. It is particularly important that NSF build on its role 

 as a catalyst, linking elements of society that share an interest in improving edu- 

 cation, maintaining scientific and engineering leadership, and using scientific and 

 engineering knowledge to our common benefit. 



As one measure of the impact of our partnerships, last year NSF leveraged $1.4 

 billion from partners, including over $250 million from industry in support of re- 

 search programs in which NSF was involved. Other major partners in these activi- 

 ties are academic institutions, states, and other federal agencies. For example, our 

 Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI) program, which 

 provides opportunities for a variety of industry-university linkages is slated to in- 

 crease by over 40%, to $18 million. 



To conclude, we have structured this budget request to allow us to sustain the 

 momentum in science and engineering that we built over the past half century. As 

 a result of our successes we are on the threshold, or perhaps in the midst, of a truly 

 revolutionary era of discovery — ranging from the origins of the universe to the dis- 

 covery of a new state of matter to manufacturing microscopic machines. We have 

 at our fingertips today an array of experimental instruments, computers, and infor- 

 mation networks that enable us to design and carry out research that would have 

 been impossible just a few years ago. Over the next decade, the potential for rapidly 

 increasing our understanding of both the natural world and that shaped by hu- 

 mans — and applying new knowledge and technologies resulting from research — is 

 staggering. 



We are in a "golden age" of scientific discovery where frequent breakthroughs are 

 occurring in virtually every field, from astronomy to materials science to genetics 

 to elementary particle physics. Moreover, the research often moves so seamlessly 

 into applications that we sometimes fail to notice the transition. NSF supports re- 

 search in optical and electromechanical systems that has potential applications in 

 areas as varied as sensors that detect wear and tear in bridges and roadways, medi- 

 cal devices that allow doctors to conduct surgery without leaving visible scars, and 

 new techniques for manufacturing integrated circuits. 



The fact that cutting edge technologies like these are being developed at U.S. uni- 

 versities and laboratories is no accident. Our national capacity for education and re- 

 search at the very frontiers of science remains the envy of the world. It forms the 

 heart of a science and technology enterprise that keeps the U.S. competitive in the 

 global economy. 



Mr. Chairman, we appreciate this opportunity to present this discussion of our FY 

 1997 budget request and the rationale behind these proposals. We would be pleased 

 to respond to any questions that you might have. 



Thank you. 



