Two questions about the future of NSF

For more than 75 years, the National Science Foundation has underwritten American discovery. But today, that role is under threat. The model that worked for so long is being challenged as never before.

What’s the best path forward for NSF? What needs to change, and what needs to stay the same? We’re sure that you, as members of the scientific community, have ideas we should hear.

That’s why NSF Forward, an APS-led effort, launches today. The goal is ambitious: to gather ideas not just from physics, but from across the entire R&D ecosystem, and shape them into policy recommendations and draft legislative language we can put in front of the 120th Congress starting in January 2027.

We know that conversations are already happening across the country. How can we ensure the most promising research is funded? Create funding mechanisms that reward high-risk, high-potential work? Reduce the administrative burden on universities and researchers? Support career paths that bring people into science? Now, we want to hear your ideas.

We're asking everyone two questions:

• What does NSF do well that you would like to ensure is maintained?
• What should NSF stop doing, change or do differently, or start doing?

A multidisciplinary task force chaired by Gerald (Jerry) Blazey, former vice president for research and innovation partnerships at Northern Illinois University and former assistant director at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, will consider the crowdsourced community input alongside commissioned white papers and craft the final recommendations.

The task force needs time to consider all comments as they develop their recommendations before the new Congress convenes, so we need your responses by Monday, September 14.

That's a short window, and success depends on hearing from you, across disciplines, roles, and career stages. Your colleagues may not see this letter, so please pass it along.

The next 75 years of this agency will be shaped by many hands. Make yours one of them.

With gratitude,