NSF Forward

Help shape the future of the National Science Foundation.
Share your vision for NSF
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Since its founding more than 75 years ago, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has served as a bedrock of American discovery and innovation. As the scientific landscape evolves, the agency faces increasing challenges that raise important questions about how NSF can best support the nation's research enterprise for decades to come.

To help answer those questions, the American Physical Society (APS), in collaboration with strategic partners, launched NSF Forward — an initiative to develop bold, actionable recommendations that will help position the NSF to meet the evolving needs of the nation, its citizens, and science.

As part of this effort, APS invites members of the U.S. scientific enterprise to share visionary ideas for strengthening the NSF. We seek input from researchers, educators, students, administrators, industry and policy professionals, and others across our scientific ecosystem to inform actionable policy proposals for consideration by the 120th Congress.

Whether your recommendations focus on improving existing programs or reimagining how the NSF supports research and innovation, your perspective is an important part of shaping the future of the agency.

Your ideas can help inform recommendations that strengthen the National Science Foundation for the next generation of scientific discovery. The community input form will be open until Sept. 21, 2026.

Submit your recommendations

Contact

For questions regarding the project, please contact the APS NSF Forward team.

Thank you to our professional society partners

APS is grateful to the following organizations for joining with us in this effort:

NSF Forward resources

Find additional information about NSF Forward and read a message from APS leadership about this important initiative.

View all APS leadership letters

Discover our ambitious goals to share visionary ideas for NSF, meet our leaders, learn about how your responses will be used, and more.

The National Science Foundation’s role is under threat. 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.

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