The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent agency of the United States (US) government with the mandate to support basic research and the education of the next generation of physical scientists and engineers.

NSF is recognized as an agency that has a high standard in its merit review process, which is viewed by many as fair and transparent but also very competitive and transparent. This paper focuses on how proposals for research are elicited from the broader community, reviewed, and funded using this merit review process.

In addition, the Foundation supports a number of activities to promote diversification and fortification of the scientific population.

A number of different programs that support efforts that address issues of under representation of women and minorities in the higher levels of academia as well as programs focused on the promotion of the careers of the young generation of scientists are also described.

DOWNLOAD THE PAPER:
"The National Science Foundation:
The Merit Review System and its Role in Supporting
Basic Science Research in the United States"

Sonia Esperanca, Ph. D - Program Director, Division of Earth Sciences, NSF

Sonia Esperança received her B.A. in Geology from Rice University in 1976 and her Ph.D. from Arizona State University in 1984 and has held several academic appointments in the US and Australia. She has worked for the National Science Foundation since 1997, where she is responsible for the Petrology and Geochemistry program of the Division of Earth Sciences.