Editing National Science Foundation (section)

==Scope and organization==
[[File:NSF building.jpg|thumb|National Science Foundation's former headquarters in [[Arlington County, Virginia]]; in 2017, the foundation relocated to [[Alexandria, Virginia]]]]
The NSF is broadly organized into four offices, seven directorates, and the [[National Science Board]].<ref name=":18">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nsf.gov/staff/orglist.jsp|title=NSF Organization List {{!}} NSF – National Science Foundation|website=www.nsf.gov|language=en|access-date=May 4, 2018}}</ref> It employs about 2,100 people in permanent, temporary and contractual positions at its headquarters in [[Alexandria, Virginia]]. Prior to 2017, its headquarters were located in [[Arlington County, Virginia|Arlington, Virginia]].<ref name=":19">{{cite web| url = https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2017/08/24/national-science-foundation-relocating-to-its-new.html| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170828214010/https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2017/08/24/national-science-foundation-relocating-to-its-new.html| archive-date = 2017-08-28| title = National Science Foundation prepares to move to its new Alexandria home developed by USAA and Lowe Enterprises – Washington Business Journal}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Sernovitz|first1=Daniel J.|title=National Science Foundation is relocating to its new Alexandria HQ. We take you inside.|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2017/08/24/national-science-foundation-relocating-to-its-new.html|website=Washington Business Journal|access-date=13 May 2018|date=August 24, 2017}}</ref>

In addition to around 1,400 permanent employees and the staffs of the NSB office and the [[Office of Inspector General (United States)|Office of the Inspector General]], NSF's  workforce includes some 200 scientists on temporary duty and 450 contract workers.<ref name=":20">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nsf.gov/about/who.jsp|title=About NSF – National Science Foundation|website=www.nsf.gov|language=en|access-date=May 4, 2018}}</ref> Scientists from research institutions can join the NSF as temporary program directors, called "rotators", overseeing the merit review process and searching for new funding opportunities. These assignments typically last one–two years, but may extend to four.<ref name=":21">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nsf.gov/careers/rotator/|title=Temporary/Rotator Programs {{!}} NSF – National Science Foundation|website=www.nsf.gov|language=en|access-date=May 4, 2018}}</ref> The NSF also offers contracting opportunities. As of May 2018, the NSF has 53 existing contracts.<ref name=":22">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nsf.gov/about/contracting/nsf_fy18_existing_contracts.pdf|title=Existing Contracts – FY 2018|access-date=May 4, 2018|archive-date=May 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508185157/https://www.nsf.gov/about/contracting/nsf_fy18_existing_contracts.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Offices ===
* Office of the Director
* Office of the Inspector General
* Office of Budget, Finance, and Award Management
* Office of Information & Resource Management
* Office of the Chief Information Officer

The NSF also supports research through several offices within the Office of the Director, including the Office of Integrative Activities,<ref name=":4">{{cite web|url=https://www.nsf.gov/od/oia/index.jsp|title=Office of Integrative Activities (OIA) – NSF – National Science Foundation|website=www.nsf.gov|access-date=April 4, 2018|archive-date=July 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719115421/https://www.nsf.gov/od/oia/index.jsp|url-status=dead}}</ref> and Office of International Science and Engineering.<ref name=":5">{{cite web|url=https://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?org=OISE|title=Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE) – NSF – National Science Foundation|website=www.nsf.gov}}</ref>

===Research directorates===
The NSF organizes its research and education support through eight directorates, each encompassing several disciplines:
* '''Biological Sciences''' (molecular, cellular, and organismal [[biology]], [[environmental science]])<ref>[https://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=BIO NSF Biological Sciences]"</ref>
* '''Computer and Information Science and Engineering''' (theoretical [[computer science]], fundamental hardware and software, systems and networking, and [[artificial intelligence]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=CISE|title=Directorate for Computer & Information Science & Engineering (CISE) – NSF – National Science Foundation|website=www.nsf.gov|date=February 26, 2024 }}</ref>
* '''Engineering''' (bioengineering, environmental systems, civil and mechanical systems, chemical and transport systems, electrical and communications systems, and design and manufacturing)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=ENG|title=Directorate for Engineering (ENG) – NSF – National Science Foundation|website=www.nsf.gov|date=March 28, 2025 }}</ref>
* '''Geosciences''' (geological, atmospheric and ocean sciences)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=GEO|title=Directorate for Geosciences (GEO) – NSF – National Science Foundation|website=www.nsf.gov|date=April 16, 2025 }}</ref>
* '''Mathematical and Physical Sciences''' ([[mathematics]], [[astronomy]], [[physics]], [[chemistry]] and [[materials science]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=MPS|title=Directorate for Mathematical & Physical Sciences (MPS) – NSF – National Science Foundation|website=www.nsf.gov|date=April 16, 2025 }}</ref>
* '''Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences''' ([[neuroscience]], [[management]], [[psychology]], [[sociology]], [[anthropology]], [[linguistics]], [[science of science policy]] and [[economic science|economics]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=SBE|title=Directorate for Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences (SBE) – NSF – National Science Foundation|website=www.nsf.gov|date=January 17, 2025 }}</ref>
* '''STEM Education and Human Resources''' ([[science education|science]], [[technology education|technology]], [[engineering education|engineering]] and [[mathematics education]] at every level)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=EHR|title=Directorate for Education & Human Resources (EHR) |website=NSF  }}</ref>
An eighth directorate, the Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP), was created in 2022 to accelerate the transition of basic research into real world impact.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Latest |url=https://beta.nsf.gov/tip/latest |access-date=2022-05-02 |website=Beta site for NSF |language=en}}</ref> It has a primary goal of the support of use-inspired research and the translation of research results to the market and society.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

===Overseas sites===
Prior to October 2018, NSF maintained three overseas offices to promote collaboration between the science and engineering communities of the United States and other continents' scientific communities:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nsf.gov/od/oise/overseas.jsp|title=NSF Overseas Offices |website=NSF |access-date=April 4, 2018|archive-date=April 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405030809/https://www.nsf.gov/od/oise/overseas.jsp|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Belgium}} [[Brussels]] for Europe, formerly based in [[Paris]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nsf.gov/od/oise/europe/|title=NSF Europe Regional Office |website=NSF |access-date=April 4, 2018|archive-date=April 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405024528/https://www.nsf.gov/od/oise/europe/|url-status=dead}}</ref> (established 1984; relocated to Brussels in 2015)
* {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Tokyo]] for East Asia, except China<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nsf.gov/od/oise/tokyo/|title=NSF Tokyo Regional Office |website=NSF |access-date=April 4, 2018|archive-date=March 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180314165230/https://www.nsf.gov/od/oise/tokyo/|url-status=dead}}</ref> (established 1960)
* {{flagicon|China}} [[Beijing]] for [[China]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nsf.gov/od/oise/beijing/|title=NSF Beijing Office |website=NSF |access-date=October 22, 2015|archive-date=October 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002074313/https://www.nsf.gov/od/oise/beijing/|url-status=dead}}</ref> (established 2006)

All three overseas offices were shut down in October 2018, to reflect the agency's move to a more nimble international posture. Rather than maintain dedicated offices, NSF will dispatch small teams to specific international institutions. Teams may work for up to a week on-site to evaluate research and explore collaborations with the institution.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.science.org/content/article/national-science-foundation-close-its-overseas-offices|title=National Science Foundation to close its overseas offices|last1=Normile|first1=Dennis|last2=Stone|first2=Richard|date=2018-02-26|website=Science {{!}} AAAS|language=en|access-date=2019-04-01}}</ref>

===Crosscutting programs===
In addition to the research it funds in specific disciplines, the NSF has launched a number of projects that coordinate the efforts of experts in many disciplines, which often involve collaborations with other U.S. federal agencies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_list.jsp?type=xcut|title=Crosscutting and NSF-wide Active Funding Opportunities – NSF – National Science Foundation|website=www.nsf.gov}}</ref> Examples include initiatives in:
* [[Nanotechnology]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/nano/|title=National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) – NSF Activities, Solicitations and Their Outcomes – NSF – National Science Foundation|website=www.nsf.gov|date=April 14, 2025 }}</ref>
* The science of learning<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5567&from=fund|title=Science of Learning – NSF – National Science Foundation|website=www.nsf.gov|date=September 12, 2016 }}</ref>
* [[Digital library|Digital libraries]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/cyber/digitallibraries.jsp|title=Cyberinfrastructure: Digital Libraries-Access to Human Knowledge – NSF – National Science Foundation|website=www.nsf.gov|access-date=April 4, 2018|archive-date=February 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207233414/https://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/cyber/digitallibraries.jsp|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* The ecology of [[infectious diseases]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5269&from=fund|title=Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases – NSF – National Science Foundation|website=www.nsf.gov|date=August 18, 2023 }}</ref>

===National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics===
NSF's [[National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics]] (NCSES) gathers data from surveys and partnerships with other agencies to offer official data on the American science and engineering workforce, graduates of advanced U.S. science and engineering programs, and R&D expenditures by U.S. industry.<ref>[https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/ NCSES home page] at nsf.gov</ref>  NCSES is one of the [[Federal Statistical System of the United States|principal U.S. statistical agencies]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2018}} It is a part of the NSF's Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences Directorate (SBE).<ref name=":40">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/about-ncses.cfm#core|title=nsf.gov – About – NCSES – US National Science Foundation (NSF)|website=www.nsf.gov|language=en|access-date=May 4, 2018}}</ref>