National Science Foundation (NSF)

This week, NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan led transformative discussions and visits, strengthening global partnerships and propelling innovation to new heights. On Tuesday, Panchanathan hosted the chairman of Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), Png Cheong Boon, and delegates at NSF headquarters. The group discussed collaborative research opportunities, leveraging talent from both nations and strengthening NSF's global partnerships. Later in the week, the director traveled to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to visit Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). During his visit, he had the opportunity to witness firsthand the groundbreaking research being conducted at CMU, including a tour of the NSF Engineering Resource Center for Human Augmentation via Dexterity. This NSF-supported initiative aims to revolutionize the ability of robots to augment human labor and foster workforce development in artificial intelligence and robotics. The director also participated in the CMU President's Lecture Series, underscoring the significance of investing in collaborative efforts with universities like CMU to accelerate the frontiers of science and technology. Following the lecture, Panchanathan engaged in a fireside chat with CMU President Farnam Jahanian, where they explored NSF's crucial role in advancing AI research. He emphasized the contributions of the NSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, along with the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource Pilot, in fostering an inclusive innovation ecosystem. NSF continually works to strengthen partnerships and scale established programs to introduce new initiatives, ensuring that talent is energized worldwide. 📷: Charlotte Geary/ NSF 📷: Rebecca Devereaux/ Carnegie Mellon University

The U.S. National Science Foundation, through its Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (NSF TIP), announced a partnership with the German Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation (SPRIND) to accelerate breakthrough innovations in key technology areas. 🎉 NSF TIP and SPRIND leaders recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in Leipzig, Germany. The MOU unlocks possibilities for the partnership to accelerate timelines for selecting and conducting translational research on an international scale. NSF and SPRIND jointly plan to bring the U.S. and European innovation ecosystems closer to enable unconventional approaches to solving substantial societal problems. This collaboration adds an important new dimension to NSF's longstanding relationship with Germany while exemplifying TIP’s role in strengthening NSF's mission to advance research and workforce development. To learn more, visit https://bit.ly/3No1HWb. 📷: Bridget Turaga, NSF TIP

Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs) are playing an essential role in advancing STEM education, despite representing a smaller portion of the higher education landscape. With support from NSF, HSIs are leveraging state-of-the-art technology — such as virtual reality labs, artificial intelligence programs, and advanced manufacturing systems — to equip students with the skills and experiences they need to thrive in today's fast-evolving STEM fields. Through NSF-funded initiatives, institutions like the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico and New Mexico State University are driving innovation by integrating cutting-edge tools directly into the classroom. These resources are not only enhancing technical training but also broadening participation in STEM, offering students from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to engage in hands-on research, improve their learning outcomes, and prepare for impactful careers. By investing in infrastructure and education at HSIs, NSF is fostering a more inclusive and capable STEM workforce. These programs are critical to addressing both current and future challenges in science and engineering, ensuring that the next generation of STEM professionals reflects the diverse population they serve. https://bit.ly/3U6EoDU #HSIs #NSFfunded #STEMEducation #DiversityInSTEM #InclusionInEducation 📸 Alok Arun, Inter American University of Puerto Rico Barranquitas Campus

Science fiction turns into reality as digital twins — a virtual model interacting with a physical system — begin to deliver real-world benefits. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released a report co-funded by NSF and other federal agencies titled “Foundational Research Gaps and Future Directions for Digital Twins.” Digital twins have two parts: a virtual representation and a physical counterpart. The virtual side uses math to predict what the physical side will do. The physical side relies on sensors and stuff to give real-time data to the virtual side. Then, the virtual side uses this data to change the system for the best result. Take, for example, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution's #NSFfunded project that will create Digital Reefs, a program that uses digital twins to model how changing climate will impact reefs worldwide. The program combines ocean floor topography maps, surface landmarks from Google, and coral, algae, and plant life from Allen Coral Atlas into a single visual map accessible on any device. https://bit.ly/4824Hkq Read the story and full report: https://bit.ly/4dEijDH

NSF congratulates David Baker, Demis Hassabis and John Jumper on being awarded the 2024 #NobelPrize in chemistry. Baker and his colleagues have revolutionized protein design, creating new structures that have potential in medicine and other applications. NSF is immensely proud of having supported Baker's work over decades and the infrastructure investments that led to these advances. https://bit.ly/3TYFB0b

Tech startup Set Point Solutions (SPS) is working to safeguard military personnel, first responders and outdoor enthusiasts by extending the range of on-hand wireless communication devices to remote environments. 📶 They are developing a device that establishes reliable communications in remote locations or emergencies across greater distances without a signal. Based in Guam, SPS became the island's first NSF Small Business Innovation Research award recipient. To learn more, visit https://bit.ly/3NjoD8R. #NSFSBIR #wirelesscommunication 📷: Set Point Solutions

NSF congratulates John J. Hopfield and Geoffrey E. Hinton for their #NobelPrize in physics. Their research and innovations helped make possible "machines that learn" — artificial neural networks with the ability to store and reconstruct information and independently recognize patterns within data. NSF supported their pioneering work in the 1980s, which helped create the foundation for the AI revolution of today. https://bit.ly/3BF51tp

Job opportunity alert! The U.S. National Science Foundation is seeking a qualified candidate for a general engineer (program director) position for the Antarctic Infrastructure and Logistics Section within the NSF Directorate for Geosciences Office of Polar Programs in Alexandria, Virginia. The selected candidate will be responsible for managing master planning, design and major construction planning and prioritization for the U.S. Antarctic Program. The incumbent will work with contracted architectural and engineering firms, the NSF Antarctic support contractor, and other federal agencies that can provide engineering, technical analysis, oversight and other construction management expertise. To learn more about the job and how to apply, visit https://bit.ly/4h03ZZh. 📸: Elaine Hood #job #NSFjob #polarjobs #engineeringjobs

The NSF congratulates Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their #NobelPrize in physiology or medicine. Their breakthrough discovery of microRNAs, a fundamental component of how gene activity is regulated, transformed our knowledge of cell development and the types of genetic material contained within the cells in all manner of organisms. Their groundbreaking discovery has led to advances in medicine, agriculture and other fields.

Calling all seventh through 12th grade STEM teachers: The 2024-2025 cycle of the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) is officially open! #PAEMST is the highest honor the U.S. government bestows upon K-12 STEM teachers. Awardees receive a signed certificate from the President of the United States, an all-expense paid trip to the Washington, D.C., area for a recognition event, and a $10,000 award. Nominate a teacher in your community or begin an application today:! https://bit.ly/4fc11iH