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FYI
The American Institute of Physics Bulletin of Science Policy News
Number 23: February 12, 2003

FY 2004 NSF Request: Engineering

The Bush Administration is requesting an increase in the FY 2004
Engineering Activity's budget of 10.0%, or $48.6 million, as compared 
to the FY 2003 request.  The $536.6 million request is14.0% higher 
than the activity's FY 2002 budget.  As previously explained, the FY 
2003 appropriations bill for the National Science Foundation has not 
been enacted.

The Engineering Activity has a wide range of  programs.  Information 
on a specific component of the Administration's request can be found 
in the budget document presented to Congress that is available at
http//:www.nsf.gov/bfa/bud/fy2004/toc.htm .  The Engineering Activity
section can be found on pages 225-246.

There are six subactivities within the Engineering Activity:

Bioengineering and Environmental Systems: The FY 2004 request of $47.9
million is 9.2%, or $4.0 million, over the FY 2003 request.  This is 
an increase of 15.9%, or $6.6 million, over the FY 2002 budget.

Chemical and Transport Systems:  The FY 2004 request of $66.2 million 
is 12.3%, or $7.3 million, above the FY 2003 request.  This is an 
increase of 15.7%, or $9.0 million, over the FY 2002 budget.

Civil and Mechanical Systems:  The FY 2004 request of $64.4 million is
11.4%, or $6.6 million, above the FY 2003 request.  This is an 
increase of 14.7%, or $8.3 million, over the FY 2002 budget.

Design, Manufacture, and Industrial Innovation:  The FY 2004 request 
of $163.1 million is 15.5%, or $21.8 million, above the FY 2003 
request.  This is an increase of 20.8%, or $28.1 million, over the FY 
2002 budget.

Electrical and Communications Systems:  The FY 2004 request of $70.8
million is 6.1%, or $4.1 million, above the FY 2003 request.  This is 
an increase of 9.3%, or $6.0 million, over the FY 2002 budget.

Engineering Education and Centers:  The FY 2004 request of $124.3 
million is 4.0%, or $4.8 million, above the FY 2003 request.  This is 
an increase of 6.7%, or $7.8 million, over the FY 2002 budget.

One of the Engineering programs that has been identified as an FY 2004
"priority area" is nanotechnology.  The introduction for this section
states:

"Nanoscale Science and Engineering: In FY 2004, ENG will provide 
$106.85 million for Nanoscale Science and Engineering activities, an 
increase of $12.50 million over the FY 2003 Request of $94.35 million. 
ENG will support comprehensive research on nanotechnology for 
functional nanostructures, processing and fabrication of 
nanostructured materials, new devices and architectures, tools for 
investigation at nanoscale, and technologies with applications ranging 
from biology to environmental sensing. Requested funds expand research 
in the following areas: Manufacturing processes at the nanoscale;  
Bio-chemical-radiological-explosive detection and protection; 
Infrastructure; and Education and societal implications."

In addition:

"In FY 2004, ENG support for the enhancement of infrastructure to 
conduct engineering research is funded at $10.75 million, an increase 
of $6.45 million over the FY 2003 Request of $4.30 million.

"Of this funding, $8.80 million will be provided to the National
Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (NNIN), an integrated national 
network of user facilities that will support the future infrastructure 
needs for research and education in the burgeoning nanoscale science 
and engineering field. The facilities comprising this network will be 
diverse in capabilities, research areas, and geographic locations, and 
the network will have the flexibility to grow or reconfigure as needs 
arise. The NNIN will broadly support nanotechnology activities 
outlined in the National Nanotechnology Initiative investment 
strategy. It will provide users across the nation access to 
leading-edge fabrication and characterization tools and instruments in 
support of nanoscale science and engineering research, develop and 
maintain advanced research infrastructure, contribute to the education 
and training of a new workforce skilled in nanotechnology and the 
latest laboratory techniques, conduct outreach to the science and 
engineering communities, and explore the social and ethical 
implications of nanotechnology. The NNIN will supersede the National 
Nanofabrication Users Network (NNUN), initiated in 1994 and coming to 
the completion of NSF support at the end of 2003."

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Richard M. Jones
Media and Government Relations Division
The American Institute of Physics
fyi{at}aip.org
(301) 209-3094
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