National Science Foundation

(NSF), an independent agency in the executive branch of the U.S. federal government concerned with promoting a national science policy by supporting basic research and education in science. The National Science Board is the policy-making body of the NSF. It consists of 25 members appointed by the president with the consent of Congress. Founded in 1950, the NSF does not conduct research of its own but makes support grants to qualified educational and nonprofit institutions and awards fellowships to individual scientists, teachers, and students. The foundation supports projects in the mathematical, physical, medical, biological, social, and engineering sciences, including the U.S. Antarctic Program, the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program, and programs in global geoscience. It supports the development of improved science curriculum materials and fosters the interchange of scientific ideas nationally and internationally. Among the more important permanent NSF-supported facilities are: National Center for Atmospheric Research (Boulder, Colo.), National Radio Astronomy ObservatoryNational Radio Astronomy Observatory
(NRAO), federal observatory for radio astronomy, founded in 1956 and operated under contract with the National Science Foundation by Associated Universities, Inc., a group of major universities. The headquarters are at Charlottesville, Va.
..... Click the link for more information. (Green Bank, W.Va.), Kitt Peak National ObservatoryKitt Peak National Observatory,
astronomical observatory located southwest of Tucson, Ariz.; it was founded in 1958 under contract with the National Science Foundation and is administered by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy.
..... Click the link for more information. (Tucson, Ariz.), National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center (Arecibo, Puerto Rico; see Arecibo ObservatoryArecibo Observatory,
radio-astronomy facility located near Arecibo, Puerto Rico, that includes one of the world's largest single-dish radio telescopes, part of the National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center. Conceived by, designed by, and built under the supervision of William E.
..... Click the link for more information. ), and Cerro Tololo Inter-American ObservatoryCerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory
, astronomical observatory located on Cerro Tololo peak, Chile, with offices in La Serena, about 40 mi (64 km) to the west. Funded by the U.S.
..... Click the link for more information. (La Serena, Chile).