NSF starts new directorate to meet ‘moment of intense global competition’: Director

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has created a new Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships. Government Matters’ Mimi Geerges spoke with NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan.

• The purpose of the directorate is to rapidly translate ideas into technological solutions in “a moment of intense global competition,” Panchanathan explained. This involves working with industry and economic development ecosystems.
• NSF looks for high-risk, high-reward ideas from faculty and researchers across the country, undertaking a rigorous process to select which ones to invest in, he said.
• Diversity in STEM education is a major focus for NSF. While Panchanathan is optimistic about STEM education in the United States, he said a lot more needs to be done “with intentionality and intensity.”
• NSF investments over several decades have led to advancements in weather forecasting, GPS technology and artificial intelligence.

Watch the interview for more:

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