|
|
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent United States
government agency responsible for supporting basic science research. It
operates mainly through the establishment of research grants, particularly
to universities or through individual grants (including to professors and
graduate students).
History and mission
The NSF was established by the National Science Foundation Act of 1950. The
stated mission of the NSF is
"To promote the progress of science; to advance the national health,
prosperity, and welfare; and to secure the national defense."[1]
In this day and age, the NSF is less concerned with national defense, and
more concerned with the previous two items.
Fields included
* Astronomy/Astrophysics (as part of Physical Sciences)
* Behavioral Science
* Biology
* Chemistry (as part of Physical Sciences)
* Computer Science/Information Science
* Economic Science
* Science Education
* Engineering (all types)
* Environmental Studies/Environmental Education
* Geoscience
* Math
* Physics (as part of Physical Sciences)
* Polar Research
* Social Sciences
Special programs
The NSF attempts to promote various special programs, at times to help
increase the participation in science of under represented minorities. For
example, the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program provides
grants to research institutions for the purpose of providing undergraduate
students the opportunity to perform research for a summer. This program
targets women and minorities at many of the participant universities. The
GK-12 Crosscutting Program provides money to universities with graduate
students for the purpose of having graduate students interact with K-12
students. The goal is to increase student retention in the sciences starting
at an early age. Other interdisciplinary programs unite various subfields of
science, or the NSF and other funding agencies. And at this time all NSF
grants carry with them a mandate to perform some form of outreach.
The NSF and Antarctic cooling
For example, GW theory states that the poles should warm faster than the
rest of the earth, but researchers associated with the NSF discovered that
just the opposite is happening:
Researchers with the National Science Foundation (NSF) Long-term
Ecological Research (LTER) site in Antarctica's Dry Valleys - a
perpetually snow-free, mountainous area adjacent to McMurdo Sound -
argue in the paper that long-term data from weather stations across the
continent, coupled with a separate set of measurements from the Dry
Valleys, confirm each other and corroborate the continental cooling
trend. "Our 14-year continuous weather station record from the shore of
Lake Hoare reveals that seasonally averaged surface air temperature has
decreased by 0.7 degrees Celsius per decade," they write. "The
temperature decrease is most pronounced in summer and autumn.
Continental cooling, especially the seasonality of cooling, poses
challenges to models of climate and ecosystem change." [2]
But the methodology used in the study has been challenged [3]
The NSF and NASA
In the current (and past) age of space exploration and astronomical study,
it is often unclear what aspects of these fields should be handled (and
funded) by the NSF, and what aspects should be in the realm of the National
Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA). Although both agencies want to increase
our knowledge of space, the universe, and the human body, neither wants to
pay more than it has to for these. At this point in time, an uneasy truce
has developed, with NASA paying for space-based operations such as the
Hubble Space Telescope (HST), Chandra (an X-ray satellite telescope), and
the Space InfraRed Telescope Facility (SIRTF, to be renamed after successful
completion of diagnostic tests, mid-December, 2003), and the NSF paying for
ground-based operations such as the Atacomba Large Millimeter Array (ALMA,
run by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, NRAO), and Kitt Peak
(located near Tucson, AZ).
This content from Wikipedia is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
|
LG 48x24x48 CDRW &16x DVD-ROM IDE Drive (Black)LG 48x24x48 CDRW &16x DVD-ROM IDE Drive (Black) ** LG 48 x 24 x 48 CDRW & 16x DVD-ROM IDE Drive **Burn your own CDs, back-up data, and even watch your favorite DVD movies with this LG GCC-4481B combo drive. It features write speeds up to 48x, rewrite speeds at 24x, and read speeds up to 48x. This drive also reads DVDs at 16x. Complete with SuperLink buffer underrun technology and a 2 MB buffer, this LG drive will provide years of reliable operation. Get yours today!General Features:- Black bezel- 48x maximum write speed- 24x maximum rewrite speed- 48x maximum read speed (CD)- 16x maximum read speed (DVD)- 2 MB buffer- SuperLink buffer underrun technology- 110 ms average access time (CD)- 120 ms average access time (DVD)- E-IDE/ATAPI interface- Motorized tray loading- Horizontal or vertical mountFront Panel Features:- Eject/Load button- LED activity indicator- Emergency eject holeRear Panel Features:- Digital audio connector- Analog audio connector- Jumper settings- IDE interface- 4-pin power connectorSupported Disc Formats:- CD-ROM- CD-ROM/XA- CD Audio- CD-DA- CD Extra- Mixed Mode- Photo CD- CD-I- Video CD- CD Text- CD Plus- CD-R- CD-RW- DVD (single, dual-sided)- DVD-R- DVD-RWSupported Write Methods:- Disc at once (DAO)- Session at once (SAO)- Track at once (TAO)- Packet writing (variable, fixed)- Multi-sessionRegulatory Approvals:- UL- FCC- CE- VCCI- BSMI- TUVNotes:- Drive only- LG model: GCC-4481B Compatibility/Requirements/Disclosures: ** Requirements *** IDE controller* IDE cable* Available 5.25-inch drive bay* Available 4-pin power connector* Burning software* DVD decoder (hardware or software)* Blank recordable media More ...
Red LED 3x3-Inch (80mm) Red Case FanRed LED 3x3-Inch (80mm) Red Case Fan ** Red LED 3x3-inch Case Fan **This 3x3-inch case fan not only keeps your system cool, but when plugged in, the fan has a red LED adding a unique glow to your case.General Features:- 3 x 3-inch (80mm) Fan- DC 12V 0.14A- Red fan with red LEDsRetail Box Includes:- 3x3-Inch Case Fan- 3-pin to molex adapterNotes:- UPC 6 41272 60906 7 Compatibility/Requirements/Disclosures:** Requirements *** Available 3-pin power connector More ...
Lowepro TX 500 Padded Video Camera Bag (Black)Lowepro TX 500 Padded Video Camera Bag (Black) ** Lowepro TX 500 Black Padded Video Camera Bag **Keep your video camera protected with this sleek, good looking and comfortable Lowepro TX 500 black padded video camera bag! Adjustable quick-release shoulder strap, 2 zippered outer side pockets, and its padded zippered main compartment makes this Lowepro TX 500 video camera bag not only useful but comfortable as well! Get yours today and travel in style! General Features: - Black - Contoured, padded, quick release shoulder strap - Two adjustable padded dividers - Large, padded, zippered front pocket with organizer - Padded DryFlo carrying handle - Zippered Side pockets - Tough, water-resistant outer material Exterior Dimensions: - 13.5W x 8D x 8.5H inches Inner Dimensions: - 9.5W x 3.25D x 6.25H inches Fits: - Digital Video Camera and batteries or small accessories - Compact Camcorder - Digital or 35mm SLR camera Notes: - Video Camera Bag Only - Model: TX 500 Compatibility/Requirements/Disclosures:** Requirements *** The need for a video camera bag More ...
3x3-Inch Case Fan (Black)3x3-Inch Case Fan (Black) ** 3 x 3-Inch Black Case Fan **Keep your computer internals running cool with this black3 x 3-inch case fan. This fan is easy to power via the motherboard with the 3-pin power connector or straight from the power supply with the Molex pass-through power cable!General Features:- Black plastic construction- 3 x 3-inch (80 x 80 x 25 mm)- 3-pin power connector- 4-pin Molex power pass-through connector Compatibility/Requirements/Disclosures: ** Requirements *** 3 x 3-inch case mount* 3-pin power connector from motherboard or* 4-pin Molex power connector from power supply More ...
Symantec PC Anywhere 11.5 OEMSymantec PC Anywhere 11.5 OEM Now you can use pcAnywhere to remotely manage Linux as well as Windows systems, freeing you from command-line Linux tools. You can even manage both platforms from a Java-enabled Web browser running on a system of your choice. Enhanced video performance includes the new Bandwidth Auto-Detect feature, which automatically optimizes the performance of pcAnywhere over all types of connections. And support for the Microsoft Windows Preinstallation Environment helps you get crashed systems back up and running quickly. Built-in AES 256-bit encryption - the same security technology used in many government and financial applications-now protects communications between pcAnywhere clients and hosts. Need to troubleshoot problems when you're on the go? New pcAnywhere Mobile enables you to access a pcAnywhere host from your Microsoft Pocket PC over any TCP/IP connection, wired or wireless. pcAnywhere also features powerful, efficient file-transfer capabilities that let you transfer files across different platforms. A connection wizard helps new users launch pcAnywhere quickly, and Host Conferencing permits multiple concurrent remote connections to a single pcAnywhere host-a great tool for training or collaboration. Resolve helpdesk issues quickly, manage remote computers securely, and work across multiple platforms easily with versatile pcAnywhere 11.5.Notes:- Picture is for representational purposes only- OEM CD ONLY More ...
DK Smart Steps - 4th GradeDK Smart Steps - 4th Grade The Most Complete Learning System! Super-Fun Activities: Over 430 in All! Core Subjects: English, Math and Science! Motivating Rewards Ensure Learning! Put Your Child a Step Ahead! Watch your child's grades take off with this comprehensive, curriculum-based program.Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP and MAC More ...
|
