Senate Plan for Science Foundation Angers Physicists

By Scott Jaschik

Senators and physicists are at odds over the future of the National Science Foundation.

A report approved by a Senate committee this month called for the NSF to move toward supporting more "strategic" research that helps improve the country's economy. The report said that 60 per cent of the foundation's research budget should support such research, and it warned against attempts to "shroud curiosity-driven activities under the rubric of strategic activities."

The report