National Science Board Releases Vision 2030 Report and Elects New Chair

The National Science Board recently released its Vision 2030 report and elected a new chair and vice-chair. The Vision 2030 report highlights “threats and opportunities facing the U.S. science and engineering enterprise over the next decade.” As other nations work to bolster their investments in research and development (R&D), the report offers urgent suggestions, advice and priorities to ensure America remains a leader in the science and technology field. These priorities and efforts offered by the board, which oversees the National Science Foundation (NSF), include delivering social and economic benefits from NSF-funded research, developing a strong and diverse STEM workforce, expanding research infrastructure across the country, and fostering a global scientific community. Also discussed are recommendations for more specific actions which include undertaking an organizational review of NSF’s directorate structure and funding models, considering creating a directorate focused on translating research into applications, and evaluating NSF’s broader impacts criteria.

In addition to releasing the report, the National Science Board has recently elected Ellen Ochoa as chair. Ochoa was serving as vice chair and holds a doctorate in electrical engineering and prior to joining NSF, Ochoa was the first female Hispanic astronaut in space. Until her retirement in 2018, she served as director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center and has worked at Sandia National Laboratory and NASA Ames Research Center as an engineer. Ochoa is taking over as chair from Diane Souvaine who served as vice chair for two years and on the board for two six-year terms. Victor McCrary will serve as the new vice chair. McCrary is the vice president of research and graduate programs at the University of the District of Columbia and holds doctorate in chemistry.