NSF Seeking Public Comments on 2022-2026 Strategic Plan

Every four years, the National Science Foundation (NSF) updates its Strategic Plan to create a vision for sustaining the momentum of discovery through research and innovation. It is the mission of NSF “to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; [and] to secure the national defense…” and to this end, the Agency’s Strategic Plan outlines goals to achieve these objectives. NSF is currently preparing its 2022-2026 Plan and has issued a request for public comments, due by January 22, 2021.
 
The purpose of the Strategic Plan is to expand knowledge in science, engineering, and learning through investments in ideas, people, and infrastructure, and to advance the practice of research. Specifically, the agency is looking for comments on key elements of the plan, including the Vision, Core Values, Strategic Goals, and Strategic Objectives, as well as answers to three specific questions regarding how the organization can best fulfill its mission:
 

1. What are the interests, values and emergent science and policy issues that the Strategic Plan should recognize?
2. How can NSF help maintain US leadership in an evolving global research and education landscape?
3. How can the plan best underscore the importance to the Nation of fundamental research and its broader impacts? 

In submitting comments, the public is asked to reference the previous 2018-2022 Strategic Plan.

Comments are due by January 22, 2021 and can be submitted through the strategic planning website at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/12/16/2020-27672/request-for-information-strategic-plan.