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Trends in Federal Support of Research and Graduate Education (2001)

Chapter: 4 Agency Trends in Research and Graduate Education Support

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Suggested Citation:"4 Agency Trends in Research and Graduate Education Support." National Research Council. 2001. Trends in Federal Support of Research and Graduate Education. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10162.
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Suggested Citation:"4 Agency Trends in Research and Graduate Education Support." National Research Council. 2001. Trends in Federal Support of Research and Graduate Education. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10162.
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Suggested Citation:"4 Agency Trends in Research and Graduate Education Support." National Research Council. 2001. Trends in Federal Support of Research and Graduate Education. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10162.
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Suggested Citation:"4 Agency Trends in Research and Graduate Education Support." National Research Council. 2001. Trends in Federal Support of Research and Graduate Education. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10162.
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Suggested Citation:"4 Agency Trends in Research and Graduate Education Support." National Research Council. 2001. Trends in Federal Support of Research and Graduate Education. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10162.
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Suggested Citation:"4 Agency Trends in Research and Graduate Education Support." National Research Council. 2001. Trends in Federal Support of Research and Graduate Education. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10162.
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Suggested Citation:"4 Agency Trends in Research and Graduate Education Support." National Research Council. 2001. Trends in Federal Support of Research and Graduate Education. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10162.
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Suggested Citation:"4 Agency Trends in Research and Graduate Education Support." National Research Council. 2001. Trends in Federal Support of Research and Graduate Education. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10162.
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Suggested Citation:"4 Agency Trends in Research and Graduate Education Support." National Research Council. 2001. Trends in Federal Support of Research and Graduate Education. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10162.
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Suggested Citation:"4 Agency Trends in Research and Graduate Education Support." National Research Council. 2001. Trends in Federal Support of Research and Graduate Education. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10162.
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Suggested Citation:"4 Agency Trends in Research and Graduate Education Support." National Research Council. 2001. Trends in Federal Support of Research and Graduate Education. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10162.
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Suggested Citation:"4 Agency Trends in Research and Graduate Education Support." National Research Council. 2001. Trends in Federal Support of Research and Graduate Education. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10162.
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Suggested Citation:"4 Agency Trends in Research and Graduate Education Support." National Research Council. 2001. Trends in Federal Support of Research and Graduate Education. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10162.
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Suggested Citation:"4 Agency Trends in Research and Graduate Education Support." National Research Council. 2001. Trends in Federal Support of Research and Graduate Education. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10162.
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4 Agency Trends in Research and Graduate Education Support In this chapter we examine the data presented in Chap- USDA, surpassed their 1993 level of spending with the ters 2 and 3 from the perspective of the principal federal budget gains in 1998 and 1999. DOD funding of research agencies supporting research. How did agencies with fell by 13.2 percent from 1993 to 1994 and continued to shrinking, growing, or steady research budgets treat their decline through 1997, when it was 26.6 percent less than in research portfolios in the 1990s, and how did these deci- 1993. Despite some budget growth in 1998 and 1999, sions affect the composition of the federal research portfo- DOD’s funding of research was still 22.4 percent less than lio overall? Did they change or maintain the mix of re- it was in 1993. search they were funding? Did agencies that were Did the substantial cuts in research funding at DOD dominant funders of particular fields attempt to protect negatively affect fields that received most of their funding those fields from budget cuts? Did agencies with growing from DOD in 1993? At that time, for example, DOD budgets diversify their research portfolios? Did they step accounted for 82 percent of federal funding of electrical in to increase their investments in research fields whose engineering, 75 percent of mechanical engineering, 73 support from other agencies was declining or to pick up percent of metallurgy/materials engineering, and 57 per- slack in graduate student support? Finally, once growth cent of computer science research.1 resumed, as it did to varying degrees in all but one agency As Annex Table 4-1 indicates, DOD did not impose by 1999, have agencies moved to restore funding of fields across-the-board cuts on the research fields it was support- that they previously had cut? ing in 1993. Those cut more than average (22.4 percent) A variety of factors, many of them specific to agencies, were environmental biology, psychology, chemistry, their missions, and their political environments and much physics, atmospheric sciences, geology, mathematics, too complex to examine here, determine how agencies social sciences and most fields of engineering—astronauti- treated their research portfolios during this period. We are cal, chemical, civil, electrical, mechanical, and metallurgy/ simply interested in whether, in a period of budget contrac- materials. DOD was far and away the dominant funder of tion, adjustments occur across agencies or across time that the latter three fields in 1993. Medical sciences were cut, reflect concern about reductions in investment in particular but less than average (Figure 4-1). research fields. The answer is that in most agencies, both Despite the strong downward pressure on DOD’s those experiencing tight budgets and those benefiting from research spending in the mid-1990s, several fields received increasing congressional appropriations, there were sub- increased although not necessarily substantially increased stantial changes in research priorities but little evidence of DOD support—biology, astronomy, oceanography, com- adjustments across agencies. puter science, and aeronautical engineering. In the case of oceanography, increased funding from DOD helped offset a decrease of more than a third by the PORTFOLIO CHANGES IN AGENCIES WITH Department of Commerce, the field’s largest single federal REDUCED RESEARCH FUNDING Department of Defense 1Michael McGeary and Stephen A. Merrill. 1999. “Recent Trends in Federal Spending on Scientific and Engineering Research: Impacts on As of 1999, two agencies had less funding for research Research Fields and Graduate Training,” Appendix A, Table A-2 in than in 1993—Department of Defense (DOD) and Depart- National Research Council, Securing America’s Industrial Strength. ment of the Interior. Others, including the DOE and Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press. 65

66 TRENDS IN FEDERAL SUPPORT OF RESEARCH AND GRADUATE EDUCATION 35 1993 cent more funding in 1999 than in 1993. Some fields cut at 1999 DOD—mathematics, astronautical and civil engineering, 30 psychology, and social science—have ended up with Percent of total research 25 increased funding overall because other agencies stepped up their support. But other fields with less DOD support— 20 chemistry, physics, geology, and chemical, electrical, and 15 mechanical engineering—did not pick up increases from other agencies and were down compared with 1993, all but 10 chemistry by at least 20 percent. Trends in the number of full-time graduate students 5 supported by the DOD are generally consistent with the 0 changes in funding levels of research. Overall, the number of DOD-supported full-time graduate students decreased s try g g y s g y es s g ic ph ce og ld rin in in rin nc is ys fie er er en ra ol ee ee by 17.6 percent, from 1993 to 1999 (Annex Table 4-2). m ie Ph ne ne Bi og er he ci in in sc gi gi rs th ng an ng C en en al O The decreases occurred in almost all fields. Among engi- te le ce le ic pu ls al ed ca O ca ia ic om tri M ni er ut neering fields with the largest decreases were civil engi- ec ha C na at El M ec ro neering, down by 52.1 percent, aerospace engineering, M Ae FIGURE 4-1 Research funding by field, Department of Defense, down by 41.5 percent, and metallurgy and materials FY 1993 vs. FY 1999. engineering, down by 38.2 percent. Among graduate students in the sciences, those in mathematical science decreased by 43.1 percent, those in social sciences de- source of support in 1993 through its agency, the National creased by 37.4 percent, those in earth, atmospheric and Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. In aero- ocean sciences decreased by 34.4 percent, and those in nautical engineering, in which NASA is the major funder, physical sciences decreased by 25.6 percent. DOD-sup- DOD funding went from being about 7 percent less in ported students in the health fields were down by 16.6 1997 than in 1993 to being 44 percent more in 1999. That percent, but students in the biological science were up by increase helped put overall federal funding of aeronautical 23.4 percent. Also increasing were the numbers of gradu- engineering research 21 percent higher than in 1993. DOD ate students in electrical engineering, up by 4.4 percent, funding of life sciences (primarily biological and medical and in chemical engineering, up by 17.3 percent. sciences) fell from 1993 to 1997, when it was 28 percent less than the 1993 level. But it began to increase again in Department of Energy 1998 (by 48 percent over 1997). In 1999, it was 14 percent more in 1999 than in 1993, and it was expected to be 43 Although DOE’s funding of research was 2.1 percent percent more in 2000. The largest boost after 1997 was in higher in 1999 than in 1993, the DOE research budget took the biological sciences, reflecting in part the growth in the a 7 percent cut from 1993 to 1994, bottomed out in 1996, congressionally mandated research programs on breast, and did not reach its 1993 level until 1998. Some fields prostate, and ovarian cancers and also increased attention were cut more than others were, and although research is to biological threats to national security. growing, the allocation of funds among fields has been As shares of DOD’s research budgets, the life sciences changed (Figure 4-2, Annex Table 4-3). increased from 7.8 percent to 11.4 percent, computer Despite increases in research funding since 1996, the science from 9.9 percent to 13.0 percent, and environmen- physical sciences were cut by more than a quarter from tal sciences from 5.5 percent to 7.9 percent because of 1993 to 1999 (26.8 percent, from $2.2 to $1.7 billion). As increased funding of oceanography (Annex Table 4-1). a share of the DOE research portfolio they declined from The physical sciences dropped from 14.1 percent to 9.8 58 percent to 42 percent. Environmental science research percent and engineering from 51.2 percent to 47.1 percent. support also was reduced after 1997. These fields were up Thus, there was a shift in DOD’s portfolio of about 9 by 6 percent over 1993 in 1997 but down by 8 percent two percentage points from the physical sciences and engineer- years later. From 1993 to 1999, oceanography was down ing to the life sciences (up 3.6 percentage points), com- by 36 percent, geology by 33 percent, and atmospheric puter science (up 3.1 percentage points), and oceanography sciences by 8 percent. (up 2.6 percentage points). Life sciences were also down (by 7 percent, from $275 The fields that DOD favored—biological and medical to $255 million), but not as much as in 1997 when they sciences, computer science, oceanography, aeronautical were 17 percent less than in 1993. The big hits were in engineering, and metallurgy/materials engineering—were biology (down by $13 million) and n.e.c. (down $11 fields receiving increases from other agencies. In fact, all million). Environmental biology nearly quadrupled, but but metallurgy/materials engineering had at least 20 per- from a small base (280 percent, from $2.2 to $8.5 million).

AGENCY TRENDS IN RESEARCH AND GRADUATE EDUCATION SUPPORT 67 Meanwhile, computer science gained relative advan- 50 1993 tage. In 1999, computer science funding was 339 percent 45 1999 greater than in 1993, and the field went from 3 to 13 40 percent of the DOE research portfolio. Engineering also increased its support, absolutely—rising 46 percent—and 35 Percent of total research relatively, going from 19 to 28 percent of the portfolio. 30 Chemical, electrical, and mechanical engineering were 25 down substantially (19, 36, and 61 percent, respectively), 20 but these reductions were swamped by tremendous growth in materials engineering (343 percent, from $75 million to 15 $331 million). Engineering other (up 33 percent, from 10 $427 million to $568 million) and civil engineering (up 27 5 percent, from $36 million to $46 million) also received increased funding. 0 y try s es gy g s s er & In dollar terms, from 1993 to 1999 there was a substan- og ic ce ld in ne gy O ing nc lo is ys fie er en ol m eo ur ie Ph ne Bi er he ci sc G en l tial shift toward computer science (+$391 million) and al gi rs th C ls et en ic gi te ia M er pu il materials engineering (+$256 million) and away from ph iv om C os C m er physics (–$461 million), chemistry (–$85 million), and to a At at m lesser amount, other fields in engineering and environmen- tal sciences (–$20 million to –$40 million each). Computer FIGURE 4-2 Research funding by field, Department of Energy, FY 1993 vs. FY 1999. science and materials engineering went from a combined 5 percent to 21 percent of DOE’s portfolio. In the case of computer science, several other agencies also increased funding although DOE accounted for 66 percent of the net sciences, however, there was a modest shift toward medi- increase. DOE’s increase of $256 million in metallurgy/ cal sciences and away from biological sciences (Figure 4- materials engineering offset most of the DOD reduction of 3). Biological sciences went from 44.1 percent to 40.6 $283 million. DOE increases for environmental biology, percent of all spending by NIH on research while medical mathematics, and civil engineering helped offset cuts sciences went from 40.2 percent to 43.3 percent. The elsewhere. greater emphasis on medical sciences was especially DOE was the majority funder of physics in 1993, and evident in the period between 1993 and 1997. Since 1997, the large reductions in funding after 1993 have not been the annual increases for biological sciences have been offset by other agencies. In fact, as shown above, DOD, about the same as those for medical sciences. the second largest funder, also reduced its funding substan- Chemistry, physics, psychology, and social sciences tially, and funding for physics research is 25 percent less received more funding in absolute terms but declined as a in 1999 than in 1993, about the same level it has been percentage of all NIH research funding. The increases since 1996. Some other fields with reduced DOE funding occurred mainly after 1997. NIH accounted for 22 percent have also been those cut overall—astronomy, chemistry, of all federal funding of chemistry research in 1999, and if geology, and chemical, electrical, and mechanical engi- it had not increased its level of support by $22 million over neering. It is not possible to relate these research funding 1993, federal funding of chemistry would have been 15.7 trends to DOE graduate student support because the latter percent less than in 1993 instead of 13.4 percent less. The data were not available by field until very recently. amount of NIH funding for physics research was small, $23 million, just 1 percent of all federal funding in 1999, so the NIH increase had little effect on the reduction of PORTFOLIO CHANGES IN AGENCIES WITH 24.6 percent in funding of physics research. INCREASED RESEARCH FUNDING Math and computer science received large percentage increases between 1993 and 1999—1,201 percent and 209 National Institutes of Health percent, respectively—but the amounts were small ($45 NIH has received steady annual increases during the million in 1993, $116 million in 1999). Together, they 1993 to 1999 period, resulting in an annual compound constituted 0.5 percent of NIH spending on research in growth rate of 4.9 percent. Those increases accounted for 1993, 0.9 percent in 1999. The trend was similar for most of the net increase in all federal spending on research engineering. NIH increased its funding substantially in from 1993 to 1999. Where were these increases invested? percentage terms (69.9 percent) but not as a share of its NIH increased the allocation of its research funding to portfolio (from 1.1 to 1.4 percent). the life sciences by a percentage point, to 86.8 percent, Overall, NIH continued to focus on the life sciences, from 1993 to 1999 (Annex Table 4-4). Within the life accounting for most of the 28 percent increase in total

68 TRENDS IN FEDERAL SUPPORT OF RESEARCH AND GRADUATE EDUCATION 50 1993 In the 1993 to 1999 period, NSF gave larger than 45 1999 average (19.3 percent) increases to the life sciences, computer science, several fields of engineering, and the 40 social sciences, and this pattern is expected to continue in Percent of total research 35 2000 (Figure 4-4, Annex Table 4-6). Life sciences research 30 went from 15.9 percent of the NSF research budget to 16.4 percent. Computer science funding increased from 6.7 25 percent to 11.9 percent of the NSF research budget. Civil 20 engineering and metallurgy/materials engineering went 15 from 1.5 percent to 1.6 percent and 1.1 percent to 4.5 percent, respectively. Social sciences went from 3.0 per- 10 cent to 4.4 percent. 5 During the same period NSF gave less than average 0 increases to mathematics research and most fields in the physical sciences, environmental sciences, engineering, es try gy s y s s ce og ce ld nc lo is fie en en ol and psychology. In some fields, NSF funding increased m io ie ch B he er ci ci sc rs ls sy th C al (astronomy, chemistry, atmospheric sciences, oceanogra- O ia P te ic oc pu ed S phy) and in some fields it declined (physics, geology, om M C math, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, and FIGURE 4-3 Research funding by field, National Institutes of mechanical engineering), but all of these fields consumed a Health, FY 1993 vs. FY 1999. smaller share of the NSF research budget in 1999 than in 1993. Nevertheless, although research funding for the physical sciences did not do as well at NSF as some other fields, astronomy and chemistry had a level of funding that federal funding, and especially the medical sciences. There was slightly larger in 1999 than 1993 and physics was not has been little diversification, at least with respect to the cut nearly as much as elsewhere, which moderated the physical sciences and engineering. Mathematics and government-wide reductions for these fields. computer science support has increased substantially but In dollar terms, there were substantial shifts away from still constitutes less than 1 percent of NIH’s research the physical sciences and geology and toward computer budget. science and metallurgy/materials engineering. Shifts in A similar pattern holds for NIH graduate student sup- other fields were smaller in terms of changes in the NSF port. The number of full-time graduate students in science, portfolio, although perhaps quite large for a particular engineering, and health fields whose primary source of field.2 If the physical sciences had still accounted for 24.9 support was NIH increased 4.8 percent from 1993 to 1999 percent of the NSF research budget in 1999 as they did in (Annex Table 4-5). The greater part of the increase in NIH 1993, those fields would have received $96 million more support for graduate students went to those in health fields than the $528 million NSF actually spent in 1999. Geology and the biological sciences. NIH-supported graduate would have received $183 million rather than the $110 students in health fields increased by 746, or 32.9 percent, million NSF spent in 1999. The life sciences would have and those in biological sciences increased by 4.1 percent. had a little less ($12 million) if the allocation had not While their numerical increases are not as great, NIH- shifted from 1993 to 1999. Computer science research supported psychology graduate students increased 9.6 received about $9 million more in 1999 than it would have percent and NIH-supported engineering students increased using the 1993 percentage. The big dollar shifts were 6.3 percent. An increase of 12.2 percent in biomedical toward oceanography and some subfields of engineering. engineering students supported by NIH accounts for much Funding for oceanography was $111 million more than it of the engineering increase. The rising tide at NIH, how- would have been if NSF had not doubled its share of the ever, did not lift all boats. NIH-supported graduate stu- research budget since 1993. Similarly, funding for metal- dents in the physical sciences declined by 19.2 percent and lurgy/materials engineering research was $84 million more in computer science by 35 percent. than if NSF had not quadrupled its share. There was also a large increase in other engineering, which received $128 million more than it would have. National Science Foundation The physical sciences, environmental sciences (except Among federal research agencies, NSF has the broadest portfolio and the most discipline-based organization and 2Psychology, for example, accounted for a shift of $16 million dollars funding procedure. How the agency has distributed its in the NSF portfolio from 1993 to 1999, but this would have nearly budget increases is therefore of particular interest. quadrupled its actual funding in 1999.

AGENCY TRENDS IN RESEARCH AND GRADUATE EDUCATION SUPPORT 69 30 1993 1999 25 Percent of total research 20 15 10 5 0 y es y try s es gy y s s g g g g s g ci eer d og m ic ph ic ce ld in in rin rin in n n nc nc lo is gi a ys at fie no er er ol en ra ee ee m eo en gy ie m ie Ph ne ne Bi tro og er he ci in in sc sc he G ls ur gi gi rs th ng ng As an C ia all at al en en ic O te le le ce M er er et pu al il So ca ca ph at M O iv ic om C tri ni os m ha ec C he m El ec m At C FIGURE 4-4 Research funding by field, National Science Foundation, FY 1993 vs. FY 1999. M for oceanography), math, and psychology were a smaller stable or declining in the 1990s, thus reinforcing rather part of NSF funding in 1999 than in 1993. But the same than offsetting the changes occurring elsewhere. Of course, fields also received smaller shares of DOD research fund- given the relatively modest size of the NSF budget, in- ing. The percentage of NSF spending on life sciences creases in NSF funding would not be sufficient to compen- research increased, but it also did so at DOD. When added sate for the substantial cutbacks in some fields at DOD and to the large increase at NIH, the increases by NSF and DOE. In chemistry research, for example, which was down DOD helped push the percentage of federal research by $126.2 million overall in 1999 compared with 1993, funding spent on life sciences from 40.1 percent in 1993 to NSF’s increase of $7.9 million in 1999 over 1993 did little 46.0 percent in 1999. to offset decreases totaling $181.3 million at DOD, DOE, Oceanography was another field that increased at both and other agencies.3 NSF had more effect in astronomy, NSF and DOD, giving that field a large boost despite where its increase ($1.9 million) was larger relative to cuts decreases at Commerce and Interior. A greater percentage at DOE and NASA ($15.7 million). of NSF research funding went to engineering research, The pattern of NSF graduate support is more mixed. compared with a smaller percentage of DOD’s. Most of There were increases in some fields whose research sup- the increase in engineering research at NSF was for metal- port was growing but also in some fields whose research lurgy/materials engineering. That increase of $88.1 million funding was declining. Overall, the number of full-time did, however, partially offset DOD’s reduction of $283.0 graduate students in science, engineering, and health fields million. The NSF increase together with DOE’s increase of whose primary source of support was NSF increased 2.4 $256.4 million more than offset the DOD reduction. The percent from 1993 to 1999 (Annex Table 4-7). The largest increase in the NSF budget for social sciences research of numerical increases in NSF-supported graduate students $45.9 million also helped offset decreases at DOD, DOE, were in computer science, which increased by 30.1 per- and USDA of $22.3 million, $23.0 million, and $20.7 cent, electrical engineering, which increased by 15.1 million, respectively. percent, and the biological sciences, which increased by In short, with some exceptions—psychology, math- 8.8 percent. There were substantial increases in several ematics, chemistry, and astronomy—NSF increased fund- ing of fields with increased funding overall and reduced 3There were also small offsetting increases by NASA, NIH, and EPA funding of fields whose combined federal support was totaling another $47.2 million.

70 TRENDS IN FEDERAL SUPPORT OF RESEARCH AND GRADUATE EDUCATION additional fields. NSF-supported graduate students in NSF-supported graduate students in aerospace engineering mechanical engineering increased by 9.1 percent, in metal- declined by 38.0 percent, in physical sciences by 9.5 lurgy and materials engineering by 13.3 percent, other percent, and earth, atmospheric, and ocean sciences by engineering by 16 percent, and the social sciences by 7.3 17.4 percent. percent. There were also large reductions in several fields.

AGENCY TRENDS IN RESEARCH AND GRADUATE EDUCATION SUPPORT 71 ANNEX TABLE 4-1 Trends in DOD Support of Research by Field, 1993 to 1997, 1999 (constant dollars) Percent change Share of total 1993–1997 1993–1999 1993 1997 1999 Total, all fields –26.6% –22.4% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% Life sciences, total –28.2% 13.6% 7.8% 7.6% 11.4% Biol (excl. environmental) –29.8% 67.7% 1.8% 1.7% 3.9% Environmental biology –52.3% –56.9% 1.1% 0.7% 0.6% Agricultural sciences 653.4% –100.0% * 0.0% 0.0% Medical sciences –29.0% –9.7% 4.7% 4.5% 5.4% Psychology, total –28.6% –58.8% 2.1% 2.0% 1.1% Physical sciences, total –48.2% –46.1% 14.1% 10.0% 9.8% Astronomy –88.4% 1.7% 0.3% * 0.4% Chemistry –25.7% –32.3% 2.9% 3.0% 2.6% Physics –62.8% –57.8% 10.0% 5.1% 5.4% Environmental sciences, total 30.9% 11.2% 5.5% 9.8% 7.9% Atmospheric sciences –1.7% –22.7% 1.2% 1.7% 1.2% Geological sciences –86.8% –92.7% 1.8% 0.3% 0.2% Oceanography 25.3% 88.9% 1.8% 3.1% 4.4% Math and computer science, total –3.1% 0.2% 12.0% 15.9% 15.5% Mathematics –48.4% –34.7% 1.7% 1.2% 1.4% Computer science 2.0% 1.9% 9.9% 13.7% 13.0% Engineering, total –27.3% –28.7% 51.2% 50.7% 47.1% Aeronautical –6.8% 44.2% 4.6% 5.8% 8.5% Astronautical 23.6% –64.4% 2.2% 3.7% 1.0% Chemical –60.0% –55.4% 1.5% 0.8% 0.8% Civil –43.5% –57.7% 2.1% 1.6% 1.1% Electrical –39.6% –31.2% 15.1% 12.4% 13.4% Mechanical –51.9% –57.2% 7.4% 4.8% 4.1% Metallurgy and materials –27.2% –49.7% 10.7% 10.6% 6.9% Engineering, other 3.4% 11.6% 7.8% 11.0% 11.2% Social sciences, total –95.9% –100.0% 0.4% * * * Less than 0.05 percent.

72 TRENDS IN FEDERAL SUPPORT OF RESEARCH AND GRADUATE EDUCATION TABLE 4-2 Full-time Graduate Students Whose Primary Source of Support is the Department of Defense by Field, 1993–1999 Change 1993–1999 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 Number Percent Engineering, total 5,139 4,717 4,810 4,538 4,773 4,316 4,352 –787 –15.3% Aerospace 749 605 535 492 501 459 438 –311 –41.5% Chemical 139 128 164 169 169 160 163 24 17.3% Civil 328 321 290 215 232 192 157 –171 –52.1% Electrical 1,764 1,664 1,706 1,651 1,938 1,803 1,842 78 4.4% Mechanical 797 782 823 739 766 728 713 –84 –10.5% Metallurgy/Materials 518 426 468 468 441 342 320 –198 –38.2% Engineering, other 844 791 824 804 726 632 719 –125 –14.8% Sciences, total 4,176 4,351 4,196 3,933 3,928 3,643 3,322 –854 –20.5% Physical sciences 1,187 1,316 1,198 1,073 1,037 994 883 –304 –25.6% Earth, Atmos., Ocean. Sci. 517 494 410 393 366 336 339 –178 –34.4% Mathematics 399 372 322 351 363 283 227 –172 –43.1% Computer science 1,327 1,345 1,419 1,349 1,434 1,307 1,213 –114 –8.6% Agricultural sciences 37 35 32 38 39 47 28 –9 –24.3% Biological sciences 273 347 359 365 373 356 337 64 23.4% Psychology 163 175 175 139 113 128 124 –39 –23.9% Social sciences 273 267 281 225 203 192 171 –102 –37.4% Health Fields, total 435 381 333 331 320 300 363 –72 –16.6% Total 9,750 9,449 9,339 8,802 9,021 8,259 8,037 –1,713 –17.6% SOURCE: NSF/SRS Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering, Fall 1999.

AGENCY TRENDS IN RESEARCH AND GRADUATE EDUCATION SUPPORT 73 TABLE 4-3 Trends in DOE Support of Research by Field, 1993 to 1997, 1999 (constant dollars) Percent change Share of total 1993–1997 1993–1999 1993 1997 1999 Total, all fields –4.4% 2.1% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% Life sciences, total –17.4% –7.2% 7.2% 6.2% 6.5% Biol (excl. environmental) –17.0% –6.4% 5.3% 4.6% 4.8% Environmental biology –54.0% 280.2% 0.1% 0.0% 0.2% Agricultural sciences –100.0% –100.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Medical sciences –1.5% –2.9% 1.4% 1.5% 1.4% Psychology, total 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Physical sciences, total –19.0% –26.8% 58.1% 49.2% 41.6% Astronomy –100.0% –100.0% 0.4% 0.0% 0.0% Chemistry –11.4% –31.0% 7.2% 6.6% 4.8% Physics –27.7% –25.3% 47.5% 35.9% 34.8% Environmental sciences, total 6.1% –8.3% 8.9% 9.8% 8.0% Atmospheric sciences –11.5% –8.3% 2.7% 2.5% 2.4% Geological sciences –54.7% –33.1% 3.4% 1.6% 2.2% Oceanography –10.7% –36.3% 0.2% 0.2% 0.1% Math and computer science, total 84.2% 167.1% 6.0% 11.5% 15.7% Mathematics 15.9% 32.9% 2.0% 2.4% 2.6% Computer science 183.9% 338.7% 3.0% 8.9% 12.9% Engineering, total 10.6% 45.7% 19.4% 22.5% 27.7% Aeronautical 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Astronautical 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Chemical 6.1% –18.5% 3.0% 3.3% 2.4% Civil 6.1% 26.8% 0.9% 1.0% 1.2% Electrical –48.1% –35.9% 1.3% 0.7% 0.8% Mechanical –61.6% –60.9% 1.2% 0.5% 0.4% Metallurgy and materials 279.6% 343.1% 1.9% 7.7% 8.4% Engineering, other –21.1% 33.0% 11.1% 9.2% 14.5% Social sciences, total –100.0% –100.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

74 TRENDS IN FEDERAL SUPPORT OF RESEARCH AND GRADUATE EDUCATION TABLE 4-4 Trends in NIH Support of Research by Field, 1993 to 1997, 1999 (constant dollars) Percent change Share of total 1993–1997 1993–1999 1993 1997 1999 Total, all fields 12.2% 33.5% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% Life sciences, total 13.6% 35.2% 85.8% 86.8% 86.8% Biol (excl. environmental) 3.3% 22.9% 44.1% 40.6% 40.6% Environmental biology –99.2% –99.1% 0.1% * 0.0% Agricultural sciences 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Medical sciences 20.9% 43.8% 40.2% 43.3% 43.3% Psychology, total –0.3% 18.6% 4.2% 3.7% 3.7% Physical sciences, total –5.9% 11.9% 1.9% 1.6% 1.6% Astronomy 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Chemistry –4.6% 13.6% 1.7% 1.4% 1.4% Physics –15.5% 0.5% 0.2% 0.2% 0.2% Environmental sciences, total ** ** 0.0% 0.3% 0.3% Atmospheric sciences 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Geological sciences 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Oceanography 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Math and computer science, total 118.6% 160.2% 0.5% 0.9% 0.9% Mathematics 85.4% 120.6% 0.3% 0.4% 0.4% Computer science 159.2% 208.5% 0.2% 0.5% 0.5% Engineering, total 42.8% 69.9% 1.1% 1.4% 1.4% Aeronautical 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Astronautical 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Chemical 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Civil 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Electrical 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Mechanical 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Metallurgy and materials 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Engineering, other 42.8% 69.9% 1.1% 1.4% 1.4% Social sciences, total –6.0% 11.9% 1.1% 0.9% 0.9% *Less than 0.05 percent. **NIH funding of environmental research was zero in 1993; it was $35.0 million in 1998 in 1997, and $39.4 million in 1999. FY 2000 funding was estimated to be $31.4 million.

AGENCY TRENDS IN RESEARCH AND GRADUATE EDUCATION SUPPORT 75 TABLE 4-5 Full-time Graduate Students Whose Primary Source of Support is the National Institutes of Health by Field, 1993–1999 Change 1993–1999 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 Number Percent Engineering, total 794 782 768 731 766 754 844 50 6.3% Aerospace 5 5 1 0 3 3 3 –2 –40.0% Chemical 119 143 136 148 121 111 127 8 6.7% Civil 30 37 31 33 41 35 39 9 30.0% Electrical 86 83 84 71 70 79 85 –1 –1.2% Mechanical 70 71 82 63 70 71 87 17 24.3% Metallurgy/Materials 10 13 11 7 9 5 6 –4 –40.0% Engineering, other* 474 430 423 409 452 450 497 23 4.9% Sciences, total 15,077 15,168 14,906 14,757 14,590 14,556 15,154 77 0.5% Physical sciences 2,051 2,074 1,886 1,783 1,639 1,631 1,657 –394 –19.2% Earth, Atmos., Ocean. Sci. 41 36 30 30 27 21 22 –19 –46.3% Mathematics 74 68 63 61 66 68 78 4 5.4% Computer science 99 95 93 80 78 75 64 –35 –35.4% Agricultural sciences 32 47 19 17 21 15 17 –15 –46.9% Biological sciences 11,314 11,464 11,400 11,302 11,299 11,304 11,774 460 4.1% Psychology 1,163 1,098 1,094 1,218 1,198 1,226 1,275 112 9.6% Social sciences 303 286 321 266 262 216 267 –36 –11.9% Health Fields, total 2,266 2,345 2,437 2,444 2,731 2,828 3,012 746 32.9% Total 18,137 18,295 18,111 17,932 18,087 18,138 19,010 873 4.8% *In 1999, there were 452 students in biomedical engineering whose primary source of support was NIH. They comprise 90 percent of the 497 “engineering, other” students in this table and 53 percent of all engineering graduate students whose primary source of support was NIH. SOURCE: NSF/SRS Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering, Fall 1999.

76 TRENDS IN FEDERAL SUPPORT OF RESEARCH AND GRADUATE EDUCATION TABLE 4-6 Trends in NSF Support of Research by Field, 1993 to 1997, 1999 (constant dollars) Percent change Share of total 1993–1997 1993–1999 1993 1997 1999 Total, all fields 10.1% 19.3% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% Life sciences, total 1.6% 22.7% 15.9% 14.7% 16.4% Biol (excl. environmental) 3.3% 26.3% 11.4% 10.7% 12.1% Environmental biology 8.1% 26.6% 4.1% 4.0% 4.3% Agricultural sciences 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Medical sciences 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Psychology, total –66.2% –73.3% 0.8% 0.2% 0.2% Physical sciences, total –6.1% 0.7% 24.9% 21.3% 21.0% Astronomy –3.2% 1.6% 5.8% 5.1% 5.0% Chemistry –2.3% 5.8% 6.5% 5.7% 5.7% Physics –27.1% –4.7% 8.6% 5.7% 6.9% Environmental sciences, total 1.8% 9.8% 21.4% 19.8% 19.7% Atmospheric sciences –6.8% 10.2% 6.8% 5.8% 6.3% Geological sciences –32.8% –28.4% 7.3% 4.4% 4.4% Oceanography 136.2% 145.3% 4.1% 8.9% 8.5% Math and computer science, total 42.4% 60.8% 11.5% 14.8% 15.5% Mathematics 2.0% –2.6% 4.4% 4.1% 3.6% Computer science 75.2% 109.5% 6.7% 10.7% 11.9% Engineering, total 67.9% 66.2% 12.9% 19.7% 18.0% Aeronautical –100.0% –100.0% 0.2% 0.0% 0.0% Astronautical 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Chemical –7.6% –4.1% 2.1% 1.7% 1.7% Civil 20.9% 22.9% 1.5% 1.7% 1.6% Electrical –35.1% –30.0% 3.2% 1.9% 1.9% Mechanical –80.5% –81.7% 1.8% 0.3% 0.3% Metallurgy and materials 361.3% 369.7% 1.1% 4.8% 4.5% Engineering, other 245.1% 226.0% 3.0% 9.3% 8.1% Social sciences, total 42.8% 72.5% 3.0% 3.9% 4.4%

AGENCY TRENDS IN RESEARCH AND GRADUATE EDUCATION SUPPORT 77 TABLE 4-7 Full-time Graduate Students Whose Primary Source of Support is the National Science Foundation by Field, 1993–1999 Change 1993–1999 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 Number Percent Engineering, total 4,559 4,763 4,579 4,591 4,611 4,719 4,959 400 8.8% Aerospace 158 139 121 101 109 112 98 –60 –38.0% Chemical 730 749 759 777 708 756 744 14 1.9% Civil 522 587 530 534 529 544 544 22 4.2% Electrical 1,283 1,342 1,324 1,317 1,344 1,304 1,477 194 15.1% Mechanical 812 800 743 770 841 908 886 74 9.1% Metallurgy/Materials 459 505 495 504 514 501 520 61 13.3% Engineering, other 595 641 607 588 566 594 690 95 16.0% Sciences, Total 8,882 9,110 8,982 8,739 8,653 8,622 8,769 –113 –1.3% Physical sciences 3,623 3,703 3,601 3,385 3,372 3,318 3,278 –345 –9.5% Earth, Atmos., Ocean Sci. 1,366 1,409 1,387 1,242 1,201 1,122 1,128 –238 –17.4% Mathematics 470 518 474 435 386 384 441 –29 –6.2% Computer science 1,006 1,047 1,054 1,051 1,087 1,171 1,309 303 30.1% Agricultural sciences 76 87 92 97 102 91 107 31 40.8% Biological sciences 1,382 1,382 1,411 1,494 1,541 1,544 1,504 122 8.8% Psychology 314 289 288 289 277 283 310 –4 –1.3% Social sciences 645 675 675 746 687 709 692 47 7.3% Health Fields, total 89 117 100 82 98 118 121 32 36.0% Total 13,530 13,990 13,661 13,412 13,362 13,459 13,849 319 2.4% SOURCE: NSF/SRS Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering, Fall 1999.

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The Board on Science, Technology and Economic Policy updated its 1999 analysis (Appendix A, Securing America's Industrial Strength, 1999) of changes since 1990 in the distribution of federal research funding by field of science and engineering) by incorporating FY 1998 and FY 1999 obligations from the NSF Federal Funds survey, with particular attention to the trends in basic research support, changes in research fields' relative dependence on research-sponsoring agencies, and the relationship between changes in research support and changes in enrollment in graduate training in selected fields of research. The Board did not recommend funding levels for any discipline but addressed procedural aspects of R&D budgeting.

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