ceramic composites, and other very-high-temperature materials. Researchers there were at the forefront of the development of environmental barrier coatings as well as specific experimental techniques for high-temperature studies, including extensive characterization and modeling of oxidation of alumina-forming alloys under thermally cycling conditions.

As described in its strategic plan,¹⁸ the National Science Foundation (NSF) is the only federal agency with a mission that includes support for all fields of fundamental science and engineering,¹⁹ except for the medical sciences. In addition to funding research in the traditional academic areas, the agency also supports high-risk, high-payoff ideas and novel collaborations. NSF ensures that research is fully integrated with education, so that today’s revolutionary work will also be training tomorrow’s leading scientists and engineers.

A brief survey of current research grants funded by NSF showed that more than 40 dealt with various aspects of corrosion research. Topical focus ranges from traditional aqueous corrosion of metals to atmospheric degradation of nanostructures, and from science-oriented topics to engineering issues related to civil infrastructure. Research projects were found in divisions with responsibilities including materials, chemistry, and civil engineering and others. But there do not appear to be clear themes for the corrosion research projects and no apparent program strategy regarding corrosion research.