Budget and Performance
Directorate and Office Advisory Committees

The National Science Foundation (NSF) relies on the judgment of external experts to provide advice and recommendations to maintain high standards of program support for research, education, and infrastructure; to facilitate policy deliberations, program development and management; to identify disciplinary needs and areas of opportunities; and to promote openness to the research and education community served by the Foundation. Each Directorate and Office has an external advisory committee that typically meets twice a year to review and provide advice on program management, overall program balance, and other aspects of program performance. The committees discuss important current issues, and provide advice on the impact of policies, programs, and activities in the disciplines and fields encompassed by the Directorate or Office. In addition to Directorate and Office advisory committees, NSF has several committees that provide advice and recommendation on specific topics: astronomy and astrophysics; environmental research and education; equal opportunities in science and engineering; commercialization of discoveries; and business and operations. Occasionally, NSF may establish a short-term committee to address specific areas or issues. Currently two such committees exist. One is the Advisory Committee on Merit Review Process, which is providing advice to an internal NSF working group on topics related to NSF's merit review process. The second is the U.S. Antarctic Program Blue Ribbon Panel which is conducting an independent review of the current U.S. Antarctic Program.

If you would like to make a recommendation for membership on an NSF Advisory Committee, please review the materials on the Advisory Committee website (hyperlinks are listed below), and send to the relevant Point-of-Contact the following: the submitting person or organization's name and affiliation; the recommended individual's name and contact information (employment address, telephone number, fax number, and e-mail address); the recommended individual's curriculum vita (2-5 pages); and an expression of the individual's interest in serving¹. Many factors are weighed when formulating Committee membership, including the primary factors of expertise and qualifications, as well as other factors including diversity of institutions, regions, and groups underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Committee members serve for varying term lengths, depending on the nature of the individual Committee. Although we welcome recommendations, we regret that NSF will not be able to acknowledge or respond positively to each person who contacts NSF or has been recommended to NSF.

¹ Federally registered lobbyists are not eligible for appointment to these Federal advisory committees.