April 2025

On April 18, the National Science Foundation (NSF) issued a statement on updates to the agency’s priorities. The updates include a statement from NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan that notes NSF’s mission is grounded in the mission of the agency to promote the progress of science, advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare, and secure the national defense, while also highlighting how priorities aligned with that mission are “modulated by statutory directives and administration priorities.”

In his statement, Panchanathan also noted NSF’s longstanding broader impacts criterion and its initiatives that are congressionally mandated on broadening participation.

“These efforts should not preference some groups at the expense of others, or directly/indirectly exclude individuals or groups,” said Panchanathan. “Research projects with more narrow impact limited to subgroups of people based on protected class or characteristics do not effectuate NSF priorities.”

An FAQ document accompanying the statement includes several questions related to the termination of awards that have happened in concert with the statement release. The responses to the questions generally note needed alignment with priorities. One question seeking input into whether NSF grant applicants can propose broadening participation activities included the response: “Investigators wishing to address goal seven—expanding participation in STEM for women and underrepresented groups—must ensure that all outreach, recruitment, or participatory activities in NSF projects are open and available to all Americans.”

The FAQ also notes that the guidance on broadening participation applies to current and future NSF grants, which led to the cancellation of current grant funding.

“NSF has prioritized ensuring that access and success in STEM, including in STEM education and education research, meets the needs of those populations that have been traditionally underrepresented in STEM,” said AERA Executive Director Felice J. Levine. “We are deeply concerned with the effect that these actions to cancel grants will have on the development of evidence-based teaching practices and effective student engagement strategies in STEM education for all who wish to pursue STEM educator and scientific workforce opportunities.”