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News Release 11-077

NSF Director Wraps Up Visit to Iowa, Receives Distinguished Alumni Award

Met with representatives from Iowa industry, agriculture, researchers and educators

Photo of NSF Director Subra Suresh leading a STEM education roundtable at Iowa State University.

NSF Director Subra Suresh leads a STEM education roundtable at Iowa State University.


April 15, 2011

This material is available primarily for archival purposes. Telephone numbers or other contact information may be out of date; please see current contact information at media contacts.

Today, National Science Foundation (NSF) Director Subra Suresh concluded a two-day visit to Iowa, specifically Iowa State University. Suresh, an Iowa State graduate, received a distinguished alumni award for his contributions to the engineering field at a public ceremony.

"I am honored to receive this distinguished alumni award from Iowa State University, one of many institutions that play a critical role in the nation's research, science and engineering education enterprise," said Suresh. "The United States has been a beacon of excellence in science and engineering research and education. The mission of NSF is to sustain that excellence as we continue to lead the way for the important discoveries and cutting-edge technologies that will help keep our nation globally competitive, prosperous, and secure."

Suresh has spent the last two days meeting with key NSF stakeholders from Iowa industry, agriculture and small start-up companies, as well as researchers and educators from across the spectrum, including teachers, public school administrators and new faculty members. The discussion is expected to help keep the lines of communication open and build public-private partnerships to ensure that every nugget of research may evolve into multiple innovations--maintaining America's economic prosperity and global competitiveness.

NSF funded over 240 awards totaling more than $57 million in the state of Iowa in fiscal year 2010, to support basic research in fields associated with clean energy, clean water, improving infrastructure and improving the nation's math and science teachers, among others, spurring innovation to put the economy back on solid footing.

NSF funds more than 20 percent of all U.S. university-based research and more than 50 percent of all non-medical research in U.S. universities and academic institutions. The agency also supports 82 percent of computer science research and more than 80 percent of mathematics research in academic institutions.

-NSF-

Media Contacts
 Deborah Wing, NSF, (703) 292-5344, email: dwing@nsf.gov

Related Websites
NSF Director Subra Suresh Biography: http://www.nsf.gov/news/speeches/suresh/suresh_bio.jsp

The U.S. National Science Foundation propels the nation forward by advancing fundamental research in all fields of science and engineering. NSF supports research and people by providing facilities, instruments and funding to support their ingenuity and sustain the U.S. as a global leader in research and innovation. With a fiscal year 2023 budget of $9.5 billion, NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives more than 40,000 competitive proposals and makes about 11,000 new awards. Those awards include support for cooperative research with industry, Arctic and Antarctic research and operations, and U.S. participation in international scientific efforts.

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