The US National Science Foundation (NSF) is changing how it funds research grants ' and how it decides which ones to fund ' to better align with White House priorities, according to a letter released on 10 September. 'NSF is taking decisive action to meet this moment, introducing new and ambitious ideas that capitalize on the changes in the scientific ecosystem to advance our core mission,' says the letter. It is signed by Brian Stone, who is standing in as the NSF's director. Since its inception in 1950, the NSF, a major funder of basic research, has solicited proposals on topics informed heavily by the scientific community. The letter describes a shift to a 'portfolio-based' approach to making grants that combines traditional 'investigator-driven inquiry' with 'NSF-directed opportunities'. The letter does not say what the opportunities will be, but states that the NSF will specify objectives but 'never the method scientists must use' to achieve them. Staff members at the agency,...
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