The recent drop in grants awarded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) has affected various fields within the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate unevenly. While overall research grants have decreased by over 40% this year compared to recent years, physics grants have fared better, with just a 13% decline.
This year marks a historically low number of grants awarded under the Directorate, the lowest since the 1980s. In stark contrast to physics, both astronomy and materials research have seen reductions of more than 40%, and other fields like chemistry and mathematics over 30%. Despite the relative stability in the number of physics grants, funding amounts have significantly declined, indicating smaller awards.
Marcel Agüeros, president of the American Astronomical Society, expressed concern about the situation, highlighting the need for physicists to adjust their expectations according to the new funding realities. He emphasized that the funding environment remains challenging.
The fiscal year for the NSF ends on September 30, and the agency is currently lagging in issuing grants compared to previous years. The decline in grants is mainly attributed to a budget withholding from the White House related to its Grand Research Challenges project, leading to a projected 46% decline for fiscal year 2026.
Upcoming grant solicitations for fiscal year 2027 indicate continued cuts for most MPS fields, except for a 10% reduction in physics grants. This creates uncertainty for researchers, especially for students and early-career academics who rely on these grants to support their work and training.
Overall, the current funding landscape raises important concerns about the sustainability of research and the future of training in the scientific community.
