NSF’s “FY 2002 Budget Request to Congress” details the
Engineering request. The Engineering Activity request would
remain essentially level, increasing $0.21 million from
$430.84 million to $431.05 million.

There are six Subactivities within the Engineering Activity:

The Bioengineering and Environmental Systems Subactivity
budget would decrease 1.9%, or $0.76 million, from $39.21
million to $38.45 million.

The Chemical and Transport Systems budget would decrease 1.1%,
or $0.57 million, from $50.72 million to $50.15 million.

The Civil and Mechanical Systems (CMS) budget would decrease
2.0%, or $1.08 million, from $53.26 million to $52.18 million.
The budget document states, “Nanoscale Science and
Engineering: An increase of $1.67 million for a total of $4.45
million for new capabilities to observe, create, and
manipulate materials and surfaces at the nanoscale to develop
the fundamental knowledge and techniques necessary to adapt
advances in nanotechnology to CMS-related applications.
Examples include superstrong materials for structural use,
nanosensors, low-friction surfaces, and nanoscale motors and
actuators.”

The Design, Manufacture, and Industrial Innovation budget
would decrease 0.4%, or $0.49 million, from $126.19 million to
$125.70 million. Within this subactivity, the budget for
Design, Manufacture and Industrial Innovation would decline
1.0%, or $0.49 million, from $51.36 million to $50.87 million.
The Small Business-Industrial Innovation budget would remain
level at $74.83 million. The budget document states that FY
2002 plans include: “Support for the Nanoscale Science and
Engineering (NSE) priority area of nano-manufacturing covering
nano-features enhancement in micro/meso products and devices,
nano-assembly and connectivity, nano-process control and nano-
system integration increases by $1.67 million for a total of
$7.17 million” and “Support within NSE for an initial study of
scale-up issues in terms of product reliability, product and
process reproducibility, robustness of system, environmental
compatibility and economic feasibility for a Nanoscale
Experimental and Testing Facility (NEXT) increases by $1.67
million for a total of $1.67 million.”

The Electrical and Communications Systems (ECS) budget would
increase 5.8%, or $3.12 million, from $53.97 million to $57.09
million. The budget document states: “In FY 2002, ECS will
maintain support for the Information Technology Research
priority area at a level of $2.68 million, unchanged from FY
2001. This support will emphasize research on developing
high-end computing tools to accelerate the design of the next
generation IT manufacturing techniques in areas such as
photonic crystals and sensors and detectors.” Also, “An
increase of $3.12 million will support the Nanobiotechnology
Science and Technology Center at Cornell University.
Reallocation within the base will provide support for
increased activity and future potential applications in the
following areas: Nanoscale and Engineering research increases
$3.34 million for a total of $20.14 million and focuses
support on fundamental principles of electronic and photonic
devices, manipulation of nanostructures, and modeling and
simulation of new device architectures and systems. Smaller
and faster devices based on nanoscale science and engineering
will create opportunities for new electronics, biotechnology,
and information and communications systems. Investments are
also planned for a Nanotechnology Experimentation and Testing
Facility (NEXT) to address issues regarding the development of
a new instrumentation for nanoscale research, characterization
and prototyping of devices.”

The Engineering Education and Centers budget would remain
level at $107.48 million. The budget document states: “Support
for the Nanoscale Science and Engineering priority area
increases $1.67 million for a total of $14.47 million. This
increase will support 2-3 new Combined Research and Curriculum
Development (CRCD) projects and one new Research Experiences
for Undergraduates (REU) site in the area of nanotechnology.”

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Richard M. Jones

Public Information Division

The American Institute of Physics

fyi@aip.org

(301) 209-3095

http://www.aip.org/gov

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