The Natural Science Collections Alliance has submitted testimony to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, requesting Congress to provide the National Science Foundation with at least $11.9 billion in FY 2024. The testimony highlights the importance and role of natural history collections in improving public well-being and national economic security.
“Natural science collections advance scientific research and education, and that informs actions to improve public health, agricultural productivity, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, and American economic innovation and productivity,” noted NSC Alliance. “The institutions that care for scientific collections are important research infrastructure that enable other scientists to study the basic data of life; conduct biological, geological, anthropological, and environmental research; and integrate research findings from across these diverse disciplines.”
The testimony applauded the passage of the CHIPS and Science Act, which recognizes biological collections as a research priority for NSF. “The proposed investments in use-inspired research through the Technology, Innovations, and Partnerships Directorate will enable the biodiversity collections community to build the cyberinfrastructure and databases necessary to mobilize biodiversity data in ways that bolster 21st century science and drive innovation. We are encouraged by this commitment to our nation’s scientific and technological enterprise and urge that robust investments also be made in basic and foundational research.” NSC Alliance urged Congress to follow through on the promise of this landmark legislation by funding NSF as close as possible to the levels authorized by the law.
Read the testimony submitted to the House. An identical version was submitted to the Senate.