AUTOMOTIVE

NSF plans to create a national cyberinfrastructure, an integrated system of supercomputing resources that will be broadly accessible by scientists and engineers. The NSF’s budget request includes $137.9 million for the widely shared cyberinfrastructure program. According to NSF estimates, cyberinfrastructure funding represents a 15 percent increase over the same component programs in 2004. The NSF’s total budget request for fiscal 2005 is $5.7 billion, an increase of 3 percent over 2004. NSF Director Rita Colwell said she was pleased with the NSF’s proposed funding “in light of the significant challenges that face the nation in security, defense and the economy.” “This year, we have had to make informed choices in a sea of mixed opportunity and constraint,” Colwell said. “NSF’s budget priorities for fiscal 2005 are strengthening its ability to administer a growing number of awards, advancing the productivity of researchers … and improving science and engineering infrastructure.”