It's been a roller-coaster ride the past couple of days regarding funding for the basic physical sciences. First, on Tuesday night our new self-proclaimed Science President announced a doubling of funds for research in the physical sciences. It was a very welcome announcement, but a tough sell in convincing us all given the Science President's track record. Then the Science President's science advisor, Dr. Marburger, held a web-based Q&A session on Wednesday afternoon. Our friends broke through and got answers to our very basic question: `does this new science iniative encompass basic science such a particle physics?' Alas, the answer was no. Today, the Department of Energy (DOE) - the agency who supports the majority of basic physical science research - issued a press release regarding its request for funds for fiscal year 2007 for the DOE Office of Science. And, it is very, very, very welcome news indeed! Here are the first two paragraphs of this press release:
As part of the American Competitiveness Initiative, U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman today announced that the Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 budget requests $4.1 billion for the Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Science, a $505 million (14.1%) increase over FY 2006 funding. This budget puts DOE's Office of Science on the path to doubling its budget by FY 2016. The increased funding represents a major contribution to our national investment in basic science research - research critical to ensuring American competitiveness in the world, and to enhancing our energy security in the years ahead. "This is an historic step and will change the future of science in this country," Secretary Bodman said. "Continued American leadership in science is critical to our ability to innovate and grow. These funds will also provide new educational and training opportunities that will give the next generation of scientists, teachers, and engineers the tools they need to succeed."
Here is the actual breakdown of funds (in millions of $): Basic Energy Sciences: $1421 M total, increase over FY06 $286.4 M Biological and Environmental Research: $510.3 M total, increase over FY06 $54.6 M High Energy Physics Program: $775.1 M total, increase over FY06 $58.4 M Nuclear Physics Program: $454.1 M total, increase over FY06 $87 M Fusion Energy Sciences Program: $319.0 M total, increase over FY06 $31.3 M Advanced Scientific Computing Research: $318.7 M total, increase over FY06 $84 M Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists Program: $11.0 M total, increase over FY06 $3.8 M Here is the language (i.e., description paragraph) accompanying the HEP budget figures:
This is a $58.4 million increase over FY 2006. This funding for grants and full experimental facility operations will be used to further explore basic research to explore the laws of nature governing the most basic constituents of matter and the forces binding them. These are fundamental principles at the heart of physics and the physical sciences. Project engineering and design funding of $10.3 million is requested for the new Electron Neutrino Appearance project.
Here is the language for Nuclear Physics:
This is an $87 million increase over FY 2006. This funding supports research to provide new insights and knowledge of the structure and interaction of atomic nuclei and the primary forces of particles of nature in nuclear matter. The funding increase restores operations at both the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (TJNAF) and the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). In addition, new funding is requested for a TJNAF power upgrade and a new injector for RHIC.
It is exceptional that a press release on science funding has been issued, period. Let alone in advance of the release of the President's budget for the upcoming fiscal year. This is being showcased and is good, encouraging news overall and I hope the trend continues! (Although, I'd like to know why high energy physics received a lower percentage increase than the other fields....) These increases are very much needed. Now we can run our facilities and carry out our experiments as planned instead of terminating them prematurely. However, Congress must be functional and pass these funding increases into law....
