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The Mathematical Sciences in 2025 (2013) / Chapter Skim
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Appendix A: Past Strategic Studies
Pages 155-158

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From page 155...
... Approximately 3,300 chemists and 3,300 physicists received federal research funding in 1980, compared with just 2,300 mathematical scientists.2 The study estimated the number of graduate student research associateships and postdoctoral research positions that would be needed for a healthy pipeline of new researchers and, from that, argued for a doubling of federal funding for mathematical sciences research. The David report (named after its chair, former Presidential Science A ­ dvisor Edward David)
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From page 156...
... According to the subsequent "David II report,"3 members of the mathematical sciences community had "shown a growing awareness of the problems confronting their discipline and increased interest in dealing with the problems, particularly in regard to communication with the public and government agencies and involvement in education." Because the imbalance in federal funding was only partially remedied as a result of the David report -- federal funding for mathematical sciences research increased by 34 percent, not 100 percent -- the funding agencies that support the mathematical sciences decided in 1989 to commission the David II report to assess progress and recommend further steps to strengthen the enterprise. That report found that federal support for graduate and postdoctoral students had increased substantially between 1984 and 1989 -- by 61 percent and 42 percent, respectively -- and some aspects of infrastructure, such as computing facilities and research institutes, had been upgraded.
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From page 157...
... Odom, former head of the National Security Agency. The Executive Summary of the Odom report reaches conclusions and makes recommendations: The modern world increasingly depends on the mathematical sciences in areas ranging from national security and medical technology to com puter software, telecommunications, and investment policy.
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From page 158...
... The NSF d ­ irector at that time, Rita Colwell, was very supportive of the mathematical sciences and encouraged a number of new initiatives, including partnerships between DMS and other NSF units. In addition, DMS began programs aimed at improving career preparation for the future mathematical sciences workforce and substantially broadened the portfolio of mathematical sciences research institutes.
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  • odom report
  • critical resource
  • assessment panel
  • found worrisome
  • valuable research

  • dvisor edward
  • continued work
  • strategic goals
  • presidential science
  • ences research

  • student research
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  • mathematical science

  • international assessment
  • sciences community
  • partially remedied
  • striking increases
  • graduate student


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