The following is a statement by Marsha Anderson Bomar, Ph.D., President, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE):
WASHINGTON – The reported decision to dismiss the National Science Board, the governing body of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), undermines the critical mission of advancing American innovation, resilience and safety that is shared by the scientific and engineering communities. Since NSF’s inception in 1950, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and our members have supported NSF’s research and contributions to science, national health, defense, prosperity and welfare. NSF’s independent, competitive and peer reviewed research is essential to ensuring our nation employs best practices and fosters the brightest minds in the engineering field.
The resilience of our built environment – its ability to withstand and recover from extreme weather events or environmental catastrophes such as floods, earthquakes, wildfires or tornadoes – has advanced tremendously due to funding and programs from NSF. Our understanding of how to safeguard buildings, roads, bridges and more against seismic events or how these structures will fare over many years of use is largely the result of NSF support.
Our workforce, public safety, and global competitiveness depend on continued support of NSF and its contributions to U.S. excellence. Dismissing the entire leadership branch of an organization whose work spans many complex disciplines threatens the viability of their operations, which benefit all of us. The world witnessed the United States’ transformation into a global superpower through investments in research and innovation. As we near the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding, we must make decisions that continue that legacy.
About the American Society of Civil Engineers
Founded in 1852, the American Society of Civil Engineers represents more than 160,000 civil engineers worldwide and is America's oldest national engineering society. ASCE works to raise awareness of the need to maintain and modernize the nation's infrastructure using sustainable and resilient practices, advocates for increasing and optimizing investment in infrastructure, and improve engineering knowledge and competency. For more information, visit www.asce.org or www.infrastructurereportcard.org and follow us on Twitter, @ASCETweets and @ASCEGovRel.