Policy Tools » Policy Action for Ecological Scientists: NSF
Date, 2007
The Honorable (first and last name of Senator)
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator (last name of Senator):
(OR FOR LETTERS TO REPRESENATIVES):
The Honorable (full name of Congressperson)
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Representative (LAST NAME OF CONGRESSMAN):
As a constituent I write to thank you for the budget increase the National Science Foundation received in fiscal year 2007. This marked the first time in several years that this valuable agency saw an increase in its budget.
I write also today to voice my concern that the biology directorate ( BIO ) at NSF is slated to receive only a 4.1 percent increase in the Administration's proposed budget for fiscal year 2008, in contrast to the proposed 7.7 percent agency-wide increase. Biological research at NSF supports 68 percent of federal support for basic research in the non-medical biological sciences at US academic institutions. Critical to the future of environmental stewardship and human welfare, funding for disciplines including botany, ecology, and soil science has stagnated.
At my own institution [INSERT YOUR INSTITUTION], this flat funding translates into [GIVE EXAMPLE OF LOST OPPORTUNITIES]. While the NSF-wide average funding success rate is 21 percent, it is a mere 14 percent for BIO .
I would like to see at least a 7 percent increase for the NSF's BIO program. A 7.8 percent increase in the overall NSF budget for fiscal year 2008, would enable the agency to provide the Administration's requested increases to the other programs as well as to support a 7 percent increase to BIO .
Past research funded through BIO has resulted in numerous benefits for our nation including:
- Path-breaking research on the potential impacts of climate change on species across the entire country of Mexico , a major step in predicting likely impacts on natural resources;
- Studies that revealed how acid rain negatively impacts U.S. forests and lakes;
- [INSERT AN EXAMPLE YOU KNOW OF HERE—PERHAPS ONE OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO YOUR STATE OR REGION]
- The discovery of microbes that can exist in extremely hot or cold environments, which has tremendous potential for industrial applications such as bioremediation.
Competitive, peer-reviewed research in biological sciences funded by NSF is vital to the nation's ability to meet current and future energy and environmental challenges.
Thank you for your past support and your earnest consideration of my request.
Sincerely,
Your name and home mailing address
