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Dive Brief:
- The American Society of Civil Engineers warned the dismissal of the National Science Board threatens the advancement of “American innovation, resilience and safety,” according to a Tuesday statement from ASCE President Marsha Anderson Bomar.
- The group said the National Science Foundation underpins critical research that shapes how engineers design and protect infrastructure. That includes improvements to seismic performance and extreme weather resilience.
- On April 24, the Trump administration removed all NSF board members, Reuters reported.
Dive Insight:
ASCE pointed to NSF’s historic role in funding “independent, competitive and peer reviewed research” that supports national health, defense and welfare.
“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,” said Bomar in the statement. “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.”
The organization also tied NSF-backed research directly to gains in the built environment, noting that improvements in how infrastructure withstands floods, earthquakes, wildfires and tornadoes largely stem from those programs.
“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,” Bomar said. “Our workforce, public safety, and global competitiveness depend on continued support of NSF and its contributions to U.S. excellence.”
