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Dive Brief:
- The American Society of Civil Engineers warned dismissal of the National Science Board threatens the advancement of “American innovation, resilience and security,” according to a statement Tuesday from ASCE President Marsha Anderson Bomar.
- The group said the National Science Foundation underpins critical research that shapes how engineers design and protect infrastructure. This includes improvements in seismic performance and extreme weather resilience.
- On April 24, the Trump administration removed all NSF board membersReuters reported.
Diving knowledge:
ASCE noted NSF’s historic role in funding “independent, competitive, peer-reviewed research” that supports national health, defense, and welfare.
“Firing the entire leadership branch of an organization whose work spans many complex disciplines threatens the viability of its operations, which benefit us all,” Bomar said in the statement. “The world witnessed America’s transformation into a global superpower through investments in research and innovation. As we approach the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding, we must make decisions that continue that legacy.”
The organization also tied NSF-supported research directly to gains in the built environment, noting that improvements in how infrastructure withstands floods, earthquakes, wildfires and tornadoes come in large part from these programs.
“Our understanding of how to safeguard buildings, roads, bridges and more against seismic events or how these structures will perform over many years of use is largely the result of NSF support,” Bomar said. “Our workforce, public safety, and global competitiveness depend on NSF’s continued support and its contributions to US excellence.”
