NSF's programs contribute to the improvement of education in schools, colleges, and universities. Other Federal agencies rely on fundamental research produced by NSF-funded researchers and on the availability of a workforce upgraded by NSF programs. State and local officials look to NSF as a stimulus for economic development through its support for research in small businesses and industry-university partnerships. Schools and communities benefit directly from NSF-funded improvements in curricula, instructional strategies, teacher preparation and educational technologies which lead to systemic educational reform. Policy makers and researchers in all these sectors rely on NSF as a source of reliable data and analysis pertaining to science and engineering.
Communications media inform the public about new developments in science and engineering.
They rely on NSF and NSF-supported researchers for news, and they are essential in building public support for science. All of these diverse partners need to be considered and included when setting performance objectives and evaluating NSF programs.