A larger set of forces makes clear that the integration of research and education deserves greater emphasis in the NSF's programming and at academic institutions. Today's students will spend their careers in a 21st century workplace that presents complex and open-ended challenges. The students who will thrive in this environment are those who have been educated in a discovery-rich environment. In our educational programs at all levels, we have aimed to engage students in inquiry, to excite them about discovery. We know that research is really about learning.
Faculty doing research have at least two important assets for learning.
The linkage of learning and research is central to NSF's mission. It serves as one of the four core strategies in the NSF Strategic Plan. We have already established a number of programs that integrate research and education at the faculty level and at the disciplinary level. To further the linkage at the institutional level in academia, we have established a new activity, Recognition Awards for the Integration of Research and Education. The National Science Foundation is committed to the principle of the integration of research and education at all levels of education, and especially in our institutions of higher learning.