1. Tennessee
THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION (NSF) is the only federal agency whose mission includes support for all fields of fundamental science and engineering.
BY THE NUMBERS
Tennessee in FY 2016
$79 Million: NSF funds awarded
22nd: National ranking in NSF funds
26: NSF-funded institutions
264: NSF grant awards
2: NSF research centers/facilities
“NSF funding is critical to the continuing education of Tennessee students at the K-12, undergraduate and graduate level in the STEM fields as well as supporting cutting-edge research in our state that leads to new technologies and jobs.”
- Dr. Camilla Benbow, Patricia and Rhodes Hart Dean College of Education and Human Development, Vanderbilt University
EXAMPLES OF NSF-FUNDED RESEARCH IN TENNESSEE
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, was awarded $16 million along with 18 other institutions to establish the National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis.
Vanderbilt University Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Robert J. Webster III was awarded an NSF Faculty Early CAREER Development grant to further his efforts to design more accurate and less invasive surgical tools called continuum robots. Since 2000, 25 Vanderbilt School of Engineering faculty members have received these awards.
University of Memphis Associate Professor of Computer Science Lan Wang received an NSF grant to create new and innovative ways to build a more robust Internet. The Named Data Networking project, aims to offer better security, mobility and new applications.
The Tennessee Solar Conversion and Storage using Outreach, Research and Education (TN-SCORE) program engages students in practical experiments to make the high efficiency solar cells. Over 160 students from nine separate Tennessee high schools fabricated and tested solar cells powered by blackberries.
INVESTMENT IN SCIENCE = INVESTMENT IN TENNESSEE
Over 1,000 patents were awarded to Tennessee inventors in
Tennessee companies received $144 million in venture capital in
Tennessee has about 8,870 high technology businesses that employ 223,500 people.1
Vanderbilt University generated an economic impact of $8.9 billion, 62,000 jobs, more than $3.5 billion in labor income and $12 million in tax revenue for the state in
University of Tennessee had an annual economic impact of $1.6 billion and its spending activity generated $125.3 million in tax revenue for state and local governments and public schools in
1 Science and Engineering Indicators 2016 NSF
2 Vanderbilt University’s contributions to the economic vibrancy of Tennessee. 2014
3 The Economic Impact of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, on the State of Tennessee
Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF) 

2. Tennessee
Since 1952, NSF has supported nearly 50,000 graduate students through research fellowships.
Tennessee received $30 million in NSF educational funding in FY 2016.
THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION (NSF) not only funds cutting-edge research at institutions across the country; NSF’s education initiatives ensure the U.S. will remain a global leader in innovation for generations to come.
EXAMPLES OF NSF-FUNDED EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN TENNESSEE
The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville annually provides undergraduate students with a ten-week research experience along with industrial visits and training in scientific research support skills.
The STEM Majors for Rural Teaching (SMaRT) program at Tennessee Technological University provides Robert Noyce Scholarships to 24 students majoring in STEM fields. The awardees take education courses during their undergraduate studies in order to qualify for teaching secondary school science or mathematics.
“Mathematics as a FirstSTEP to Success in STEM” at Middle Tennessee State University addresses math deficiencies in STEM freshman students through an intensive two-year program and is aimed at increasing graduation rates of all STEM majors.
The EAGER:C3STEM program at the Vanderbilt University uses broadband communication to improve STEM learning at K-12 and university level through teaching of fundamental concepts of data analysis and computer-based modeling.
Courtesy:
“STEM education is the future, and we're proud to be the focal point in this area.”
− Dr. Tony Donen, Principal, STEM School Chattanooga
“STEM programs are the best opportunity we have to introduce engineering early in the learning process to facilitate and encourage continued interest in math and science.”
− Jason Brooks, President and CEO, LDA Engineering
Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF) 