Some Other Prominent Scientific Organizations and Funding Agencies
This list is arranged alphabetically by the common abbreviation of the organization.
ACS (American Chemical Society)
Chemistry.org is the Web site of the American Chemical Society, "a self-governed individual membership organization that consists of more than 163,000 members at all degree levels and in all fields of chemistry. The organization provides a broad range of opportunities for peer interaction and career development, regardless of professional or scientific interests." ACS publishes, co-publishes, or distributes 37 publications, sponsors conferences and professional meetings, and grants fellowships and professional awards.
APS (American Physical Society)
The major professional organization in the field(s) of physics, "the APS is active in public and governmental affairs, and in the international physics community. In addition, the Society conducts extensive programs in education, public outreach, and media relations. The APS has fourteen divisions and nine topical groups covering all areas of physics research. There are six forums that reflect the interest of its 43,000 members in broader issues, and eight sections organized by geographical region." The American Physical Society sponsors national, regional, and divisional meetings, and grants professional prizes, awards, and fellowships.
ASM (American Society of Microbiology)
"The American Society for Microbiology is the oldest and largest single life science membership organization in the world. Membership has grown...to over 42,000 members today located throughout the world. ASM represents 25 disciplines of microbiological specialization plus a division for microbiology educators." ASM sponsors educational, training, and public information programs, professional conferences and workshops, book and journal publications, and professional awards. It also sets the standards for ethics and professionalism in the fields of microbiology.
CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recognized as the lead federal agency for protecting the health and safety of people - at home and abroad, providing credible information to enhance health decisions, and promoting health through strong partnerships. CDC serves as the national focus for developing and applying disease prevention and control, environmental health, and health promotion and education activities designed to improve the health of the people of the United States." The CDC itself awards and administrates grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts, as well as for the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
DHHS (Department of Health and Human Services)
"The Department of Health and Human Services is the United States government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services." The DHHS administers over 300 programs such as Medicare and Head Start, and "is the largest grant-making agency in the federal government, providing some 60,000 grants per year." NIH, FDA, and CDC are all divisions of DHHS.
DOE (Department of Energy)
"The Department of Energy's overarching mission is to advance the national, economic and energy security of the United Stated; to promote scientific and technological innovation in support of that mission; and to ensure the environmental cleanup of the national nuclear weapons complex." DOE is a major federal granting agency, sponsoring research in an array of sciences as applied to its mission.
EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
"EPA's mission is to protect human health and to safeguard the natural environment—air, water, and land..." EPA consists of "engineers, scientists, and policy analysts," as well as "legal, public affairs, financial, information management and computer specialists." In addition to leading "the nation's environmental science, research, education and assessment efforts," "EPA works to develop and enforce regulations that implement environmental laws enacted by Congress." It also funds research grants and graduate fellowships, supports environmental education projects, and works with state and local governments.
FDA (Food and Drug Administration)
The FDA is the federal watchdog of the pharmaceutical industry, regulates "Food," "Drugs," "Medical Devices," "Biologics," "Animal Feeds and Drugs," "Cosmetics," "Radiation-Emitting Products," and "Combination Products." The FDA oversees and must approve the development, research, labeling, and marketing of all drugs for the public. The FDA's regulations are collected in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), accessible from the FDA Web site.
NAS (National Academy of Sciences)
The National Academy of Sciences is one of four organizations in the National Academies (the other three are the National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council, all of which can be accessed through this Web site). The National Academies are non-government agencies that advise the federal government and the public on national issues in science, engineering, and medicine. The major divisions of the Academies are the Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences Education; the Division on Earth and Life Sciences; the Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences; the Policy and Global Affairs Division; and the Transportation Research Board.
NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
NASA is a federally funded program that not only spearheads the U.S. space exploration program, but also funds research in aerospace, astrophysics, and space technology. JAVA script is required to view their Web site.
NIH (National Institutes of Health)
Under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, NIH, consisting of the Office of the Director and 27 Institutes and Centers "is the steward of medical and behavioral research for the Nation." One of the largest public funding agencies in the United States, the NIH Web site contains: "Health Information"; "Grants and Funding Opportunities"; "News and Events"; "Scientific Resources"; "Institutes, Centers and Offices"; and an "About NIH" section.
NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration),National Weather Service
"The National Weather Service (NWS) provides weather, hydrologic, and climate forecasts and warnings for the United States, its territories, adjacent waters and ocean areas, for the protection of life and property and the enhancement of the national economy. NWS data and products form a national information database and infrastructure which can be used by other governmental agencies, the private sector, the public, and the global community." In addition to a variety of forecasts, this Web site contains information on education and outreach efforts, publications, and careers in NOAA.
NSF (National Science Foundation)
"The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent agency of the U.S. Government, established by the National Science Foundation Act of 1950." According to its multipart mission statement, it's first objective is to "initiate and support, through grants and contracts, scientific and engineering research and programs to strengthen scientific and engineering research potential, and education programs at all levels, and appraise the impact of research upon industrial development and the general welfare." NSF is a major funding agency for research in science, engineering, and science education in the United States.
ORI (Office of Research Integrity)
Located within the Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS) within the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (OS), "[t]he Office of Research Integrity (ORI) promotes integrity in biomedical and behavioral research supported by the Public Health Service (PHS) at about 4,000 institutions worldwide. ORI monitors institutional investigations of research misconduct and facilitates the responsible conduct of research through educational, preventive, and regulatory activities." The details and results of their investigations into misconduct and other efforts are available through this Web site.
USDA (United States Department of Agriculture)
According to its mission statement, the USDA is committed to "ensuring a safe, affordable, nutritious, and accessible food supply; caring for agricultural, forest, and range lands; supporting sound development of rural communities; providing economic opportunities for farm and rural residents; expanding global markets for agricultural and forest products and services; and working to reduce hunger in America and throughout the world." Like the EPA in relation to the environment, the USDA in relation to agriculture conducts research, and develops and enforces (through inspection programs, for instance) federal regulations; unlike the EPA, USDA does not award grants, but rather administers an array of developmental, educational, and financial programs such as Farm Loans, Woman, Infants, and Children's Program (WIC), and the Food Stamp Program. USDA agencies and offices include: the Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services; Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services; Food Safety; Marketing and Regulatory Programs; Natural Resources and Environment; Research, Education, and Economics; and Rural Development.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
"The Mission of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people." On this Web site students will find "portal links" to everything from birds, contaminants, endangered species, and fisheries, to law enforcement, legislation, partnerships, permits, and wetlands. The "Grants" portal leads to an index containing links to federal, state, and local grants.
USGS (United States Geological Survey)
"The USGS serves the Nation by providing reliable scientific information to describe and understand the Earth; minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources; and enhance and protect our quality of life." A federal source for research, USGS encompasses the areas of biology, geography, geology, and water. On this Web site students will find not only updated news releases about earthquakes, floods, landslides, volcanoes, and West Nile Virus, for example, but also professional and career information, and links to the US Department of the Interior, and the US Geological Survey.
