Happy 70th Anniversary, National Science Foundation

05/10 

On May 10, 1950, Congress established the National Science Foundation to promote the progress of science, to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; and to secure the national defense. This year marks the 70th anniversary of NSF’s founding.

Caption: NSF History Wall, Alexandria, VA
Credit: Nicolle R. Fuller, National Science Foundation
Milestone PDB structures are included on the NSF History Wall: HIV capsid (PDB structure 3j3q and #20 on Wall); green fluorescent protein (GFP), a powerful cellular biology research tool (PDB structure 1gfl and #26); and CRISPR, the enzyme revolutionizing biotech and health (PDB structure 4P6I and #61). #NSFstories

The NSF support for the RCSB PDB and PDB archive has been critical over the years. In return, RCSB PDB works with US Structural Biologists and users of the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS) to enable research across all NSF directorates from agriculture to zoology.

RCSB PDB supports an international community of millions of users, including biologists (in fields such as structural biology, biochemistry, genetics, pharmacology); other research scientists (in fields such as bioinformatics); software developers for data analysis and visualization; students and educators (all levels); media writers, illustrators, textbook authors; and the general public.

RCSB PDB education efforts are built to broaden access and engagement with biomolecules. Features aimed at training the next generation of PDB users include the Molecule of the Month series, curricular materials and training guides, and individual research experiences for undergraduates.

RCSB PDB is supported by grants from the National Science Foundation (DBI-1832184), the US Department of Energy (DE-SC0019749), and the National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under grant R01GM133198. In the past, RCSB PDB was also funded by the National Library of Medicine, the National Center for Research Resources, the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.