Nature:
Several centralized research centers supported by NSF are
facing the possibility of significant loss of funds, writes
Eugenie Samuel Reich for
Nature. Cornell's High Energy Synchrotron Source
(CHESS), for example, could experience a 25% budget cut. CHESS
is used by approximately 1000 researchers each year. In
addition, such facilities as the National Optical Astronomy
Observatory and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory are
expecting cuts of 7.4% and 6.4%, respectively. The figures
published don't necessarily tell the whole story—they
don't take into account the discontinuance of supplemental
funds such as those awarded under the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which disbursed $361 million to
facilities in 2010. Hence, some research centers that look, on
paper, as though they will be receiving an increase in funding
will actually experience a reduction in funds.
