National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002

The National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-368) significantly increased federal funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF) to strengthen American leadership in science, mathematics, and engineering. The law established a "doubling path" for the agency’s budget over five years, prioritizing research in high-tech areas such as cybersecurity, nanotechnology, and plant genomics.

For everyday citizens, the law’s primary impact was felt through major investments in education and workforce development. It created the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, which provides financial aid to science and math majors who commit to teaching in K-12 schools, and established "Math and Science Partnerships" to improve the quality of technical education in local school districts. Additionally, the act expanded grants for community colleges and minority-serving institutions to ensure a broader range of students could access careers in high-demand technology and research fields.