Research and development entails technical investigations and creation of new areas of knowledge or actual products, including innovation in housing materials, systems, construction processes, and management techniques. In the past few decades, there has been less support for developing new housing related materials and processes than in other industrial and scientific pursuits. This lack of development in background research on homebuilding has placed a burden on product manufacturers to conduct research for which they have no resources. The shortage of funds for background research also has diminished the academic research community's interest in housing technology issues. The National Science Foundation (NSF), PATH's primary link to academic research, sponsors the NSF-PATH Award, which addresses the lack of background research in housing.
Background
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is the central source for scientific and engineering investigation resources in the country. It is an independent government agency responsible for promoting science and engineering through programs that invest over $3.3 billion in 20,000 research and education projects in science and engineering. The mission of NSF is to promote the progress of science; to advance national health, prosperity, and welfare; and to secure national defense. NSF seeks to promote partnerships with the academic and research communities, industry, elementary and secondary schools, other Federal agencies, state and local governments, and comparable organizations. NSF's approach to partnerships emphasizes shared investments, shared risks, and shared benefits.
The partnership between HUD and NSF's Division of Civil and Mechanical Systems enables PATH to mobilize the Nation's building and engineering research community to advance PATH goals. Using PATH's vision for housing related issues and the PATH Technology Roadmap for specific technology areas, NSF conducts outreach to potential research partners, develops and implements the solicitation and selection plans, and provides oversight and guidance to the selected research effort using its well-established research award protocol.
Through the NSF-PATH Award program, academic researchers can apply for research grants in a variety of housing technology areas. First given in 2000, the awards have not only led to interesting developments on a variety of technological fronts, but have brought increased attention to housing within the broader university research community. Award grantees selected by NSF's expert panels appear in the links below.
Updates
The 2002 NSF-PATH Program Announcement was released by the NSF on May 2002, and will accept proposals through June 1, 2002.
History
Other opportunities and resources for researchers are listed under PATH Partners.
Links
For other basic and applied research opportunities, visit the Researchers page under Partners for descriptions of PATH efforts to support the housing research community, especially academic researchers.
To find out more, visit the National Science Foundation (NSF) Web site or the NSF's Division of Civil and Mechanical Systems Web site.
Contact Information
NSF
Peter Chang
4201 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, Virginia 22230
Tel 703 292-5111
FIRS 800 877-8339
TDD 703 292-5090
PATH
Carlos Martín
451 7th Street, SW, Room 8134
Washington, DC 20410-0001
(202) 708-4370
Other University Projects Supported by PATH
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Research
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Content updated on 1/22/2002
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Partnership for Advancing
Technology in Housing (PATH)
451 7th Street, SW, Rm. 8134
Washington, DC 20410-0001
Telephone: 202 708-4370 Fax: 202 708-5873
E-mail: pathnet@pathnet.org |
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