American Scientist

Fostering excellence in science is not just a matter of individual cultivation of scientific virtues; it also requires consideration of institutional, economic, and social factors to provide an environment conducive to their development and exercise. In some fields, amateur science is still possible with minimal support, but increasingly difficult research questions require specialized training and substantial funding. In the United States, some scientific research is funded by large private foundations, but most financial support comes from the research and development (R&D) budgets of industry and from grants issued by federal agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF).