About NPSC - National Physical Science Consortium

national physical science consortium (graduate fellowships in the physical sciences)

Letter from the Executive Director

The National Physical Science Consortium is a unique partnership between industry, government agencies and laboratories, and higher education. Established in 1987, the NPSC is headquartered in Los Angeles.

The NPSC has one primary objective: Increase the number of qualified U.S.-citizen Ph.D.'s in the physical sciences and related engineering fields, emphasizing recruitment of a diverse applicant pool of women and historically underrepresented minorities. NPSC accomplishes this objective by assisting corporations and government agencies and laboratories in awarding doctoral fellowships to outstanding U.S. students.

Strengthening diversity among U.S. scientists and engineers is more than a worthy goal; it is an imperative. The United States has long led the world in advancing the physical sciences. But if our nation is to compete on a global scale, we must be able to train and recruit a diverse pool of qualified citizen-scientists.

Why is this so important? As a matter of principle, all persons ought to have the inalienable right to pursue education at the highest level they choose, regardless of gender or race. As a matter of practicality, a modern nation must be able to draw on the talents of one hundred percent of its citizens, and a sufficient number of them. The most recent data show that ever more must be done to ensure that these two goals are achieved.

In 2001, foreign students earned 56% of doctoral degrees in engineering granted by U.S. universities, 49% in math and computer science, and 34% in natural science.
In 2001, U.S. women earned 24% of doctoral degrees in math and computer science and 37% in natural science.
The number of U.S. underrepresented minorities receiving doctoral degrees rose sharply from the mid-1980s to 2000, but then declined. In 2001, fewer than 800 Blacks and fewer than 800 Hispanics received doctoral degrees from U.S. universities.
(Source: Science and Engineering Indicators 2004, NSB.)

These trends were already apparent in the 1980s, leading a national task force to create NPSC. Initially funded by the National Science Foundation, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and the U.S. Department of Energy, NPSC is now self-sustaining through annual membership fees from employer members and a modest endowment. Since granting its first fellowship award to seven young scholars in 1989, the NPSC partnership has provided fellowships to over 300 aspiring scientists and engineers. Of these, nearly half are minorities and three-quarters are women. Over 100 have received the doctorate degree (nearly as many are still enrolled.)

By helping to provide a continuous source of scientists who are U. S. citizens, employers and universities can achieve diversity and balance in our nation's scientific community. In turn, the NPSC can help today's promising young scientists — tomorrow's science leaders — to realize their dreams.

"Strengthening diversity among U.S. scientists and engineers is more than a worthy goal; it is an imperative."


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Letter from the Executive Director	The National Physical Science Consortium is a unique partnership between industry, government agencies and laboratories, and higher education. Established in 1987, the NPSC is headquartered in Los Angeles. The NPSC has one primary objective: Increase the number of qualified U.S.-citizen Ph.D.'s in the physical sciences and related engineering fields, emphasizing recruitment of a diverse applicant pool of women and historically underrepresented minorities. NPSC accomplishes this objective by assisting corporations and government agencies and laboratories in awarding doctoral fellowships to outstanding U.S. students. Strengthening diversity among U.S. scientists and engineers is more than a worthy goal; it is an imperative. The United States has long led the world in advancing the physical sciences. But if our nation is to compete on a global scale, we must be able to train and recruit a diverse pool of qualified citizen-scientists. Why is this so important? As a matter of principle, all persons ought to have the inalienable right to pursue education at the highest level they choose, regardless of gender or race. As a matter of practicality, a modern nation must be able to draw on the talents of one hundred percent of its citizens, and a sufficient number of them. The most recent data show that ever more must be done to ensure that these two goals are achieved. In 2001, foreign students earned 56% of doctoral degrees in engineering granted by U.S. universities, 49% in math and computer science, and 34% in natural science. In 2001, U.S. women earned 24% of doctoral degrees in math and computer science and 37% in natural science. The number of U.S. underrepresented minorities receiving doctoral degrees rose sharply from the mid-1980s to 2000, but then declined. In 2001, fewer than 800 Blacks and fewer than 800 Hispanics received doctoral degrees from U.S. universities. (Source: Science and Engineering Indicators 2004, NSB.) These trends were already apparent in the 1980s, leading a national task force to create NPSC. Initially funded by the National Science Foundation, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and the U.S. Department of Energy, NPSC is now self-sustaining through annual membership fees from employer members and a modest endowment. Since granting its first fellowship award to seven young scholars in 1989, the NPSC partnership has provided fellowships to over 300 aspiring scientists and engineers. Of these, nearly half are minorities and three-quarters are women. Over 100 have received the doctorate degree (nearly as many are still enrolled.) By helping to provide a continuous source of scientists who are U. S. citizens, employers and universities can achieve diversity and balance in our nation's scientific community. In turn, the NPSC can help today's promising young scientists — tomorrow's science leaders — to realize their dreams. © Copyright 2004, National Physical Science Consortium.	"Strengthening diversity among U.S. scientists and engineers is more than a worthy goal; it is an imperative."