The U.S. National Science Foundation is an independent federal agency that supports science and engineering in all 50 states and U.S. territories. NSF was established in 1950 by Congress to promote the progress of science, advance the national health, prosperity and welfare, and secure the national defense.
The partnership between NSF and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation continues with the Program for Advancing Conservation Science and Practice (PACSP), administered by NSF. It emphasizes science-based conservation efforts within the United States. This program is keen on supporting research in organismal biology, ecology, and/or evolution with a strong inclination towards developing and applying evidence-based interventions for biodiversity conservation. Specifically, it encourages proposals that couple academic inquiries with conservation organization actions, particularly those that display a concrete and direct link between questions of basic research and conservation implementation. Projects should adopt a clear assessment strategy for biodiversity impacts, preferably within an adaptive management framework, to both further scientific knowledge and inform practical conservation efforts. A significant focus is given to studies that integrate approaches to address climate change, anthropogenic environmental alterations, and the resultant effects on ecosystem and organism health. The program also values proposals that demonstrate a potential for real-world conservation impact, interdisciplinary collaboration, and societal engagement. Successful proposals will see their research component funded by NSF and the conservation activities supported by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation.