NSF Empowers Discoveries (IMAGE) U.S. National Science Foundation Caption For more than six decades, the core mission of NSF has been to support fundamental scientific research. As the only Federal agency dedicated to the support of basic research and education in all fields of science and engineering, NSF empowers discoveries across a broad spectrum of scientific inquiry. Credit Credit: (left to right) from ATE Centers Impact 2011 (<a target="_blank"href="http://www.atecenters.org">www.atecenters.org</a>); KC Roeyer; David Haring, the Duke Lemur Center; ALMA Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.