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 Data Science Corps program aims to bridge the data-to-knowledge gap across organizations and communities of all levels by engaging data science students in real-world implementation projects. Its broad goals include sharpening participants' data science skills through practical projects, broadening participation in STEM and STEM education, and producing a workforce-ready cohort of data scientists and technologists experienced in real-world data science applications. The program supports the development of a national data science infrastructure by fostering partnerships between communities and data scientists, with a focus on serving a variety of community needs ranging from rural to urban, across academia, industry, and government. It particularly encourages proposals that provide students, including those from community colleges, Minority Serving Institutions, and other emerging research institutions, as well as grade 6-12 teachers and students, with education and training in data science and related issues.