In this article, 20 scientists and engineers that are being supported by the National Science Foundation or NSF are recognized for their expertise in the respective areas that they are in.  It is so nice to know that the government of the United States has the appreciation for the works of these individuals who are trying to build up a career on the field that they are really good at and further developing their skills.  Their contributions to the world will be very beneficial to the people and might also be useful for future studies and research.  The U.S. government spearheaded by its president, Pres. George W. Bush, leaves no room for hesitation in paying tribute to the deserving scientists and engineers for their wide-ranging research attainments and very remarkable educational contributions to the world.
These individuals will not be who they are right now if not because of the support given to them by the National Science Foundation or NSF for short.  Established by the United States Congress via the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, NSF is an independent agency in the executive branch of the U.S. federal government responsible for supporting basic research and education in the sciences, mathematics, and engineering. It grants funding for research and provides support for educational programs in mathematics and sciences.  Being an independent federal agency that it is, NSF is considered the funding source for approximately 20 percent of all federally supported basic research conducted by colleges and universities of the United States.  It does not conduct research of its own but makes support grants to qualified educational and nonprofit institutions and awards fellowships to individual scientists, teachers, and students. The foundation supports projects in the mathematical, physical, medical, biological, social, and engineering sciences, including the U.S. Antarctic Program, the Ocean Drilling Program, and programs in global geoscience which likely makes use of petrographic microscopes. It also maintains the development of improved science curriculum materials and fosters the crossing point of scientific ideas both nationally and internationally.  The NSF seeks to fulfill its mission chiefly by issuing competitive, limited term grants to fund specific research proposals that have been judged the most promising by a rigorous and objective merit-review system. Most of these awards go to individuals or small groups of investigators who carry out research at their home campuses. Others provide funding for mid-scale research centers, instruments and facilities that allow scientists, engineers and students to work at the outermost frontiers of knowledge and in addition to researchers and research facilities, NSF grants also support science, engineering and mathematics education.  Naturally these researches involve using specialized equipment for their specific field of study, for example, researchers studying minerals use important tools like microscopes, specifically petrographic microscopes.
The National Science Foundation organizes its research and education support through seven directorates.  A directorate refers to an agency usually headed by a director, often a subdivision of a major government department.  These directorates each encompass several disciplines which include the Biological Sciences, Computer and Information Science and Engineering, Engineering, Geosciences, Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences, and Education and Human Resources.
Biological Sciences focuses on molecular, cellular, and organismal biology and environmental science and three scientists were awarded in this area namely Rachel M. Brewster, Tracy L. Johnson and Rebeca M. Rosengaus.
Marina Bers, Thomas L. Martin, William E. Schuler, and Janet M. Wang were the four scientists awarded for their expertise in Computer and Information Science and Engineering which concentrates on fundamental computer science, computer and networking systems, and artificial intelligence.
Six scientists in the field of engineering were given proper distinction for their works focusing on bioengineering, environmental systems, civil and mechanical systems, chemical and transport systems, electrical and communications systems, and design and manufacturing. These scientists are named Michael S. Strano, James E. Smay, Suzie H. Pun, Scott D. Kelly, Ashley James and Sylvia Ferrari.
Geological, atmospheric and ocean sciences are the components of geosciences in which petrographic microscopes are most useful in, but unfortunately, only one person was recognized and this is Julia E. Hammer.
In Mathematical and Physical Sciences, five persons were recognized.  This field concentrates mainly on mathematics, astronomy, physics, chemistry and materials science.  Anna K. Mapp, Jonathan C. Mattingly, Benjamin J. McCall, Aravinthian D. Samuel, and Eugene J. Billio were awarded for their contributions in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences.
The president also cited Shelly Gable as the social, behavioral and economic scientist.  This area brings together neuroscience, psychology, sociology, anthropology, linguistics and economics all in one.
Many of the discoveries and technological advances have been truly revolutionary. In the past few decades, researchers funded by National Science Foundation have won more than 170 Nobel Prizes as well as other honors too numerous to list.
Humans are indeed unique and we should be thankful to the God Almighty for that reason.
Each and every one of us is endowed with special skills and talents, and it only depends on the person on how he or she will develop it.  Original article