Sethuraman Panchanathan on May 3, 2022. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
National Science Foundation director Sethuraman Panchanathan this week sat down with reporters to talk about the future of key programs the agency is spearheading.
Why it matters: NSF is at the center of many programs to spur AI, quantum and other cutting edge technology research and development, but it's facing funding shortfalls.
- Lawmakers are poised to pass a continuing resolution and wait until a new Congress and administration takes over to deal with FY25 funding.
- Panchanathan, who was nominated to his position during President-elect Trump's first term, describes government science and technology efforts as "post-partisan."
This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Your term ends in 2026. Do you plan to stick around?
It is left up to the incoming administration in terms of how they want to move forward and I'm very respectful of that.
- I came here knowing that I have a six-year term, and I wanted to see what we could do in the six-year term to unleash innovation all across our nation.
We've seen that Trump is very hostile toward immigration. Do you think that is going to require an increased emphasis on training and retraining?
Our domestic talent has to be unleashed at full force and full scale. That's the first thing that we need to focus on because it has not been achieved in my view.
- Then, I'm a firm believer in welcoming global talent and giving them the opportunities to be able to come here.
- The jointness of the domestic talent at full force and the global talent at full force is what is necessary at this important point to out compete any nation on Earth.
- I don't see any of that changing in any way because that's what America is. And I don't see anything that is being said by anybody that is different from what this spirit is.
What is the status of funding for the National AI Research Resource?
- I'm very gratified to see bills in Congress, particularly the CREATE AI Act, which specifically calls for NAIRR full scale development and deployment.
- I'm looking forward to working with Congress and the incoming administration. I think there is clearly a lot of interest in AI.
How are you making the case specifically to Republicans to continue providing appropriations for programs? Have you made that case directly to the appropriators?
- Yes, I have made the case directly to appropriators. Even better, I travel around the country with congressmen, congresswomen as well as senators of both parties to the places where these projects are in action.
- I can go on and on about the journeys, which really makes the impact much more tangible and the effects of it in real terms.
