Research Corporation for Science Advancement

**About RCSA** Research Corporation for Science Advancement (RCSA) is a private foundation providing catalytic funding for innovative scientific research and the development of academic scientists. RCSA supports basic research in the physical sciences (astronomy, chemistry, physics, and related fields) at colleges and universities in the United States and Canada through its [Cottrell Scholar](https://rescorp.org/cottrell-scholars/ "Cottrell Scholars"), [Scialog](https://rescorp.org/scialog/ "Scialog"), and [RCSA Fellows](https://rescorp.org/rcsa-fellows/ "RCSA Fellows") programs. It supports research independently proposed by faculty members and convenes conferences. RCSA is a strong supporter of improvements in science education. For more than 100 years, RCSA’s programs and initiatives have blazed a trail to where science is going. Consistently, RCSA has invested in young researchers and implemented initiatives anticipating the direction of science, with the goal of catalyzing novel science with potentially large impact. **Mission** The Mission of Research Corporation for Science Advancement is to advance early stage, high-potential, basic scientific research. RCSA provides catalytic funding for research and sponsors conferences to support: - An engaged community of early career faculty - Innovative ideas for basic research - Integration of research and science teaching - Interdisciplinary research - Building the academic leadership of the future **Strategic Priorities** To advance our mission, RCSA is working to: - Further develop and strengthen RCSA’s two core programs, [**Cottrell Scholars**](https://rescorp.org/cottrell-scholars/ "Cottrell Scholars") and **[Scialog](https://rescorp.org/scialog/ "Scialog")**, which build on its 100-year legacy of supporting innovative basic research in the physical sciences. - Leverage partnerships and scientific community building to maximize impact and exercise flexibility to embrace unanticipated opportunities to support innovative research in the physical sciences. - Help ensure the future of science is innovative and impactful by welcoming, engaging, and nurturing the brightest minds from the widest range of backgrounds, institutions, and life experiences. **Core Programs** **Cottrell Scholars** - Invest in the early stage, high-potential, basic physical science research of the most promising early career scientists at research universities and primarily undergraduate institutions. - Implement a multilayered set of activities that supports each scholar to develop as a successful teacher-scholar and gain the skills and relationships necessary to become leaders in their respective research communities. - Support Cottrell Scholars’ efforts to improve STEM education and build the scientific workforce of the future. **Scialog** - Invest in interdisciplinary, innovative, basic research on problems of high complexity that are timely and of significant value to society. - Foster new collaborations across multiple disciplines to spark innovative ideas, stimulate significant advances on chosen topics, and attract higher levels of funding.