U.S. National Science Foundation Office of Integrative Activities

The Office of Integrative Activities works to break down disciplinary barriers in STEM: science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The office also focuses on expanding NSF's impact — working in partnership with the agency's directorates and offices on ways to unify its activities. It works across disciplinary boundaries to lead and coordinate strategic programs and opportunities that: Advance interdisciplinary research and innovation across the U.S. Develop critical infrastructure for the nation's STEM enterprise. Develop a diverse and engaged next generation of scientists and engineers. Fostering environments where a multitude of ideas converge to tackle challenges and drive progress while leading strategic programs that define the leading edge. The U.S. National Science Foundation Office of Integrative Activities (NSF OIA) takes a strategic, agency-wide perspective to ensure a highly functioning organizational structure that benefits both NSF and its external communities. NSF OIA's strategic activities include: - Enabling future innovations through cross-disciplinary science and engineering. - Advancing the science, technology, education and mathematics ecosystem by creating new institutional and geographic opportunities. - Investing in cutting-edge research infrastructure and instrumentation. - Ensuring NSF's capacity for data- and evidence-driven insights for decision-making. - Catalyzing knowledge-sharing and integration. These activities are crosscutting by design and have significant impact across multiple priority areas for NSF. OIA catalyzes initiatives that capitalize on interdisciplinary scientific and engineering concepts and generates technology-based solutions that benefit society and the economy. OIA strengthens the nation as a knowledge-based society by fostering the development of a broadly representative and enthusiastic cadre of research leaders. Additionally, OIA administers prestigious honorary award programs and professional internships for aspiring scientists and engineers, including the AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellows. OIA provides policy and programmatic analytical support to the NSF director and deputy director and working in partnership with NSF directorates and offices, plays a leadership role in shaping agency-wide policies and new strategic directions that promote cross-directorate, programmatic and operational unity and alignment.