Shaheen Hosts NSF Director at UNH’s John Olson Advanced Manufacturing Center

**As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the NSF, Shaheen routinely secures robust funding that supports projects at NH institutions.**

   
Shaheen and NSF Director Panchanathan visiting the John Olson Advanced Manufacturing Center.

(Washington, DC) - Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the National Science Foundation (NSF), hosted NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan for a visit to the John Olson Advanced Manufacturing Center at the University of New Hampshire. The visit highlighted significant federal investments in New Hampshire funded through the NSF. This funding was secured by Shaheen through her role as Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the agency.

“It was exciting to host Director Panchanathan at UNH’s Olson Manufacturing Center today to highlight the important impact the National Science Foundation funding has on research projects here in New Hampshire,” said Senator Shaheen. “NSF-funded projects play a crucial role in advancing scientific progress while also promoting our state’s economic development and global competitiveness. As Chair of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that funds the NSF, I’ll keep fighting to secure the resources NSF needs to invest in important research and development opportunities in New Hampshire and across the nation.”

“I’m delighted to witness directly, here in New Hampshire, the outcomes of investments in advanced manufacturing technologies that provide hands-on, interdisciplinary learning opportunities in a factory environment and collaborate with industry. Progress like this is only achieved with the strong support of policy initiatives from legislators and the federal government. We are deeply grateful to Senator Shaheen for her leadership. She is a champion for science and we share her commitment to strengthen the U.S. workforce, create good-paying jobs at home and ensure a U.S. competitive edge on the world stage,” said NSF Director Panchanathan.

“We are thrilled to host Director Panchanathan and Senator Shaheen and for the opportunity to highlight the many partnerships that come together at UNH to support the businesses and economy of New Hampshire and the region. We’re grateful to the Senator and the Director for their support of university research and for their continued investments in the faculty and programs that build our capacity and lead to new innovations,” said Wayne Jones, Provost of the University of New Hampshire.

The John Olson Advanced Manufacturing Center collaborates with industry and focuses on advanced manufacturing technologies and a cross-curricular approach to manufacturing concepts that provide hands-on, interdisciplinary learning opportunities in a factory environment. Shaheen is a strong supporter of policy initiatives that bolster domestic manufacturing to strengthen the U.S. workforce, create good-paying jobs at home and ensure a U.S. competitive edge on the world stage.

Through her leadership as chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, Senator Shaheen is a strong advocate for STEM education and scientific research funding priorities. In the CHIPS and Science Act, Shaheen secured the inclusion of language based on her bipartisan Supporting STEM Learning Opportunities Act, allowing funds to support the research and development of innovative STEM educational programming. Shaheen secured $9.87 billion – a historic increase of $1.036 billion, the largest-ever enacted amount – in total for the fiscal year 2023 government funding law.

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