NSF Logo

The abbreviation “NSF” stands for the U.S. National Science Foundation. It’s an independent agency of the US federal government created to support fundamental research and education. It works in all fields of science and engineering, except medicine, and is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia.

Meaning and History

The story of the NSF started on May 10, 1950, when the National Science Foundation Act was introduced. The scope of projects that the foundation dealt with has been transformed over the following decades to include the social and behavioral sciences, engineering, and math. In 2022, the foundation began to support open source software. One of the most successful years in the previous decade was 2020, when the NSF got 42,400 proposals, out of which 12,100 were awarded. Today, it funds around 25% of all federally supported basic research conducted by America’s colleges and universities.

What is NSF?
The U.S. National Science Foundation was established by Congress in 1950 with the aim of supporting research and education in engineering and various fields of science, excluding medicine.

1950 – 1972

The original logo was based on a circle, which was the only link with the following versions.

The centerpiece of the design was an eagle representing the state. The bird was standing on a shield, which housed a number of objects, each with a symbolic meaning of its own. For instance, there was a vial, which stood for science, and the rising sun spreading its rays everywhere as a symbol of science and its influence on the world. The design was encircled by the full name of the agency.

1972 – 2005

This is when the basic logo structure was developed, which has been used until now, albeit with modifications. This structure includes a circle in the middle and multiple abstract human figures holding hands. They stand on the circle and form a ring around it.

Probably the most unusual part is the shape of their heads. On the one hand, the rectangular head is strikingly different from how an average human is depicted, and thus makes the logo stand out. On the other hand, it also makes these “people” look somewhat eerie. As if some kind of aliens invaded the Earth and are now performing a victory dance around the globe.

We might assume that this unusual shape is supposed to symbolize an original individual, who is smarter than an average human. Then again, we would assume that the head of these individuals would be more prominent in terms of the size and wouldn’t look like it’s just a normal human head that had been cut from three sides.

Apart from these hilarious associations, the design looks very sleek and professional. Even the “nsf” lettering in the middle has a stylish touch.

1975 – 1999

The updated logo contains new details making its meaning clearer and more straightforward. All the same, we have to acknowledge that it has lost much of the minimalistic charm of its predecessor.

The circle in the center is now a rather detailed representation of the globe with the oceans and continents. The globe has a gold outline and is encircled by the same ring of human figures holding hands. The wordmark goes round the human figures and features the full name of the agency in a color echoing the palette of the globe.

1999 – 2009

The globe has grown more realistic. There’s more depth in it due to the white highlights at the top. We can interpret the highlights as the rays of the sun illuminating North America. At least this is the area getting the most of the “light.” This message, where the sun is the symbol of mental power and its position symbolizes mild domination, seems to perfectly fit the mission of the National Science Foundation.

2009 – Today

The globe is now more prominent – it’s at the forefront, while the humans have moved behind it. This approach might symbolize that the Earth and its health are the focus of the agency’s attention now. From the visual side, this approach helps to make the logo cleaner, but the meaning isn’t as obvious any more. It’s easy to perceive the ring as a mere decoration. The trick with the light direction is still at place, although it’s a bit less obvious.

Font and Color

The wordmark hasn’t been the most recognizable part of the logo – it has always been modified to better fit the overall design. The current version features a classic serif typeface that pays homage to the foundation’s history and alludes to its power as something supported by the state.

The bluish and (historically) greenish hues symbolize the colors of the Earth. The gold tones, which can be seen in almost all the versions, can be interpreted as a representation of the funds NSF provides. They also support the “sun-science-mental power” metaphor.