How is Physics Research Funded and Compared to Other Natural Sciences?

[ivorax]

I am interested in understanding how Physics research is funded and which particular sub-fields as well as categories (.e. theoretical vis a vis experimental/observational) are preferentially funded today as well as historically (e.g. during WWII and the Cold War era, particle physics was particularly well-funded--but there's been a shift towards the biological sciences in the past decade).

Also, how does this compare to other natural sciences?

I understand that the NIH and the US Dept of Defense as well as foundation grant money are all actors in these funding schemes but where could I find more specific data?

 

[Valerie Park]

Funding for physics research is primarily provided by government sources, such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of Energy (DOE), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Each of these organizations has its own set of funding priorities, which may vary from year to year. Additionally, private foundations such as the Sloan Foundation, the Kavli Foundation, and the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation also provide funding for physics research. In terms of specific data on funding for physics research, the NSF provides a comprehensive database of grant awards. This database can be used to search for awards by organization, field of research, and other criteria. The DOE also provides detailed information on its grant programs and funded projects. In comparison to other natural sciences, physics generally receives more funding than other fields. This is due to the fact that physics research often requires large investments in infrastructure, such as particle accelerators and supercomputers. Additionally, research in physics often yields results that are applicable across many other disciplines, such as engineering and computer science. As a result, it may receive more generous funding than other natural sciences.