Table 33. Federal obligations for basic research, by detailed field of science and engineering: FYs 2015–17

(Dollars in thousands)

Field 2015 Preliminary
2016 2017
All fields 31,527,071.3 33,227,303.7 34,323,021.7
Computer sciences and mathematics 1,984,472.8 2,105,725.2 2,170,009.1
Computer sciences 1,024,528.0 NA NA
Mathematics 874,127.4 NA NA
Other computer sciences and mathematics 85,817.4 NA NA
Engineering 3,693,962.0 3,834,668.3 3,965,713.1
Aeronautical engineering 468,718.4 NA NA
Astronautical engineering 98,757.5 NA NA
Chemical engineering 60,451.6 NA NA
Civil engineering 54,342.4 NA NA
Electrical engineering 228,249.9 NA NA
Mechanical engineering 125,535.9 NA NA
Metallurgy and materials engineering 1,289,904.0 NA NA
Other engineering 1,368,002.3 NA NA
Environmental sciences 2,738,351.6 2,886,239.2 3,044,427.5
Atmospheric sciences 1,051,417.4 NA NA
Geological sciences 432,740.9 NA NA
Oceanography 431,824.0 NA NA
Other environmental sciences 822,369.2 NA NA
Life sciences 15,209,749.8 16,045,736.3 16,481,933.6
Agricultural sciences 554,188.9 NA NA
Biological sciences (excluding environmental biology) 7,758,441.5 NA NA
Environmental biology 398,635.6 NA NA
Medical sciences 5,270,484.6 NA NA
Other life sciences 1,227,999.2 NA NA
Physical sciences 4,620,819.8 4,829,998.0 5,018,256.6
Astronomy 1,073,462.0 NA NA
Chemistry 672,418.8 NA NA
Physics 2,569,190.6 NA NA
Other physical sciences 305,748.4 NA NA
Psychology 999,874.8 1,062,203.0 1,080,335.5
Biological aspects 14,171.8 NA NA
Social aspects 13,630.3 NA NA
Other psychological sciences 972,072.7 NA NA
Social sciences 344,703.7 361,755.1 374,920.9
Anthropology 28,174.1 NA NA
Economics 47,310.2 NA NA
Political science 12,396.4 NA NA
Sociology 26,705.5 NA NA
Other social sciences 230,117.6 NA NA
Other sciences nec 1,935,136.9 2,100,978.5 2,187,425.4