We present to you the latest CACM special issue: a collection of personal narratives—stories of ideas born in academia, nurtured by federal support, and matured into technologies that changed the world.

Initially conceived to mark the 75th anniversary of the NSF (2025) and the 40th anniversary of its CISE Directorate (2026), the issue took on new meaning after sudden layoffs and sweeping cuts at the NSF.

Hear what #ACMTuringAward recipients and pioneers have to say: https://cacm.acm.org/section/federal-funding-of-academic-research/