National Science Foundation

1st Logo (1985-2000)
Logo: We see the then-current logo of the National Science Foundation (which consists of abstract people holding hands together around a globe, with "N A T I O N A L S C I E N C E F O U N D A T I O N" encircling the logo).

Variant: On some PBS shows of the time, the logo is enclosed in a white circle.

Technique: None.

Music/Sounds/Voiceovers: Typically none. As a closing logo, a child can be heard saying, "Produced in association with the National Science Foundation." As a funding credit, a voiceover announces the company name, sometimes with the tagline "Supporting education and research in science, mathematics, and technology" or a variation thereof.

Availability: As a closing logo, it's seen at the end of the syndicated version of Bill Nye the Science Guy (the PBS broadcast version instead uses an in-credit notice for Walt Disney Television). As a sponsor tag, it appears on Reading Rainbow, 3-2-1 Contact, Square One TV, and some other programs of the timeframe, mainly dealing with science.

2nd Logo (September 10, 1994-December 6, 1997)
Logo: On a background, we see the 1993 NSF logo, which has a smaller version of the same globe and the initialism "nsf" placed in the middle. The words

Courier

appears below in a Courier-style font

Technique: None.

Music/Sounds/Voiceovers: We hear an female announcer say "Funding for this program is provided by the National Science Foundation: Supporting education and research in science, mathematics, and technology."

Availability: Only used as a funding credit for The Magic School Bus.

3rd Logo (1997-2009)


Logo: Same as the 2nd logo, but it's animated, and the background is different. Three squares zoom out with each letter in them, spinning. Also, swirls are flying around the logo, and the bylines "National Science Foundation" and America's Investment In The Future" zoom out at the top and bottom, respectively. The circle from before appears and flashes, forming the 1993 logo.

Technique: CGI.

Music/Sounds/Voiceovers: Same as before. This time, however, the tagline used is "America's investment in the future"; however, on occasion the previous tagline is used instead or in conjunction; if the latter, the combined tagline is spoken as "Supporting education and research in science, mathematics, and technology. The National Science Foundation, America's investment in the future." On the Fox Kids broadcast version of The Magic School Bus, an edited version of the first part of the funding credits for each season is used, saying, "Major funding provided by the National Science Foundation." The music in the background depends on the TV show from PBS.

Availability: As a closing logo, it's seen on the Fox Kids broadcast version of The Magic School Bus. It can be also seen on some TV shows like Building Big, DragonflyTV, and other shows.

4th Logo (1999-)
Logo: We see the current NSF logo, which is similar to the 1993 logo, but with the globe having water and  continents, and with the people in. "Serif" is now in all-caps and in a serif typeface as well.

Technique: None.

Music/Sounds: An announcer says "...the National Science Foundation, where discoveries begin."

Availability: Used on Cyberchase, ''Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman, and later episodes of Reading Rainbow''.

5th Logo (2008-2010)
Logo: The NSF logo, but with "Serif" in a slightly different font, appears with "Serif" next to it. Below is the slogan "W H E R E D I S C O V E R I E S B E G I N".

Technique: None.

Music/Sounds/Voiceovers: A male adult voicing the funder, and the music is played by a guitar.

Availability: It can only be seen on PBS Newshour.