National Science Foundation

Contents

1st Logo (1985-2000)	2nd Logo (September 10, 1994-December 6, 1997)	3rd Logo (1997-2009)	4th Logo (1999-)	5th Logo (2008-2010)

1st Logo (1985-2000)

Visuals: 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: A still 2D graphic.

Audio: 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 such as, on post-1998 broadcasts of Reading Rainbow, "Supporting programs that enable children to succeed in science, mathematics, and technology".

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)

Visuals: Over a blue background is the 1993 NSF logo, which has a smaller version of the same globe and the initialism "nsf" placed in the middle. The words

Supporting education and research
in science, mathematics
and technology

appear below in a Courier-style font.

Technique: A still 2D graphic.

Audio: A female announcer says "Major funding for The Magic School Bus has been 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)

Visuals: Same as the previous logo, but it's animated, and the background is different. Three squares zoom out with each letter in them spinning. Swirls are also 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.

Audio: 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." The music in the background depends on the TV show from PBS.

Audio Variant: 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."

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-)

Visuals: The current NSF logo, which is similar to the 1993 logo, but with the globe having blue water and green continents, and with the people in gold. "NSF" is now in all-caps and in a serif typeface as well.

Technique: A still 2D graphic.

Audio: 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)

Visuals: The NSF logo, but with "NSF" in a slightly different font, appears with "National Science Foundation" 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: A still image rendered in CGI.

Audio: A male adult voicing the funder, and the music is played by a guitar.

Availability: It can only be seen on 2008-10 editions of PBS Newshour.