NSF panels

I'm in Arlington, Virginia for some National Science Foundation panels. I won't mention the program, but it's always interesting to read people's ideas and discuss them with a group of very skilled and knowledgeable people, and then give an assessment of the value of the ideas for funding. I've also come to know many people and make a number of friends through panels. The NSF policy of peer review is the most equitable way I've ever seen for making professional decisions. It is a very human process and panels (and program officers) can make mistakes, but I'm very proud to have been involved with it over the years.