nsfc - Enhance NSFC Applications with the Latest LaTeX Templates

Introduction to the NSFC LaTeX Template Project

The NSFC LaTeX Template Project is a valuable resource for individuals looking to prepare documents for the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) applications using LaTeX. This initiative, which provides templates for General Projects, Young Scientists Projects, and Regional Science Foundation Projects, is a community-driven effort aiming to bridge the gap since the official templates provided by NSFC are only available in Word format.

Historical Background

The creation of LaTeX templates for NSFC applications began gaining attention in 2019, primarily initiated by efforts from scholars like Professor Cheng Mingming from Nankai University and Dr. Dai Yimian from Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, who developed the iNSFC template. Given the lack of updates in the iNSFC template for some time, it was revitalized in 2024, continuously serving the community alongside other templates created by dedicated contributors such as Ruzim, Readon, and huangwb8. These templates have been in use from 2020 to 2024 without issues during formal reviews, indicating their reliability.

How to Use the Template

The template is versatile and can be used across different operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and online LaTeX editors like Overleaf. Here are the basic steps for setting up the template:

For Windows and macOS users: Implement the following setup in your xx正文.tex file, using the XeLaTeX compiler. Overleaf users must also upload the font folder to their cloud environment.
```
% Compatible with Windows and macOS
\documentclass[UTF8, punct, oneside]{ctexbook}
\usepackage[windows]{nsfc}
```
Exclusive for macOS users: If you're using macOS, you can take advantage of the built-in fonts by implementing the following setup:
```
% Exclusive for macOS users
\documentclass[UTF8, punct, oneside]{ctexbook}
\usepackage[macos]{nsfc}
```

Comparing with the Official Word Template

To ensure that the compiled output of this LaTeX template matches the official Word template as closely as possible, users can add the following settings for comparison purposes:

% For template comparison, comment out during normal use
\renewcommand{\input}[1]{\vspace{\baselineskip}}

This facilitates the comparison by visually inspecting the layout changes.

Disclaimer

While this template has been used successfully from 2020 to 2024 without formatting issues, there's no certainty regarding future updates and changes in NSFC guidelines. Potential users need to review the templates carefully for any textual modifications and may seek support through community groups or directly connecting with the template maintainers.

Staying Updated with GitHub

Users who have customized their documents may worry about updates affecting their work. Here are two ways to manage updates without overwriting personal modifications:

Manual Update: Choose specific files to copy and replace manually. This method is reliable but may be time-intensive.
Using .gitignore: Employ .gitignore to protect personalized files. Prefix your files and folders with ⚠︎, ensuring they are ignored in updates, thus maintaining your changes.

For access to the latest template versions, visit the main GitHub repository at https://github.com/fylimas/nsfc or its mirror at Gitee https://gitee.com/fylimas/nsfc, especially useful in areas with unreliable internet connections.

This LaTeX template project is a robust tool for the academic community, enabling seamless and efficient preparation of NSFC applications, and constantly evolves with contributions from dedicated volunteers.