[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 9 (Monday, January 14, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1787-1788]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-790]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Submission for OMB review; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has submitted the 
following information collection requirement to OMB for review and 
clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. 
Comments regarding (a) whether the collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of 
the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility ad clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology should be addressed to: Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs of OMB, Attention: Desk Office for 
National Science Foundation, 725--17th Street, NW. Room 10235, 
Washington, DC 20503, and to Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance 
Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 295, 
Arlington, Virginia 22230 or send e-mail to [email protected]. Comments 
regarding these information collections are best assured of having 
their full effect if received within 30 days of this notification. 
Copies of the submission may be obtained by calling 703-292-7556.
    NSF may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless 
the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control 
number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to 
the collection of information that such persons are not required to 
respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently 
valid OMB control number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title of Collection: Application for NATO Advanced Study Institutes 
Travel Award and NATO Advanced Study Institutes Travel Award Report 
Form.
    OMB Approval Number: 3145-0001.
    Expiration Date of Approval: Not applicable.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to reinstate an 
information collection for three years.
    Abstract: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) initiated 
its Advanced Study Institutes Program in 1958 modeled after a small 
number of very successful summer science ``courses'' that were held in 
Europe and that sought to rebuild Europe's science strength following 
World War II. The goal was to bring together both students and 
researchers from the leading centers of research in highly targeted 
fields of science and engineering to promote the ``American'' approach 
to advanced learning, spirited give-and-take between students and 
teachers, that was clearly driving the rapid growth of U.S. research 
strength. Today the goal remains the same; but due to the expansion of 
NATO, each year an increasing number of ASIs are held in NATO Partner 
Countries along with those held in the original NATO Member countries. 
In the spirit of cooperation with this important activity, the 
Foundation inaugurated in 1959 a small program of travel grants for 
advanced graduate students and young postdoctorals to assist with the 
major cost of such participation, that of transatlantic travel. It 
remains today a significant means for young scientists and engineers to 
develop contact with their peers throughout the world in their 
respective fields of specialization.
    The Advanced Study Institutes (ASI) travel awards are offered 
primarily to advanced graduate students, but include recent 
postdoctoral students and new science faculty members, to attend one of 
the NATO's ASIs held in the NATO-member and partner countries of 
Europe. The NATO ASI program is targeted to those individuals nearing 
the completion of their doctoral studies in science, mathematics, and 
engineering who can take advantage of opportunities to become familiar 
with progress in their respective fields of specialization in other 
countries.
    The following describes the procedures for the administration of 
the Foundation's NATO Advanced Study Institute (ASI) Travel Awards, 
which provide travel support for a number of U.S. graduate students and 
postdoctoral participants to attend the ASIs scheduled for Europe.
     Advanced Study Institute Determination
    Once NATO has notified us that the schedule of institutes is final, 
and we have received the descriptions of each institute, we determine 
which institutes NSF will support. The ASI travel award program 
supports those institutes that offer instruction in the fields of 
science traditionally supported by NSF as published in Guide to 
Programs.
    The program will not support institutes that deal with clinical 
topics, biomedical topics, or topics that have disease-related goals. 
Examples of areas of research that will not be considered are 
epidemiology; toxicology; the development or testing of drugs or 
procedures for their use; diagnosis or treatment of physical or mental 
disease, abnormality, or malfunction in human beings or animals; and 
animal models of such conditions. However, the program does support 
institutes that involve research in bioengineering, with diagnosis or 
treatment-related goals that apply engineering principles to problems 
in biology and medicine while advancing engineering knowledge. The 
program also supports bioengineering topics that aid persons with 
disabilities. Program officers from other Divisions in NSF will be 
contacted should scientific expertise beyond our own be required in the 
determination process.
     Solicitation for Nominations
    Following the final determination as to which Advanced Study 
Institutes

[[Page 1788]]

NSF will support, we contact each institute director to ask for a list 
of up to 5 nominations to be considered for NSF travel support.
     EHR Contact with the Individuals Nominated
    Each individual who is nominated by a director will be sent the 
rules of eligibility, information about the amount of funding 
available, and the forms (NSF Form 1379, giving our Finance Office 
electronic banking information; NSF Form 1310 (already cleared), and 
NSF Form 192 (Application for International Travel Grant)) necessary 
for our application process.
     The Funding Process
    Once an applicant has been selected to receive NSF travel award 
support, his or her application is sent to our Finance office for 
funding. They electronically transfer the amount of $1000 into the bank 
or other financial institution account identified by the awardee.
    Our plan is to have the $1000 directly deposited into the awardee's 
account prior to the purchase of their airline ticket. An electronic 
message to the awardee states the NSF is providing support in the 
amount of $1000 for transportation and miscellaneous expenses. The 
letter also states that the award is subject to the condition in F.L. 
27, Attachment to International Travel Grant, which states the U.S. 
flag-carrier policy.
    As a follow-up, each ASI director may be asked to verify whether 
all NSF awardees attended the institute. If an awardee is identified as 
not utilizing the funds as prescribed, we contact the awardee to 
retrieve the funds. However, if our efforts are not successful, we will 
forward the awardee's name to DGA, which has procedures to deal with 
that situation.
    We also ask the awardee to submit a final report on an NSF Form 
250, which we provide as an attachment to the electronic award message.
     Selection of Awardees
    The criteria used to select NSF Advanced Study Institute travel 
awardees are as follows:
    1. The priority of selection is by the status level of the 
applicant:
    (a) Advanced graduate student, or
    (b) Recent post-doc (Ph.D. received no earlier than three years 
before the ASI).
    (c) New faculty with Ph.D.'s received no earlier than three years 
before the ASI).
    2. We shall generally follow the order of the nominations, listed 
by the director of the institute, within priority level.
    3. Those who have not attended an ASI in the past will have a 
higher priority than those who have.
    4. Nominees from different institutions and research groups have 
higher priority than those from the same institution or research group. 
(Typically, no more than one person is invited from a school or from a 
research group.)
    Use of the Information: For NSF Form 192, information will be used 
in order to verify eligibility and qualifications for the award.
    For NSF Form 250, information will be used to verify attendance at 
Advanced Study Institute and will be included in Division annual 
report.
    Estimate of Burden: Form 192--1.5 hours; Form 250--2 hours.
    Respondents: Individuals.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Award: 150 responses, broken down 
as follows: For NSF Form 250, 75 respondents; for NSF Form 192, 75 
respondents.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 262.5 hours, broken 
down by 150 hours for NSF Form 250 (2 hours per 75 respondents) and 
112.5 hours for NSF Form 192 (1.5 hours per 75 respondents).

    Dated: January 8, 2002.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-790 Filed 1-11-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M