[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 84 (Thursday, May 1, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23330-23331]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-10700]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Submission for OMB review; comment request.

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SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 
(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), and as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, the National Science Foundation 
(NSF) is inviting the general public and other Federal agencies to 
comment on this proposed continuing information collection. This is the 
second notice for public comment; the first was published in the 
Federal Register at 67 FR 69573 on December 24, 2002 and no comments 
were received. NSF is forwarding the proposed submission to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance simultaneously with the 
publication of this second notice.

DATES: Comments regarding these information collections are best 
assured of having their full effect if received by OMB within 30 days 
of publication in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding (a) whether the collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
NSF, including whether the information will

[[Page 23331]]

have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of NSF's estimate of burden 
including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) 
ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to 
be collected; or (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 Officer for National Science Foundation, 725-17th 
Street, NW., Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, and to Teresa R. Pierce, 
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson 
Boulevard, Suite 295, Arlington, Virginia 22230 or send e-mail to 
[email protected]. Copies of the submission may be obtained by calling 
(703) 292-7555.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Teresa R. Pierce, NSF Reports 
Clearance Officer at (703) 292-7555 or send e-mail to [email protected].
    An agency 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: 2003 Survey of Doctorate Recipients.
    OMB Approval Number: 3145-0020.
    Abstract: The Survey of Doctorate Recipients (SDR) has been 
conducted biennially since 1973. The 2003 SDR will consist of a sample 
of individuals under the age 76 who have earned research doctoral 
degrees in science and engineering from U.S. institutions. The purpose 
of this longitudinal study is to provide national estimates on the 
doctoral science and engineering workforce and changes in employment, 
education and demographic characteristics. The study is one of three 
components of the Scientists and Engineers Statistical Data System 
(SESTAT), which produces national estimates of the size and 
characteristics of the nation's science and engineering population.
    The National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as subsequently 
amended, includes a statutory charge to ``* * * provide a central 
clearinghouse for the collection, interpretation, and analysis of data 
on scientific and engineering resources, and to provide a source of 
information for policy formulation by other agencies of the Federal 
Government.'' The SDR is designed to comply with these mandates by 
providing information on the supply and utilization of nation's 
doctorate level scientists and engineers. Collected data will be used 
to produce estimates of the characteristics of these individuals. They 
will also provide necessary input into the SESTAT labor force data 
system, which produces national estimates of the size and 
characteristics of the country's science and engineering population.
    The Foundation uses this information to prepare congressionally 
mandated reports such as Women, Minorities and Persons with Disability 
in Science and Engineering and Science and Engineering Indicators. The 
NSF publishes statistics from the survey in many reports, but primarily 
in the biennial series, Characteristics of Doctoral Scientists and 
Engineers in the United States. A public release file of collected 
data, designed to protect respondent confidentiality, will be made 
available to research on CD-ROM and on the World Wide Web.
    The National Opinion Research Corporation at University of Chicago 
will conduct the study for NSF. Data will be obtained by self-
administered mail and web questionnaires, and computer assisted 
telephone interviews beginning October 2003. The survey will be 
collected in conformance with the Privacy Act of 1974 and the 
individual's response to the survey is voluntary. NSF will insure that 
all information collected will be kept strictly confidential and will 
be used only for research or statistical purposes, and preparing 
scientific reports and articles.
    Expected Respondents: A statistical sample of approximately 40,000 
U.S. doctorates will be contacted in 2003. A total response rate in 
2001 was 83%.
    Burden on the Public: The amount of time to complete the 
questionnaire may vary depending on an individual's circumstances; 
however, on average it will take approximately 25 minutes to complete 
the survey. We estimate that the total annual burden will be 14,167 
hours during the year.

    Dated: April 25, 2003.
Teresa R. Pierce,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 03-10700 Filed 4-30-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M