[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 124 (Friday, June 27, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38398-38399]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-16344]


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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: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 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 68 FR 12107 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 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 Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance 
Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 295, 
Arlington, Virginia 22230 or send email to [email protected]. Copies of 
the submission may be obtained by calling (703) 292-7556.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton, NSF Reports 
Clearance Officer at (703) 292-7556 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: Survey of IGERT recipients.
    OMB Control No.: 3145-NEW.
    The Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) 
program was initiated in 1997 and now comprises approximately 100 award 
sites. The IGERT program has been developed to meet the challenges of 
educating U.S. Ph.D. scientists, engineers, and educators with the 
interdisciplinary backgrounds, deep knowledge in chosen disciplines, 
and technical, professional, and personal skills to become in their own 
careers the leaders and creative agents for change. The program is 
intended to catalyze a

[[Page 38399]]

cultural change in graduate education, for students, faculty, and 
institutions, by establishing innovative new models for graduate 
education and training in a fertile environment for collaborative 
research that transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries. It is 
also intended to facilitate greater diversity in student participation 
and preparation, and to contribute to the development of a diverse, 
globally-engaged science and engineering workforce. As part of this 
endeavor, IGERT awardees are expected to integrate instruction in 
ethics and the responsible conduct of research into their training 
programs. However, no mechanism is currently in place to determine: (1) 
Whether such instruction occurs once the award is made, and (2) whether 
such instruction meets its goals. Thus, the NSF would like to survey 
IGERT recipients to answer the above questions.

Proposed Project

    IGERT awardees will be invited, via email correspondence, to access 
a web-based survey document by a given date. This survey encompasses 22 
questions, some with multiple parts, and is designed to assess the 
presence and relative strengths and weaknesses of any ethics training 
programs offered as part of the IGERT program at the awardee's 
institution.
    Use of the Information: The results of the survey will be used to 
update Program Announcements and annual report requirements to reflect 
NSF's desire to promote the development of ethically trained 
scientists. Any additional reports developed with the survey results 
will be distributed to all IGERT awardees.
    Estimate of Burden: 60 minutes per respondent, for 100 respondents, 
totaling 100 hours.
    Respondents: Individuals.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Report: 1.

    Dated: June 24, 2003.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 03-16344 Filed 6-26-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M