[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 112 (Thursday, June 10, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32630-32631]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-13115]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of Intent to Seek Approval to Establish an Information 
Collection

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to 
request clearance of this collection. In accordance with the 
requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), we are providing opportunity for public comment 
on this action. After obtaining and considering public comment, NSF 
will prepare the submission requesting that OMB approve clearance of 
this collection for no longer than three years.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by August 9, 
2004 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance 
Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 295, 
Arlington, Virginia 22230; telephone (703) 292-7556; or send e-mail to 
[email protected]. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for 
the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 
1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., eastern time, Monday through 
Friday. You also may obtain a copy of the data collection instrument 
and instructions from Ms. Plimpton.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title of Collection:
    OMB Number: 3145-New.
    Expiration Date of Approval: Not applicable.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to establish an 
information collection.
    Abstract:
    Proposed Project:
    The Science of Learning Centers (SLC) Program offers awards for 
large-scale, long term Centers that will extend the frontiers of 
knowledge on the science of learning, and create the intellectual, 
organizational and physical infrastructure needed for the long-term 
advancement of learning research. Support for these Centers is 
approximately 5 million/yr for 5 years, renewable for up to 10 years 
maximum. The goals of the Science of Learning Centers (SLC) Program are 
to advance the frontiers of all the science of learning through 
integrated research, to connect the research to specific scientific, 
technological, educational and workforce challenges; and to enable 
research communities to capitalize on new opportunities and discoveries 
and to respond to new challenges.
    The SLC Program emerges from the intersections of diverse 
disciplines across the biological, cognitive, computational, 
mathematical, physical and social sciences, engineering and education. 
Thus the SLC Centers build intellectual and physical infrastructure 
within and between disciplines. Through creative integration of 
theoretical and empirical work, innovative models of research and 
dissemination of knowledge, and inventive uses of technology, the SLC 
Centers represent our nation's best investments to advance our 
understanding of what learning is, and how it is affected at all 
levels. Such advances in fundamental knowledge in the science of 
learning will have broad and significant societal impact.
    World-class research is conducted at SLCs through a variety of 
partnerships, including: Academic institutions, national laboratories, 
industrial organizations, and/or other public/private entities. While 
they build on strong foundations of existing knowledge and expertise, 
each also has inherent risks associated with new directions, 
innovation, and the complexities of interdisciplinary, large scale 
collaborations.
    SLCs enable and foster excellent education, integrate research and 
education, and create bonds between learning and inquiry so that 
discovery and creativity more fully support the learning process. SLCs 
capitalize on diversity through participation in center activities and 
demonstrate leadership in the involvement of groups underrepresented in 
science and engineering.
    Centers selected will be required to submit annual reports on 
progress and plans, which will be used as a basis for performance 
review and for determining continuance of funding and the level of 
continued funding. To support this review and the management of a 
Center, SLCs will be required to develop a set of management and 
performance indicators for submission annually to NSF via an NSF 
evaluation technical assistance contractor. These indicators are both 
quantitative and descriptive and may include, for example, the 
characteristics of center personnel and students; sources of financial 
support and in-kind support; expenditures by operational component; 
characteristics of industrial and/or other sector participation; 
research activities; education activities; knowledge transfer 
activities; patents, licenses; publications; degrees granted to 
students involved in Center activities; descriptions of significant 
advances and other outcomes of the SLC effort. Part of this reporting 
will take the form of a database which will be owned by the institution 
and eventually made available to an evaluation contractor. This 
database will capture specific information to demonstrate progress 
towards achieving the goals of the program. Such reporting requirements 
will be included in the cooperative agreement which is binding between 
the academic institution and the NSF.
    Each Center's annual report will address the following categories 
of activities: (1) Research, (2) integration of research and education, 
(3) knowledge dissemination, (4) partnerships, (5) diversity, (6) 
management (7) Evaluation/Assessment and (8) budget issues. For each of 
the categories the report will describe overall objectives for the 
year, problems the Center has encountered in making progress towards 
goals and how they are being resolved, anticipated problems in the 
following year and how they will be mitigated, and specific outputs and 
outcomes.
    Use of the Information: NSF will use the information to continue 
funding of the Centers, and to evaluate the progress of the program.
    Estimate of Burden: In the first year, for the anticipated six 
centers' awards time estimate is total of 600 hours. In the subsequent 
years time estimate is 300 hours.
    Respondents: Non-profit institutions; federal government.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Report: One from each of the six 
centers.
    Comments: Comments are invited on (a) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the Agency, including whether the information shall 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of 
the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information on 
respondents, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology; and (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.


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    Dated: June 7, 2004.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 04-13115 Filed 6-9-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M