[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 45 (Thursday, March 6, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12222-12223]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-4343]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Extend a Current 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 an 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 3 years.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by May 5, 2008 
to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will 
be considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding the information collection and 
requests for copies of the proposed information collection request 
should be addressed to Suzanne Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, 
National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Rm. 295, Arlington, VA 
22230, or by e-mail to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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.

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: May 31, 2008.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to extend a current 
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 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 
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 to 
advanced graduate students, to attend one of the

[[Page 12223]]

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, technology, 
engineering and mathematics (STEM) who can take advantage of 
opportunities to become familiar with progress in their respective 
fields of specialization in other countries.
    The Division of Graduate Education (DGE) in the Education and Human 
Resources (EHR) Directorate administers the NATO ASI Travel Awards 
Program. 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 to 
attend the ASIs scheduled for Europe.

 Advanced Study Institute Determination

    Once NATO has notified DGE that the schedule of institutes is 
final, and DGE has received the descriptions of each institute, DGE 
determines which institutes NSF will support. The ASI travel award 
program supports those institutes that offer instruction in the STEM 
fields 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 outside of DGE be required in the 
determination process.

 Solicitation for Nominations

    Following the final determination as to which Advanced Study 
Institutes NSF will support, DGE contacts each institute director to 
ask for a list of up to 5 nominations to be considered for NSF travel 
support.

 DGE/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 Division of 
Financial Management (DFM) 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 DFM for funding. DFM 
electronically transfers the amount of $1,000 into the bank or other 
financial institution account identified by the awardee.
    Our plan is to have the $1,000 directly deposited into the 
awardee's account prior to the purchase of their airline ticket. An 
electronic message to the awardee states that NSF is providing support 
in the amount of $1,000 for transportation and miscellaneous expenses. 
The letter also states that the award is subject to the conditions 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 the Division of Grants and Agreements 
(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 applicant is an advanced graduate student.
    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 reports.
    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).
    Frequency of Responses: Annually.
    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; 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.

    Dated: March 3, 2008.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
 [FR Doc. E8-4343 Filed 3-5-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P