[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 91 (Friday, May 9, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26433-26434]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-10353]


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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. 
This is the second notice for public comment; the first was published 
in the Federal Register at 73 FR 12222, and no comments were received. 
NSF is forwarding the proposed renewal submission to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance simultaneously with the 
publication of this second notice. 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 and 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 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 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.
    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 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

[[Page 26434]]

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 $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 that 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 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: May 6, 2008.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
 [FR Doc. E8-10353 Filed 5-8-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P