[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 48 (Friday, March 12, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11941-11942]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-5444]



[[Page 11941]]

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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 
(44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), and as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, the National Science Foundation 
invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this 
opportunity to comment on this information collection.

DATES: Written comments should be received by May 11, 2010 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 additional information or comments: Contact Suzanne Plimpton, 
the NSF Reports Clearance Officer, phone (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, which is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a 
week, 365 days a year (including federal holidays).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Generic Clearance for the Evaluation of National Science 
Foundation's East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes and International 
Research Fellowship Program.
    OMB Approval Number: 3145-NEW.
    Expiration Data of Approval: Not applicable.
    Abstract: This is a request that the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) approve, under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, a 
three year clearance for Abt Associates Inc. to conduct data collection 
efforts for an outcome evaluation of the National Science Foundation's 
East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes (EAPSI) and International 
Research Fellowship (IRFP) Program.
    These two programs offer early career researchers an opportunity to 
forge collaborative relationships with foreign scientists and 
engineers, albeit through different interventions. Launched in 1999, 
EAPSI provides $5,000 of support to US graduate students to spend the 
summer (two months) conducting research in seven countries in East Asia 
and the Pacific region. The program is designed to immerse US scholars 
into the scientific and social culture of the host location. IRFP, 
established in 1992, provides support to post-graduate scientists 
(generally a year or two after the receipt of a doctoral degree), for a 
research experience abroad lasting from 9 to 24 months, with no 
restriction on geographical area. Awards range from $57,000 to 
$200,000, depending on the location, cost and duration of the project, 
and the applicants' family status.
    To assess the program effectiveness, NSF has plans to collect data 
that are designed to explore the fellowship experiences and educational 
and career outcomes of EAPSI and IRFP fellows as well as the influence 
of the programs on host scientists and their institutions and on US 
scientists and their institutions. The primary methods of data 
collection will include analyses of NSF program records and surveys of 
fellows, unfunded applicants, US advisors of fellows, and foreign 
hosts.
    Expected Respondents: Include EAPSI and IRFP fellows; EAPSI and 
IRFP unfunded applicants (individuals who submitted an application, but 
did not receive an award); EAPSI and IRFP foreign hosts (individuals 
with whom EAPSI and IRFP fellows conduct research in foreign 
countries); and EAPSI US advisors (graduate advisors of EAPSI 
students).
    Use of the Information: The purpose of these studies is to provide 
NSF with outcome data on the EAPSI and IRFP programs. These data would 
be used for internal program management and for reporting to 
stakeholders within and outside of NSF.
    Burden on the Public: NSF estimates that a total reporting and 
recordkeeping burden of 3,125.5 hours will result from activities to 
implement the surveys. The calculation is shown in Table 1:

                  Table 1--Number of Respondents, Frequency of Response, and Annual Hour Burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Time per        Number of
                 Respondent type                     Number of       response        responses      Total time
                                                    respondents       (hours)            burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EAPSI Fellows...................................           1,434             0.5           1,075           537.5
EAPSI Unfunded Applicants.......................           1,401             0.5           1,050             525
EAPSI US Advisors...............................          *1,434             0.5           1,075           537.5
EAPSI Foreign Hosts.............................          *1,434             0.5           1,075           537.5
IRFP Fellows....................................             567             0.5             425           212.5
IRFP Unfunded Applicants........................           1,502             0.5           1,126             563
IRFP Foreign Hosts..............................            *567             0.5             425           212.5
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................          *8,339             N/A           6,251         3,125.5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Assume a 75% response rate.
* Or fewer. We assume that some foreign hosts for both programs have accepted more than one fellow; that some
  EAPSI fellows and applicants had the same graduate advisor; and that some EAPSI fellows participated in IRFP.
  The numbers in the table are therefore overestimates for these groups.

    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. Comments submitted in response 
to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for 
OMB approval of this

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information collection; they also will become a matter of public 
record.

    Dated: March 9, 2010.
Suzanne Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2010-5444 Filed 3-11-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P