[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 141 (Friday, July 22, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44048-44049]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-18590]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Submission for OMB review; Request for Comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 
(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). The full submission may be found at: http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Comments are invited on (a) Whether 
the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of the functions of the Foundation, including whether the 
information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the 
Foundation's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of 
the collection of information on those who are to respond, including 
through the use of automated 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; telephone (703) 292-7556; 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. 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: Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science 
and Engineering.
    OMB Approval Number: 3145-0062.
    Summary of Collection: The GSS is a census of all eligible academic 
institutions and all departments in science and engineering and health 
(SEH) programs in the United States. The GSS is the only national 
survey that collects information on the characteristics of graduate 
students and postdoctorates in specific science, engineering, and 
health disciplines at the department level. The characteristics 
collected include race/ethnicity, citizenship, gender, sources and 
mechanisms of financial support for graduate students and 
postdoctorates; and type of doctoral degree for the postdoctorates and 
other nonfaculty research staff with doctorates.
    The survey will be collected in conformance with the National 
Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended, and the Privacy Act of 
1974. Responses from the institutions are voluntary. Survey results 
will be used for research

[[Page 44049]]

or statistical purposes, analyzing data, and preparing scientific 
reports and articles. All tables and reports are made available in 
various electronic formats on the Web (http://www.nsf/gov/statistics/). 
The survey results are also into the Web-based Computer-Aided Science 
Policy Analysis and Research (WebCASPAR) database system. The URL for 
WebCASPAR is http://caspar.nsf.gov/webcaspar. A public release file is 
also made available on the World Wide Web.
    Comment: On May 11, 2011 we published in the Federal Register (76 
FR 27369) a 60-day notice of our intent to request reinstatement of 
this information collection authority from OMB. In that notice, we 
solicited public comments for 60 days ending July 11, 2011. One comment 
was received from the public notice. The comment came from Jean Public 
via e-mail on May 12, 2011. Ms. Public objected to the information 
collection and suggested less frequent collection.
    Response: We responded to Ms. Public on May 26, 2011 describing the 
program, the survey frequency and the cost issues raised by Ms. Public. 
NSF believes that because the comment does not pertain to the 
collection of information on the required forms for which NSF is 
seeking OMB approval NSF is proceeding with the clearance request.
    Need and Use of the Information: The Federal government, 
universities, researchers, and others use the information extensively. 
The National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, 
publishes statistics from the survey in several reports, but primarily 
in the annual report series, ``Survey of Graduate Students and 
Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering'', and the congressionally 
mandated biennial publication series, ``Science and Engineering 
Indicators'' and ``Women, Minorities and Persons with Disabilities in 
Science and Engineering''.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals.
    Number of Respondents: 15,395.
    Frequency of Responses: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 40,201.

    Dated: July 19, 2011.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2011-18590 Filed 7-21-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P