[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 68 (Tuesday, April 9, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21161-21162]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-08157]


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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: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 
(44 USC 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. This is the 
second notice for public comment; the first was published in the 
Federal Register at 78 FR 1884 and no comments were received. NSF is 
forwarding the proposed submission to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for clearance simultaneously with the publication of this 
second notice. The full submission may be found at: http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. 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 email 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(s) may be obtained by 
calling 703-292-7556. 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).
    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 Earned Doctorates.
    OMB Control Number: 3145-0019.
    Summary of Collection: Established within the National Science 
Foundation by the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 Sec.  
505, codified in the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as 
amended, the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics 
(NCSES) serves as a central Federal clearinghouse for the collection, 
interpretation, analysis, and dissemination of objective data on 
science, engineering, technology, and research and development for use 
by

[[Page 21162]]

practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and the public. The Survey of 
Earned Doctorates (SED) is part of an integrated survey system that 
meets the human resources part of this mission.
    The SED has been conducted annually since 1958 and is jointly 
sponsored by six Federal agencies in order to avoid duplication. It is 
an accurate, timely source of information on an important national 
resource--highly educated individuals. Data are obtained via paper 
questionnaire or Web survey from each person earning a research 
doctorate at the time they receive the degree. Graduate Schools help 
distribute the Survey of Earned Doctorates to their graduating 
doctorate recipients. Data are collected on the doctorate recipient's 
field of specialty, educational background, sources of support in 
graduate school, debt level, postgraduation plans for employment, and 
demographic characteristics.
    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 individuals are voluntary. NSF will ensure that 
all individually identifiable information collected will be kept 
strictly confidential and will be used for research or statistical 
purposes, analyzing data, and preparing scientific reports and 
articles.
    Need and Use of the Information: The Federal government, 
universities, researchers, and others use the information extensively. 
The National Science Foundation, as the lead agency, publishes 
statistics from the survey in several reports, but primarily in the 
annual publication series, ``Science and Engineering Doctorate Awards'' 
and the Summary Report, ``Doctorate Recipients from U.S. 
Universities.'' These reports are available on the Web. NSF uses this 
information to prepare congressionally mandated reports such as Science 
and Engineering Indicators and Women, Minorities and Persons with 
Disabilities in Science and Engineering.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals.
    Number of Respondents: 54,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 29,500.

    Dated: April 3, 2013.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2013-08157 Filed 4-8-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P