[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 56 (Tuesday, March 24, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 15634]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-06672]



[[Page 15634]]

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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 requirements 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 79 FR 69883, 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. The full submission may be found at: 
http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
    Comments: 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 1265, 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.
    It is not permissible for NSF to 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: The authority to collect information for the 
Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) is established under the National 
Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended, Public Law 507 (42 U.S.C. 
1862), Section 3(a) (6), which directs the NSF ``. . . to provide a 
central clearinghouse for the collection, interpretation, and analysis 
of data on scientific and engineering resources and to provide a source 
of information for policy formation by other agencies of the federal 
government.'' More recently, the National Center for Science and 
Engineering Statistics (NCSES) was established within NSF by Section 
505 of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 and given a 
broader mandate to collect data related to STEM education, the science 
and engineering workforce, and U.S. competitiveness in science, 
engineering, technology, and R&D. The SED is part of an integrated 
survey system that fulfills the education and workforce components of 
this mission.
    The SED has been conducted annually since 1958 and is jointly 
sponsored by six Federal agencies (NSF, National Institutes of Health, 
U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Agriculture, National 
Endowment for the Humanities, and National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration) in order to avoid duplication of effort in collecting 
such data. It is an accurate, timely source of information on an 
important national resource--highly educated individuals. Data are 
obtained via Web survey or paper questionnaire from each person earning 
a research doctorate at the time they receive the degree. Graduate 
schools help distribute the SED to their graduating doctorate 
recipients. Data are collected on the doctorate recipient's field of 
specialty, educational background, sources of financial 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. 
NSF, as the lead agency, publishes statistics from the survey in 
several reports, but primarily in the annual publication series, 
``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: 52,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 28,800.

    Dated: March 19, 2015.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2015-06672 Filed 3-23-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P