[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 66 (Friday, April 7, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17040-17041]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-07009]


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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.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by May 8, 2017 
to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will 
be considered to the extent practicable.
    Comments: Comments are invited on (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.
    For Additional Information or Comments: Comments 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]. 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).
    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 Research and Development. 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 four Federal agencies (NSF, National Institutes of Health, 
U.S. Department of Education, and National Endowment for the 
Humanities) to avoid duplication of effort in collecting such data. It 
is an accurate, timely source of information on an important national 
resource--individuals with research doctorates. 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.
    Comment: On 16 September 2016 we published in the Federal Register 
(81 FR 63809) 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 November 14, 2016. Two 
comments were received from the public, one of which requested draft 
materials from the SED information collection request being prepared 
for OMB and one that expressed support for renewing the SED.
    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

[[Page 17041]]

primarily in the annual publication series, ``Doctorate Recipients from 
U.S. Universities.'' These reports are available on the Web. NSF also 
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, recent earned doctorates.
    Number of Respondents: 52,650.
    Frequency of Responses: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours (annual estimate): 29,350.

    Dated: April 4, 2017.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2017-07009 Filed 4-6-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P