[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 43 (Monday, March 8, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13401-13402]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-04697]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Request for Information: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, 
and Mathematics at the Poles

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Request for information.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation's (NSF) Office of Polar 
Programs (OPP) and the Education and Human Resources (EHR) Directorate 
request input from interested parties on the goals, values, and 
approaches for managing the Antarctic Artist and Writers (AAW) Program 
and possibly expanding that program to include the Arctic. In addition, 
OPP and EHR request input into whether the NSF program which selects 
and sends educators to the Poles should be under a common management 
structure. This RFI will help inform NSF as it considers potential 
avenues for managing and

[[Page 13402]]

enhancing education and outreach efforts related to polar science.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
April 7, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to Valentine H. Kass, [email protected].
    Submissions should include ``RFI Response: Polar STEAM?'' in the 
subject line of the message.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance 
Officer, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Suite 
W18200, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone (703) 292-7556; or send 
email 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: 
    Instructions: Response to this RFI is voluntary. Each individual or 
institution is requested to submit only one response. Responses should 
include the name of the person(s) or organization(s) filing the 
comment. Please include the number of the question or questions to 
which you are responding. Please limit your response to no more than 
six pages.
    In accordance with FAR 15.202(3), responses to this notice are not 
offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding 
contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated 
with responding to this RFI.
    Background Information: The Office of Polar Programs (OPP) promotes 
creative and innovative scientific research, engineering, and education 
in and about the polar regions, catalyzing fundamental discovery and 
understanding of polar systems and their global interactions to inform 
the nation and advance the welfare of all people. OPP supports world-
class Arctic and Antarctic science through grants to researchers across 
the U.S. OPP also provides polar facilities and logistical support for 
that research. https://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=OPP.
    The mission of the Education and Human Resources Directorate (EHR) 
is to achieve excellence in U.S. science, technology, engineering, and 
mathematics (STEM) education at all levels and in all settings (both 
formal and informal) in order to support the development of a diverse 
and well-prepared workforce of scientists, technicians, engineers, 
mathematicians and educators and a well-informed citizenry that have 
access to the ideas and tools of science and engineering. https://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=EHR.
    Given their respective missions, OPP and EHR collaborate to enhance 
both formal and informal polar education. Incorporating Art into STEM 
learning experiences (commonly referred to as STEAM, e.g., Science, 
Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) allows students of all ages 
to access science concepts from different vantage points, promotes 
creative thinking, speaks to a broader swath of learners, and enhances 
engagement and understanding. (Findings in the emerging field of 
theory, research and practice of STEAM can be found at The Integration 
of the Humanities and Arts with Sciences Engineering and Medicine in 
Higher Education [verbar] National Academies, and at 
www.informalscience.org.)
    For decades, OPP managed the Antarctic Artists and Writers (AAW) 
program to support writing and artistic projects specifically designed 
to increase the public's understanding and appreciation of the 
Antarctic and the human endeavors on the southernmost continent, with 
priority given to projects that focus on interpreting and representing 
the scientific activities being conducted in the unique Antarctic 
region. The AAW program was paused in 2020, in order to assess the best 
way to move the program forward. https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2019/nsf19568/nsf19568.htm.
    In addition to AAW, OPP has supported sending educators, both 
informal and formal, to both the Antarctic and Arctic to work 
collaboratively with researchers. This program provides a unique 
professional development opportunity that benefits not only the 
individual educators but the diverse communities they serve. In 
addition, the Polar Artists and Writers and polar educators programs 
provide unique avenues for NSF-funded researchers to enhance the 
Broader Impact of their work.
    This RFI is part of NSF's effort to think more broadly about 
enhancing and sustaining polar education as we deliberate about the 
most effective way forward for the AAW program. Specifically, OPP and 
EHR are seeking input to:
    (1) Identify organizations with the capacity to manage programs 
that are: (a) Solely focused on the AAW program, (b) focused on both 
artists and educators, or (c) other options identified thru this RFI.
    (2) Investigate the opportunities and constraints for expanding the 
Antarctic Artists and Writers program to include the Arctic, i.e., 
creating a Polar Artists and Writers program.
    (3) Evaluate the possibility of co-managing the polar educators 
program and Polar Artists and Writers program.
    Information Requested: Responders are asked to answer one or more 
of the following questions in responses to the RFI:
    1. Please describe the opportunities and constraints of managing 
the Antarctic Artists and Writers (AAW) program as a stand-alone 
program versus creating a management structure that also includes the 
program which selects formal and informal educators to work 
collaboratively with researchers in the Antarctic and Arctic.
    2. Please describe the opportunities and constraints of expanding 
the AAW program to include the Arctic, understanding that logistic 
issues are unique to each region and that the Arctic is home to 
Indigenous and local peoples.
    3. Please identify one or more organizations that have the 
capabilities to manage and promote national competitions for (1) 
artists and writers, (2) educators (formal and informal), or (3) both 
artists and writers and educators.
    What are the unique or special characteristics of each of these 
organizations? Please describe the extent these named organizations 
have connections, if any, to:
    (i) The scientific community, especially Arctic and Antarctic polar 
research.
    (ii) Artists and Writers organizations
    (iii) Educator organizations
    How would such organization(s) further the impact of the program 
with respect to:
    (i) Broadening inclusiveness and diversity within the program as 
well as through its outreach efforts;
    (ii) enhancing the publics' understanding of the polar regions and 
engagement with polar scientific research;
    (iii) widely distributing and promoting the program's outcomes and 
educational efforts over time;
    (iv) evaluating the program's effectiveness over time?

    Dated: March 2, 2021.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2021-04697 Filed 3-5-21; 8:45 am]
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