[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 163 (Thursday, August 26, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47659-47660]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18406]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request; 
National Science Foundation-Managed Honorary Awards

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to 
renew, with a revision, this collection. In accordance with the 
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we are providing 
opportunity for public comment on this action. After obtaining and 
considering public comment, NSF will prepare the submission requesting 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) clearance of this collection for 
no longer than 3 years.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by October 25, 
2021 to be assured consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable. Send comments to the 
address below.

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: 
    Title of Collection: National Science Foundation-Managed Honorary 
Awards.
    OMB Approval Number: 3145-0035.
    Expiration Date of Approval: January 31, 2024.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to revise an information 
collection for three years.
    Abstract: The National Science Foundation (NSF) administers several 
external awards, among them the President's National Medal of Science, 
the Alan T. Waterman Award, the National Science Board (NSB) Vannevar 
Bush Award, the NSB Public Service Award, the Presidential Awards for 
Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM) 
program, and the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and 
Science Teaching (PAEMST) program. The full descriptions for these 
programs, including nominating requirements, may be found at the 
following website: https://www.nsf.gov/awards/presidential.jsp.
    Use of the Information: Following are brief outlines of the 
honorary award programs:
     President's National Medal of Science. Statutory authority 
for the President's National Medal of Science is contained in 42 U.S.C. 
1881 (Pub. L. 86-209), which established the award and stated that 
``(t)he President shall . . . award the Medal on the recommendations 
received from the National Academy of Sciences or on the basis of such 
other information and evidence as . . . appropriate.''
     Alan T. Waterman Award. Congress established the Alan T. 
Waterman Award in August 1975 (42 U.S.C. 1881a (Pub. L. 94-86)) and 
authorized NSF to ``establish the Alan T. Waterman Award for research 
or advanced study in any of the sciences or engineering'' to mark the 
25th anniversary of the National Science Foundation and to honor its 
first Director. The annual award recognizes an outstanding young 
researcher in any field of science or engineering supported by NSF. In 
addition to a medal, the awardee receives a grant of $1,000,000 over a 
five-year period for scientific research or advanced study in any field 
of science or engineering.
     Vannevar Bush Award. The Vannevar Bush Award honors truly 
exceptional lifelong leaders in science and technology who have made 
substantial contributions to the welfare of the Nation through public 
service activities in science, technology, and public policy. The 
National Science Board established this award in 1980 in the memory of 
Vannevar Bush, who served as a science advisor to President Franklin 
Roosevelt during World War II, helped to establish Federal funding for 
science and engineering as a national priority during peacetime, and 
was behind the creation of the National Science Foundation.

[[Page 47660]]

     NSB Public Service Award. The National Science Board 
established the Public Service Award in November 1996 to honor 
individuals and groups that have made substantial contributions to 
increasing public understanding of science and engineering in the 
United States. These contributions may be in a wide variety of areas 
that have the potential of contributing to public understanding of and 
appreciation for science and engineering--including mass media, 
education and/or training programs, and entertainment.
     Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics 
and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM) program. In 1996, the White House, 
through the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) and the 
Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), established the 
Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and 
Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM) program. The program, administered on 
behalf of the White House by the National Science Foundation, seeks to 
identify outstanding mentoring efforts or programs designed to enhance 
the participation of groups (women, minorities and persons with 
disabilities as well as groups from low socioeconomic regions) 
underrepresented in science, mathematics and engineering. The awardees 
will serve as exemplars to their colleagues and will be leaders in the 
national effort to more fully develop the Nation's human resources in 
science, mathematics and engineering. This award is managed at NSF by 
the Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR).
     Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and 
Science Teaching. The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics 
and Science Teaching (PAEMST) is the highest recognition that a 
kindergarten through 12th-grade mathematics or science teacher may 
receive for outstanding teaching in the United States. Enacted by 
Congress in 1983, this program authorizes the President to bestow 108 
awards with two per state or jurisdiction, assuming there are qualified 
applicants. Awards are given in the science category, which includes 
science and engineering, and the mathematics category, which includes 
mathematics, technology and computer science. In even-numbered years, 
nominations are accepted for elementary teachers (grades K-6); in odd-
numbered years, secondary teachers (grades 7-12) are nominated. This 
award is managed at NSF by the Directorate for Education and Human 
Resources (EHR).
    Estimate of Burden: These are annual award programs with 
application deadlines varying according to the program. Public burden 
also may vary according to program; however, across all the programs, 
it is estimated that each submission will average 23 hours per 
respondent. If the nominator is thoroughly familiar with the 
disciplinary background of the nominee, time spent to complete the 
nomination may be considerably reduced. Once provisionally selected, on 
behalf of OSTP, NSF may collect information from the potential 
Presidential award honorees necessary for OSTP to complete a background 
check. The estimated time for completion is ten minutes per respondent, 
including reviewing the instructions.
    Respondents: Individuals, businesses or other for-profit 
organizations, universities, non-profit institutions, and Federal and 
State governments.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Award: 1,800 responses, broken 
down as follows: For the President's National Medal of Science, 80; 
background check form, 15; for the Alan T. Waterman Award, 70; for the 
Vannevar Bush Award, 20; for the Public Service Award, 30; for the 
PAESMEM, 200; and 1,400 for the PAEMST.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 41,974 hours, broken 
down by 1,600 hours for the President's National Medal of Science 
nominations (20 hours per 80 respondents) and three hours for the 
background check information for approximately 15-20 honorees; 2,000 
hours for the Alan T. Waterman Award (20 hours per 100 respondents); 
300 hours for the Vannevar Bush Award (15 hours per 20 respondents); 
450 hours for the Public Service Award (15 hours per 30 respondents); 
4,000 hours for the PAESMEM (20 hours per 200 respondents) and three 
hours for the background check information for approximately 15 
honorees; and 33,600 hours for the PAEMST (24 hours per 1400 
respondents) and 18 hours for the background check information for 
approximately 108 honorees.
    Frequency of Responses: Annually.
    Comments: Comments are invited on (a) whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the Agency, including whether the information shall 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of 
the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information on 
respondents, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology; (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.

    Dated: August 23, 2021.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2021-18406 Filed 8-25-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P