NSB-98-164

> August 17, 1998

MEMORANDUM TO: Members of the National Science Board

SUBJECT: Preliminary Report of the August 12-13, l998 NSB Meeting

The major actions of the Board at its 349^th^ meeting on August 12-13,
l998 are summarized below for the advance information of those members
absent and as a reminder to those present.

#### Board Activities

l.  [Executive Committee]{.underline}

*In the absence of a quorum, the Executive Committee reconvened in
Closed Session to approve the following items*:

a.  Open and Closed Session Minutes for the May 1998 meeting;

b\. Annual NSB Contribution to NSF Trust Fund

Delegation of authority to the Executive Committee to approve future
levels of members' contributions to the Trust Fund, and the level of the
NSB members' contribution to the Trust Fund for FY 1999.

c\. Awards:

> Amount not

[To exceed]{.underline}

**(Biological Sciences)**

# 

# Division of Biological Infrastructure \$ 12,497,999

## Sequencing the *Arabidopsis* Genome, Stanford University, for 36 months

University of Pennsylvania, University of California, Berkeley

(NSB-98-145, Board Book, Tab B).

Sequencing the *Arabidopsis* Chromosome 2 (and beyond), \$ 15,806,875

And Development of Resources for *Arabidopsis* Genome for 36 months

Analysis, The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR)

(NSB-98-146, Board Book, Tab C).

**(Engineering)**

### Division of Electrical and Communications Systems

National Nanofabrication users Network (NNUN)---Cornell \$ 23,000,000

University, Howard University, Pennsylvania State University, for 60
months

Stanford University, University of California at Santa Barbara

(NSB-98-144, Board Book, Tab D).

**(Geosciences)**

# Division of Atmospheric Sciences

## Consideration for Funding of the High-performance Instrumented

## Airborne Platform for Environmental Research (HIAPER),

## (NSB-98-137, Board Book, Tab F).

## **(Mathematical and Physical Sciences)**

# Division of Materials Research

Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, \$ 20,575,0000

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (NSB-98-137, for 54 months

Board Book, Tab F).

## 

## **(Office of the Director)**

# Office of Polar Programs

## Consideration for Funding Polar Support Aircraft Upgrade

(NSB-98-133, Board Book, Tab G).

2\. [NSB Committees]{.underline}

The Chairman discharged the Task Force on Government Performance &
Results Act (GPRA) chaired by Dr. White. Other members included Drs.
Jaskolski, Mitchell-Kernan and Suzuki, with NSB staff Drs. Corell and
Hunt, and Dr. Eileen Collins as Executive Secretary.

The Chairman established the Task Force on the Environment. Dr.
Lubchenco will chair the Task Force, with Drs. Gaillard, Solow,
Washington, NSB consultant Dr. Hopcroft and NSF staff Drs. Mary Clutter,
Assistant Director, Biological Sciences, and Robert Corell, Assistant
Director, Geosciences, as members.

##### Committee Meeting Summaries

(Reports are provided by the executive secretaries of the respective
committees.)

a.  **Audit and Oversight (A&O)**

The Committee meeting was cancelled and rescheduled to a conference call
in September (date and time to be determined).

**b. Education and Human Resources (EHR)**

The Committee was briefed on a publication entitled \"The Urban Systemic
Initiatives (USI) Program of the NSF: Summary Update.\" A report from
the Science and Engineering Subcommittee outlined a key user study and
the planning process for future editions. The

Committee was updated on the EHR field hearings held in Los Angeles and
Chicago and on the upcoming hearing scheduled for Puerto Rico. The
Committee discussed the dissemination/reporting plan for the field
hearings and opted for the format of a synthesis report on the series.

The NSB release responding to the TIMSS report was mentioned and plans
for the preparation of a follow-up white paper were described. In
Executive Session, the Committee discussed future directions and decided
that, along with implementing the NSB strategic plan, areas of prime
interest included discovering the impact of diversity on the culture of
K-12 and higher education, gaining an understanding of the role of the
SAT and GRE examinations, studying the interplay between foreign and
domestic students, being updated on urban K-12 reform and collaborations
between the Foundation and the Department of Education as well as other
foundations, and considering the role of outreach to the broader public
in accomplishing education and human resource development objectives.

**c.** **EHR Subcommittee on Science and Engineering Indicators (S&EI)**

The S&E Indicators Subcommittee received a report on the press strategy
and press coverage of S&EI---98. The S&EI-98 report has received a great
deal of coverage in the media including broadcast, radio and
print\--both domestic and foreign. A report of interviews with key users
of the S&EI report was reviewed as well as data on the use of the web
version. The report is well regarded and used frequently. The objective
nature of the report is very important to the users. They like the web
version, but also want a hard copy. The Subcommittee discussed the
possibility of supporting an R&D program for the development of
indicators that could be used in future reports.

The Subcommittee discussed possible options for S&EI---2000. The
Subcommittee agreed to consider the S&EI-2000 report having a special
historical focus which would compare data on the national S&E resources
and science policy issues 50 years ago with those of today, subject to
the development of a detailed outline and of a sample chapter using this
approach to determine its viability. Staff will further develop option 2
for the Subcommittee\'s consideration and discussion before the November
meeting.

**d. EHR Task Force on Mathematics and Science Achievement (TIMSS)**

The Task Force's (TF) chief agenda item was planning of the "white
paper" on mathematics and science achievement, following on the July 31
release of the Board's TIMSS statement. The discussion included the need
for R&D on education and the development of indicators K-16.

The TF discussed media coverage of the TIMSS statement and comments
received on the absence of teachers at the EHR field hearing. Task force
members concurred that future hearings should be as inclusive as
possible. The Task Force also discussed the preparation of a trifold
publication of the TIMSS statement and expressed enthusiasm about
disseminating the published statement to 15,000 school districts and
others that may lack electronic access.

In comments on background materials distributed for the meeting, the
Task Force particularly noted the 1999 TIMSS-R test that will be
co-sponsored by NSF and the National Center for Education Statistics. It
will test a national sample of 8^th^ grade students and is currently
recruiting the participation of districts and schools to augment the
national sample. Task Force members expressed concern about incentives
to participate, since this appears to be another high-stakes test that
could embarrass low-performing schools or districts. However, they
agreed on the value of having NSF Systemic Initiative sites involves and
of research on student outcomes that benefits from consistent,
nation-wide assessment data.

Task Force members agreed to prepare a list of major topics for the
longer paper, with each member assuming responsibility for development
each topic. The paper will be reviewed by the EHR Committee and
circulated to the Board for comment in advance of the November NSB
meeting.

**e. Executive Committee (EC)**

The committee heard a report from the Director on a variety of matters,
and an update on the status of the FY 1999 budget and had a substantive
discussion on the NSF draft budget for

FY 2000. Under the authority delegated to it by the Board, the committee
approved the proposed NSF Fiscal Year 2000 budget request to the Office
of Management and Budget (NSB/EC-98-32) and the proposed budget request
for the Office of the Inspector General for Fiscal Year 2000 to the
Office of Management and Budget (NSB/EC-98-34). The committee also
reviewed the status of the NSB subaccount of the NSF Trust Fund and
concurred with the presentation to the Board for approval of the
proposed contribution level for FY1999.

**f. Programs and Plans (CPP)**

The Committee received reports of the earlier meetings of the Task Force
on the Environment and the Polar Issues Task Force. Dr. Lubchenco
reported that the Environment Task Force, which she chairs, is committed
to reporting to the Board by May on its planned review of the NSF
portfolio in this area. Dr. Washington reported on Polar Task Force
discussions of LC-130 conversions for Air National Guard piloting, on
future plans for the Arctic programs, and on US-Japan cooperation in
global climate change research. He then called on Dr. Hunt to elaborate
on

the former two subjects and on Dr. Corell for the latter.

The Committee reviewed, and approved two projects as being ready for
consideration in a future budget request, Polar Support Aircraft Upgrade
and the High-performance Instrumented Airborne Platform for
Environmental Research (HIAPER). The discussion regarding HIAPER raised
certain issues related to the recently approved NSB policy on
competition/recompetition. The Committee Chair and the NSF Deputy
Director will structure the topic for discussion at the next CPP.

The Committee received an overview of the 1998 Materials Research
Science and Engineering Centers (MRSECs) competition and then reviewed
and approved a recommended award to the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology Materials Research Science and Engineering Center.

The Committee received information on the possibility of developing a
National Network for High Performance Seismic Simulation, and encouraged
staff to continue its planning efforts with the goal of presenting an
action item to the Board in November. The Committee also reviewed and
approved the recommended award to Stanford University, Cornell
University, the

University of California at Santa Barbara, Pennsylvania State University
and Howard University for the support of the National Nanofabrication
Users\' Network.

The Committee received an overview of the plant genome project, in both
its national and international contexts. Afterward, the Committee
reviewed and approved a recommended award to the consortium of Stanford
University, the University of Pennsylvania and the University of
California at Berkeley for Sequencing the *Arabidopsis* Genome, and a
recommended award to The Institute for Genomic Research for Sequencing
of *Arabidopsis* Chromosome 2 (and beyond), and Development of Resources
for *Arabidopsis* Genome Analysis, respectively.

The Committee asked staff to consider options for presenting information
that would provide a synoptic view of programs, activities and plans. To
provide adequate time for such reviews, the Committee decided to review
action items in teleconferences. The date of November 16 was set for
this teleconference. The Committee also agreed to convene for an
additional period just after or before the November meeting for review
and discussion of overarching programmatic issues. The scheduled topic
for the November meeting is planning for major infrastructure in all
Directorates and the Office of Polar Programs.

**g. CPP Task Force on Polar Issues (PI)**

Dr. Hunt, Acting Director, Office of Polar Programs (OPP), briefed the
members on a request to include funding for the conversion of an
additional C-130 aircraft for polar support in a future NSF budget. The
addition would bring the number of converted aircraft to three. Two
C-130's have received funding for conversion in the FY 1998 budget.

Dr. Pyle, Arctic Science Section, OPP, briefed the Task Force on
preliminary plans for Arctic logistics support should OPP receive
additional funds which have been added to the FY 1999 budget in the
Senate.

Dr. Corell, Assistant Director, Geosciences, briefed the Task Force on
the Japan-U.S. Cooperation in Global Change Research and Climate
Prediction as it relates to activities in the Arctic.

**h.** **CPP Task Force on the Environment (ENV)**

The meeting began with a discussion led by Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Task
Force Chair. Members noted that the Foundation's response to Congress on
the National Institute for the Environment proposal provides a basis for
a more detailed examination of the role of NSF in environmental areas
now and in the future, including the need for additional resources to
address environmental challenges. The Task Force reviewed its charge "to
provide guidance to the Foundation in defining the scope of its role
with respect to environmental research, education, and assessment and to
submit its recommendation to the Board no later than the May 1999
meeting."

The Task Force heard a staff presentation on current broad cross-agency
activities covered under NSF\'s Life and Earth\'s Environment (LEE)
program, which encompasses about \$600 million dollars (about 20% of the
Foundation budget for research and education). Members noted that a
current National Research Council study funded by NSF to identify grand
challenges

in this area might provide some insights to the interim report of the
Task Force scheduled for completion at the end of the year. Members
discussed previously published and ongoing policy studies concerning the
environment. Staff will develop a list of such materials and appropriate
materials provided for background for the Task Force. Members agreed
that NSF has an appropriate responsibility in supporting research to
develop the science base in environmental areas. Questions on the
science base to be answered include: Are we funding the most appropriate
programs at the right level? What are gaps in research? What are the
priorities for areas not now being addressed? Are activities organized
and integrated most effectively?

Members also noted that the shortness of time requires that much Task
Force activity be undertaken electronically by telephone and
teleconference.

i.  **Task Force on NSF's 50^th^ Anniversary**

The Committee heard a report from Ms. Julia Moore, Director, Office of
Legislative & Public Affairs, on the plans for programmatic activities
for a national individual science and engineering essay contest for
children (targeting middle and high schools). The Chair will represent
the Task Force in discussions with potential contest partners. The Task
Force also discussed ideas for the Board's 50^th^ anniversary
celebration in November 2000, and learned that the NSF 50^th^
anniversary advisory committee, chaired by Dr. H. Guyford Stever, former
NSF Director, will hold the first meeting on October 15-16.

Marta Cehelsky

Executive Officer