[NSB-00-60]{.underline}

March 20, 2000

**MEMORANDUM TO NATIONAL SCIENCE BOARD MEMBERS**

**SUBJECT:** Preliminary Report of the March 16, 2000 Meeting

The major actions of the Board at its 357^th^ meeting on March 16, 1999,
are summarized for the information of those members absent and as a
reminder to those present.

1.  **Board Actions**

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
a.  The Board approved the Closed Session minutes of the November, 1999
    meeting and the Open Session minutes of the February, 2000 meeting.

b.  The Board approved three programs in EHR:

-   The NSF Graduate Teaching Fellows in K-12 Education (GK-12)
    (NSB-00-61). Under this program, academic institutions that offer
    graduate degrees in science, mathematics, engineering and technology
    can apply for two- to three-year awards ranging from \$200,000 up to
    \$500,000 per year. The institutions are responsible for selecting
    the teaching fellows. Graduate teaching fellows will receive annual
    stipends of \$18,000, plus a cost-of-education stipend.
    Undergraduate fellows will receive as much as \$5,000 per academic
    year, plus up to an additional \$5,000 for service in the summer.

-   The Inter-Agency Education Research Initiative (IERI) (NSB-00-62),
    is a partnership among NSF, the Department of Education and the
    National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. The
    program will support research to identify education strategies that
    improve the teaching and learning of reading, mathematics and
    science from pre-kindergarten through grade 12, especially the use
    of information and computer technologies in education.

-   National SMET Digital Library Program (NSDL) (NSB-00-63). This inter
    Directorate program will provide long-term support for maintenance,
    improvement and expansion of high-quality digital science,
    mathematics, engineering and technology materials for use by
    students and teachers at all levels.

c.  The Board approved selections for the Vannevar Bush Award, the
    Alan T. Waterman Award, and the Public Service Award for 2000, as
    recommended by the selection committees.

**2. Awards**

The Board approved the following awards: Amount not

[to exceed]{.underline}

**Office of the Director**

[Office of Polar Programs]{.underline}

A Request for Proposals (RFP) to Obtain a \$16,000,000

Follow-on Contract to Provide Helicopter for 60 months

Services to Support the United States Antarctic

Program (USAP) and Antarctica New Zealand (AntNZ)

(NSB 00-50)

[Office of Polar Programs]{.underline}

International Arctic Research Center A cooperative agreement

University of Alaska for an amount not to exceed

(NSB-00-59) \$15,000,000 for 36 months.

As part of the cooperative

agreement there will be

created an eminent advisory

and oversight council to

advise NSF and the

University of Alaska,

Fairbanks. The NSB/CPP

wishes to be briefed on the

program plan for the second

year activities early

> in FY2001

**Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences**

[Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences]{.underline}

Center for Integrated Study of the Human \$6,560,285

Dimensions of Global Change for 48 months

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

(NSB 00-30)

3.  **NSB Committees**

The Chairman established the Task Force on Polar Issues as a standing
subcommittee of the Committee on Programs and Plans, effective in May.

4.  **NSB Nominations**

Anita Jones briefly reminded members that the Committee on NSB
Nominations for 2008 will meet in May, and asked Board members to begin
thinking of potential nominations.

5.  **Committee Reports**

(Committee summaries are provided by executive secretaries.)

a.  **Executive Committee (EC)**

The Executive Committee discussed the status of the NSF strategic plan
and the FY 2002 budget preparation process. The committee also heard a
report from the Director on personnel matters and discussed the
responsibility of the A&O committee in oversight of management policy.
Finally, the committee heard reports on the recommendations for the Alan
T. Waterman, Vannevar Bush, and NSB Public Service Award that would be
presented to the Board.

b.  **Audit & Oversight (A&O)**

The new Inspector General Christine ("Tina") Boesz was introduced. A
Government Performance and Results Act update noted that the FY99 GPRA
performance report was accepted by the President's Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) and is currently under review by GAO (Government
Accounting Office). A report on the status of the FY99 NSF Financial
Statement and Audit noted that audited financial statements were
transmitted to OMB March 1 and that NSF received a "clean" (unqualified)
audit opinion, for the second year in a row. There was also a report on
the Information System Controls audit, which included review of
security, penetration testing and back up plans, and a brief discussion
of a revised draft A & O charter.

**Supervisory session:** An External Quality Review performed on the NSF
OIG audit organization was discussed. The Review concluded that the NSF
audit organization conducted its audits substantially in compliance with
the Government Audit Standards. The OIG's initiatives for outreach and
plans for reevaluating the OIG Strategic Plan were also discussed.

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

The committee was given a presentation on NSF Informal Education
activities by Dr. Hyman Field and engaged in a dialog with Dr. Franklin
Odo of the Smithsonian Institution on broadening minority participation
in the Nation's science and engineering enterprise. The committee
approved a draft of the charge to the committee and noted that it was
preferable for NSB members to serve concurrently on more than one
standing committee. The Science and Engineering Indicators Subcommittee
reported on the progress of *Indicators-2000* and the Committee approved
a draft companion piece.

The status of the statutory requirement for the preparation of Science
Indicators was also discussed. In action items, the committee
recommended approval of the Graduate Teaching Fellows in K-12 Education
Program; the Interagency Education Research Initiative (IERI) Program;
and the National SMET Digital Library (NSDL). Dr. Sunley gave the
committee a comprehensive framework for EHR decision making and, in
Executive Session, the committee discussed an expert panel process that
would help the Foundation assess its niche in K-12 education.

d.  **Science and Engineering Indicators (SEI)**

Dr. Lynda Carlson, the new Director of the Division of Science Resources
Studies, provided the subcommittee with a status report on the printing
and publication schedule of the *Science and Engineering
Indicators-2000* report, emphasizing that *Indicators* is the highest
priority of the SRS Division. The Board will receive the 2-volume report
and accompanying CD at its May meeting. She noted that the delay in
production of *Indicators-2000,* which had earlier been promised for the
March meeting, stemmed from several problems in the editing, quality
control, and composition of the report. Dr. Carlson requested that the
subcommittee consider having a substantive discussion at its May meeting
regarding various options to put *Indicators* back on its January
completion and release schedule as well as content and format issues.
Dr. Carlson also provided the subcommittee with samples of data cards,
which could serve as models for highlighting specific *Indicators-2000*
data. Appreciation was expressed to subcommittee members and SRS staff
(Jennifer Bond in particular) for all their efforts in producing *S&E
Indicators-2000.*

Dr. Daryl Chubin, Senior Policy Officer, NSB, led a discussion on the
draft companion piece to *Indicators-2000*. The companion piece is
appropriate for the NSF 50^th^ Anniversary celebration, highlighting
changes made in science and technology over the past 50 years, enduring
themes, and looking forward to the future. The companion piece has been
provided to all Board members for comments, which should be given to Dr.
Chubin as soon as possible for incorporation into the document. The
subcommittee indicated their overall satisfaction with the draft
companion piece and recommended and approved the following resolution to
the EHR Committee:

> **The S&EI Subcommittee recommends to the EHR Committee that it accept
> the companion piece to *S& E Indicators-2000* with the understanding
> that Dr. Mitchell-Kernan will have the authority to approve any final
> editorial changes in the companion piece.**

Dr. David Stonner, Section Head, Congressional Affairs, OLPA provided
the Subcommittee with an update on the sunset requirement for the *S&E
Indicators* report. At the November meeting the NSB had voted their
unanimous agreement that all steps necessary to ensure that the
statutory requirement for *S&E Indicators* be reinstated in
congressional legislation be pursued. He indicated that chances for a
stand-alone piece of legislation were not good and more likely an
amendment would be attached to a relevant House Bill. The Senate could
pass the legislation but there is a very small chance that it would be
passed this session due to its low priority.

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

The committee recommended that Dr. Margaret Leinen provide an annual
briefing to the NSB on the Foundation\'s activities in response to the
NSB report *Environmental Research and Education for the 21^st^
Centur*y, beginning with the May NSB meeting. The committee also
requested that Dr. Leinen provide a brief update to the CPP at every
other meeting.

The committee received a brief report from the Polar Issues Task Force,
including Arctic and Antarctic support issues and the international
Arctic Climate Impact Assessment. The committee heard a presentation on
infrastructure and the steps NSF is taking to address the changing
nature of research and education infrastructure in NSF's strategic
planning. The committee discussed the proposed revision to the CPP
Committee Charge ([NSB-00-25]{.underline}) and agreed that the revised
charge was appropriate.

The committee reviewed and approved three items for consideration by the
NSB: Request for Proposals for Helicopter Services to Support the U.S.
Antarctic Program and Antarctica New Zealand ([NSB-00-50]{.underline});
Center for Integrative Study of the Human Dimensions of Global Change,
Carnegie-Mellon University ([NSB-00-30]{.underline}); and International
Arctic Research Center, University of Alaska, Fairbanks
([NSB-00-59]{.underline}). The committee called for the creation of an
eminent advisory and oversight council to advise NSF and the University
of Alaska, Fairbanks, and for a briefing to the CPP early in FY 2001 on
the Center\'s program plan for the second year.

f.  **Polar Issues (PI)**

The Chairman noted that the National Science Board had approved making
the Polar Issues Task Force a permanent subcommittee of the Committee on
Programs and Plans effective May 2000.

OPP staff reviewed the 2001 budget for Polar Programs; initiatives to
expand participation in polar research projects; and Arctic and
Antarctic logistic and support activities including the successful
transition of support contractors in the Antarctic and recent Arctic and
Antarctic science activities and future plans. The task force
recommended to the Committee on Programs and Plans approval of issuance
of a request for proposals for a follow-on contract to provide
helicopter services to support the United States Antarctic Program and
Antarctica New Zealand.

g.  **Committee on Communication and Outreach**

# CCO members shared their views on the policy symposium in February in Irvine, CA ("Communicating Science and Technology in the Public Interest"). Members agreed the symposium was informative and provided many thoughtful suggestions for how NSB and NSF can improve communication and outreach about science and engineering. The next phase of the committee's work is to prepare the final report, which is due to the Board in May. To inform the committee and to help shape its recommendations for NSB and NSF, members heard from staff in the Office of Legislative and Public Affairs (OLPA), the Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE), and the Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR). 

h.  **International Issues in S&E (ISE)**

Task Force Chair, Dr. Diana Natalicio, introduced Alan Rapoport, the new
Executive Secretary and thanked the previous Executive Secretary, Dr.
Frances Li, for all her work. The task force heard presentations from
two invited guests: former Science Advisor Jack Gibbons reporting on the
steps the Department of State is taking to reverse a decline in
scientific and technical expertise over the past decade, and NSF
Director Dr. Rita Colwell, summarizing the Foundation\'s response to a
set of questions posed by the task force about NSF's international S&E
activities.

Dr. Marta Cehelsky presented a brief review of the task force's
activities to date, and the task force focused on next steps. Key
issues, themes, and recommendations will be identified and integrated
from both the literature and the hearings. In addition, a preliminary
report outline was distributed to elicit discussion from task force
members and other NSF attendees. A revised version, incorporating
comments and suggestions, will be distributed to the task force and
discussed during an upcoming conference call.

i.  **Ad Hoc Committee on Strategic S&E Policy Issues (SPI)**

The committee heard presentations from two speakers, Mr. Charles Larson,
President of the Industrial Research Institute, and Dr. James
Duderstadt, representing the National Academies' Committee on Science,
Engineering and Public Policy (COSEPUP). Mr. Larson discussed priority
setting in industry, and the roles of industry and the Federal
government in U.S. R&D. He also reviewed how investment strategies in
industry have changed over the last decade, and how these changes have
required changes in R&D personnel capabilities. Dr. Duderstadt discussed
COSEPUP's work on the Federal Science and Technology (FS&T) budget and
on benchmarking for fields of research, in cooperation with the American
Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). These efforts follow
on the recommendations of the Academy report*, Allocating Federal Funds
for Science and Technology*. Dr. Duderstadt noted that today\'s
environment is conducive to progress in this area and the Board is the
appropriate body to lead this activity.

The committee discussed its Draft Interim Report to the Board. Members
focussed particularly on the second phase of the committee's workplan,
which will involve other stakeholders in discussions of the findings of
the committee. The schedule for completion of the committee's work
includes a first draft in May to be submitted to the Board for comment,
a revised draft during the summer, and a final interim draft for
consideration at the August meeting. Workshops and other meetings will
be scheduled in the fall and a final report issued in December. Staff
was asked to prepare a table organized by topical areas indicating the
organization and names of appropriate participants in focussed workshops
or other meetings; and a report on time line, budget and resources that
would be required to support committee activities through December.

j.  **NSB 50^th^ Anniversary Task Force**

The task force heard reports from Susan Mason, Office of Legislative &
Public Affairs, on the results of the national science and technology
challenge, "Jumpstart 2000: Your Chance To Build a Better Century.\" Ms.
Mason also provided an overview of the NSF 50^th^ events, including a
publication on historical accomplishments to be released this spring;
bi-monthly two-page spreads in *Discover* magazine on broad science and
engineering topics; 90-second interstitials during Saturday morning
children's programming beginning in September on "Find Out Why";
partnerships with Dow-Chemical, Science Service and Dartmouth College
for a 50^th^ celebration, and a roundtable discussion and release of a
Dartmouth College white paper on the "Future of Science & Technology."

The task force discussed a proposed external review process for the NSB
50^th^ Anniversary Commemorative brochure. A group of 5-10 reviewers
will be selected from former Board members, senior NSF staff, NSF
historians and others familiar with NSB/NSF history, to review the text
and sidebars of the commemorative. The reviewers will be asked to read
for balance of items presented, accuracy, completeness, tone and
inclusion of pivotal NSB, NSF and other actors.

The task force discussed the type of event, entertainment, and focus of
the NSB 50^th^ anniversary celebration on December 12. Also discussed
was the possibility of presenting special awards to individuals with a
long-standing association with the NSB, NSF and the science and
engineering community. Board members will be asked to provide names of
candidates for special recognition in the near future.

Marta Cehelsky

Executive Officer