Subject: NSF General Publication
From: Dot Baker <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked]
Date: Fri, 25 Oct 91 09:30 EST

Hi Paul,
This is the seventh of eight parts of the November NSF Bulletin.
Please post to the listserver as:  NSFBulletin7.911101.
Thanks, M. G. Broaddus
 ---------------------------- Text of forwarded message -----------------------
Title       : NSF9180 --Introduction, Guide to Programs
Type        : General Publication
NSF Contact : OLPA
Date        : October 23, 1991
IN          : Guide to Programs

National Science Foundation
 
Guide to Programs
 
Fiscal Year 1992
 
Electronic Retrieval of NSF Publications
 
The Science & Technology Information System (STIS) is a new
electronic dissemination system which provides easy access to
National Science Foundation (NSF) publications. Electronic
publications will supplement the wide distribution of printed
material from NSF.
 
The full text of publications can be searched online, and copied
from the system. There is no charge for connect time and the
service is available 24 hours a day.
 
See the STIS information sheet in the back of this Guide for access
information.

Program Changes
 
Any changes in NSF's fiscal year 1992 programs occurring after
presstime for this Guide will be announced promptly by the
Foundation. The NSF Bulletin, available from NSF at no charge,
regularly publishes this and other information, including program
schedules and deadlines (with updates when needed), and notices
about brochures describing the various programs. Access through
STIS or to receive a sample copy, write to:
 
Editor, NSF Bulletin
National Science Foundation/Public Affairs
Washington, D.C. 20550
 
Single copies of the Guide and the various NSF publications
mentioned here are available from Forms and Publications, National
Science Foundation, Washington, D.C. 20550, (202) 357-7861 or use
STIS (see above) for fast, easy access.
 
1992 Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
 
National Science Foundation programs described in this publication
fall under the following categories in the latest Catalog of
Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) issued by the Office of
Management and Budget and the General Services Administration:
 
47.009 - Graduate Research Fellowships
47.041 - Engineering Grants
47.049 - Mathematical and Physical Sciences
47.050 - Geosciences
47.051 - Biological, Behavioral, and Social Sciences
47.053 - Scientific, Technological, and International Affairs
47.066 - Teacher Preparation and Enhancement
47.067 - Materials Development, and Informal Science Education
47.068 - Research Studies and Program Assessment
47.069 - Research Initiation and Improvement
47.070 - Computer and Information Science and Engineering
47.071 - Undergraduate Science, Engineering, and Mathematics
Education
47.072 - Young Scholars
47.073 - Science and Technology Centers
 
For sale by Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing
Office, Washington, D.C. 20402
Stock Number

 
 
Introduction
 
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent agency of
the Federal Government established in 1950 to promote and advance
scientific progress in the United States. The Foundation does this
primarily by sponsoring scientific and engineering research and
education. NSF does not itself conduct research.
 
The Foundation makes awards for research and education in the
sciences and engineering. The awardee is wholly responsible for
the conduct of such work and preparation of the results for
publication. The Foundation, therefore, does not assume
responsibility for such findings or their interpretation.
 
The Foundation considers proposals for support of research and
education in any field of science, including but not necessarily
limited to astronomy, atmospheric sciences, biological and
behavioral sciences, chemistry, computer sciences, earth sciences,
engineering, information science, materials research, mathematical
sciences, oceanography, physics, and social sciences.
Interdisciplinary proposals also are eligible for consideration.
NSF normally will not support clinical research, including research
on the etiology, diagnosis, or treatment of physical or mental
disease, abnormality, or malfunction in human beings. Using animals
or animal models of such conditions and developing or testing drugs
or other procedures to treat them also generally are not eligible.
NSF does not normally support technical assistance, pilot plant
efforts, research requiring security classification, the
development of products for commercial marketing, or market
research for a particular product or invention. The National
Science Board is the policymaking body of the National Science
Foundation. Its 25 members, including the Director of the
Foundation, are appointed by the President of the United States,
with the consent of the U.S. Senate. The Board approves new
Foundation programs and grants or contracts requiring a total
commitment of more than $6 million or an annual expenditure of more
than $1.5 million, or as otherwise specified by the Board.
 
Proposals are assigned to the most appropriate NSF division or
office for review. Before they submit proposals, all applicants
should contact program officers for current information and other
help. In deciding which proposals to support, the Foundation relies
heavily on the advice and help of advisory committees, outside
reviewers, and other experts to ensure that NSF reaches fair and
knowledgeable judgments. These scientists, engineers, and educators
come from colleges and universities, nonprofit research and
educational organizations, industry, and other Government agencies.
Most proposals come to NSF from educational institutions and other
organizations rather than from individuals. However, individuals
may submit proposals under special circumstances; check this Guide
and the appropriate program brochures, or contact the program of
interest for details.
 
The Foundation welcomes proposals on behalf of all qualified
scientists and engineers and strongly encourages women, members of
minority groups, and persons with disabilities to compete fully in
all of its programs.
 
The Foundation also accepts proposals for basic and applied
research from commercial firms, and it especially welcomes those
from small businesses that have strong capabilities in scientific
or engineering research. However, NSF does not wish to substitute
Federal support for normal commercial investment in research or to
compromise the role of educational institutions, where research
makes a special contribution to science and engineering education.
(For information of interest to small businesses see chapter 8.)
The Foundation encourages collaboration between industry and
university researchers, and between industry and state and local
governments. Similarly, broader efforts through industry
associations, groups of companies, or professional societies may
be supported. Contact the appropriate program for information and
guidance before preparing such a proposal.
 
Awards may be made in response to both solicited and unsolicited
proposals. Normally, those that are not solicited require
cost-sharing or joint funding between NSF and the awardee(s).
Awards for solicited proposals may provide for payment of all
costs. Proposals in response to specific program announcements so
indicate.
 
Experimental, developmental, or research projects supported by NSF
under awards to profit and nonprofit organizations will contain
provisions consistent with Sections 202-204 of Title 35 of the
United States Code (commonly called the Bayh-Dole Act), the
Presidential Memorandum of 2-18-83 "Government Patent Policy," and
the Foundation's patent regulation published as 45 Code of Federal
Regulations, Part 650--unless the Foundation determines that some
other provision would better serve the purposes of the Act or the
interests of the United States and the general public.
 
The National Science Foundation looks forward to using and
integrating the resources of all institutions in the support of
science and engineering research and education and their
contributions to society and the Nation.

 
Criteria for the Selection of Research and Education Projects
 
To provide for the fair and equitable selection of the most
meritorious research and education projects for support, the
National Science Foundation has established criteria for their
review and evaluation. These criteria are meant to be applied to
all proposals in a balanced and judicious manner, according to the
objectives and content of each proposal. Four criteria for the
selection of projects by the National Science Foundation are listed
below, together with the elements that constitute each criterion.
 
1. Competent performance of the research--This criterion relates
to the capability of the investigator(s), the technical soundness
of the proposed approach, and the adequacy of the institutional
resources available.
 
2. Intrinsic merit of the research--This criterion is used to
assess the likelihood that the research will lead to new
discoveries or fundamental advances within its field of science or
engineering or have substantial impact on progress in that field
or in other scientific and engineering fields.
 
3. Utility or relevance of the research--This criterion is used to
assess the likelihood that the research can contribute to the
achievement of a goal that is extrinsic or in addition to that of
the research field itself and thereby serve as the basis for new
or improved technology or assist in the solution of societal
problems.
 
4. Effect of the research on the infrastructure of science and
engineering--This criterion relates to the potential of the
proposed research to contribute to better understanding or
improvement of the quality, distribution, or effectiveness of the
Nation's scientific and engineering research, education, and
manpower base.
 
Criteria (1), (2), and (3) constitute an integral set that is
applied in a balanced way to all proposals according to the
objectives and content of each proposal. Criterion (1), competent
performance, is essential to the evaluation of the quality of every
proposal. The relative weight given criteria (2) and (3) depends
on the nature of the proposed research. Criterion (2), intrinsic
merit, is emphasized in evaluating basic research proposals, while
Criterion (3), utility or relevance, is stressed in evaluating
applied research proposals. Criterion (3) also relates to major
goal-oriented activities that the Foundation carries out, such as
those directed at improving the knowledge base underlying science
and technology policy, furthering international cooperation in
science and engineering, and addressing areas of national need.
 
Criterion (4), effect on the infrastructure of science and
engineering, permits the evaluation of proposals in terms of their
potential for improving the scientific and engineering enterprise
and its educational activities in ways other than those encompassed
by the first three criteria. Included under this criterion are
questions relating to scientific and engineering personnel,
including participation of women and minorities; the distribution
of resources with respect to institutions and geographical area;
stimulation of quality activities in important but underdeveloped
fields; and the use of interdisciplinary approaches to research in
appropriate areas. Any specific criteria that apply to individual
programs, while falling within general criteria presented in this
section, are contained in relevant program announcements or
solicitations.

Director's Statement
     The broad base of research and education activities supported
by the National Science Foundation equips the nation with the
scientific and technical knowledge needed to address complex
challenges in many areas--from the strength of our economy to the
health of the environment and the quality of our schools. Because
it maintains this base, NSF provides the nation with a foundation
on which to build for the future.
 
     The commitment of the National Science Foundation to
maintaining a broad and productive research enterprise is evidenced
by the balance between the many different activities it supports.
The cornerstone lies in the support of individual investigators.
Of the agency's $2 billion in spending for research and facilities,
over 60 percent goes to projects initiated by a single
investigator, a figure that has remained remarkably stable over the
years. The discoveries and insights derived from this research
yield substantial (and often unexpected) benefits. For example, an
NSF-funded researcher studying the composition of interstellar
matter recently helped to unveil a molecule of carbon that shows
promise for new classes of batteries and superconductors. Other
research supported by NSF has brought international attention to
the importance of cataloguing and preserving the world's
biodiversity.
 
     NSF also supports research through centers and groups. Many
of these activities, such as Engineering Research Centers and
Science and Technology Centers, have a strong multidisciplinary
orientation and focus on areas of research that have the potential
to make important contributions to the economy. Group and center
activities encourage partnerships among industries, universities,
federal and state governments, and small businesses. These
activities also have an important educational role, exposing
graduate and undergraduate students to research on the cutting
edge.
 
     The support of education rounds out the Foundation's base of
activities. In 1992, NSF expects to support nearly 60,000 teachers
and students at all levels--from kindergarten through graduate
school. These programs include fellowships, teacher preparation and
enhancement, and course and curriculum development. One
particularly noteworthy effort is the Statewide Systemic
Initiative, which aims to develop federal-state cooperation in
restructuring precollege mathematics and science education.
 
     With this broad base of activity, NSF is uniquely positioned
to help the nation meet the many challenges that require advances
in science and technology. For example, in the spring of 1991, the
National Critical Technologies Panel identified 22 technologies
considered essential to the nation's technological base and future
economic security; the list included biotechnology, semiconductors,
robotics, and environmental technologies, to name a few. For nearly
all of the technologies identified by the Panel, NSF has been
supporting the fundamental long-term research that will make future
advances possible.
 
     Furthermore, the Foundation has a leading role in government-
wide initiatives coordinated by the Federal Coordinating Council
for Science Engineering and Technology (FCCSET). Although NSF funds
only 3 percent of all federal research and development, its
responsibility in the following high-priority areas ranges from 16
percent to 33 percent of the total federal effort:
 
o     U.S. Global Change Research Program: NSF focuses on the basic
research necessary to understand, and ultimately predict, future
changes in the earth's environment, and the human dimensions of
these changes.
 
o     High Performance Computing and Communications: Activities
such as NSFNET, which offers gateways for access to academic and
government networks internationally, will provide researchers with
the computing and communications technologies needed to understand
the grand challenges of science and engineering.
 
o     Education and Human Resources: In conjunction with the
America 2000 strategy, this initiative aims to reach the national
education goal of making U.S. students "first in the world in
science and mathematics achievement" by the year 2000. The
Foundation's education and human resource programs are designed to
meet a range of needs at all levels of science, math, and
engineering education.
 
In addition to these government-wide initiatives, the Foundation
has begun initiatives to study and develop the advanced materials
that will underpin future industries, and to support new
investments in academic research instrumentation.
 
     In order to obtain further contributions to the nation's
knowledge base, NSF has established programs that focus on the many
sectors of our society that do not fully participate in research
activities. For example, women and certain minority groups are
vastly under-represented in the sciences and engineering, and
several NSF programs, such as Alliances for Minority Participation
and Research Opportunities for Women, specifically aim to increase
the participation of these groups. EPSCoR, the Experimental Program
to Stimulate Competitive Research, makes awards to build research
competence in states which have been relatively less competitive
in obtaining federal research and development support.
 
     All of the programs and activities described in this Guide to
Programs demonstrate NSF's commitment to maintaining a healthy and
productive research enterprise. The fulfillment of this commitment
is essential to our nation's future growth and prosperity.

 
Walter E. Massey
Director
National Science Foundation

Contents
 
                                                             Page
 
Introduction
 
Criteria for the Selection of Research Projects
 
1  Biological, Behavioral, and Social Sciences
     Cellular Biosciences
     Molecular Biosciences
     Biotic Systems and Resources
     Behavioral and Neural Sciences
     Social and Economic Science
     Instrumentation and Resources
 
2  Computer and Information Science and Engineering
     Computer and Computation Research
     Information, Robotics, and Intelligent Systems
     Microelectronic Information Processing Systems
     Advanced Scientific Computing
     Networking and Communications Research and Infrastructure
     Cross-Disciplinary Activities
 
3  Education and Human Resources
     Research Career Development
     Undergraduate Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Education
     Materials Development, Research, and Informal Science
        Education
     Teacher Preparation and Enhancement
     Studies, Evaluation, and Dissemination
     Human Resources Development

4  Engineering
Biological and Critical Systems
     Chemical and Thermal Systems
     Electrical and Communications Systems
     Mechanical and Structural Systems
     Design and Manufacturing Systems
     Engineering Centers
     Engineering Infrastructure Development
 
5  Geosciences
     Atmospheric Sciences
     Earth Sciences
     Ocean Sciences
     Polar Programs
 
6  Mathematical and Physical Sciences
 
     Astronomical Sciences
     Mathematical Sciences
     Physics
     Chemistry
     Materials Research

7  Scientific, Technological, and International Affairs
 
     Industrial Science and Technological Innovation
     International Cooperative Scientific and Engineering
     Activities
     Science Resources Studies

8  Major Initiatives and Other Activities
 
     Science and Technology Research Centers
     Research Opportunity Awards (ROA)
     Underrepresented Populations Activities
     Undergraduate
     Other Activities

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