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An Assessment of the National Science Foundation's Science and Technology Centers Program (1996) / Chapter Skim
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5. RECOMMENDATIONS
Pages 35-40

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From page 35...
... The program also provides a means for the focusing of substantial resources on frontier problems within the directorates; these problems might require facilities beyond the scope of individual grants and require coordination through center funding. The driving forces for creating centers are the scientific importance of such research and the resulting societal benefits.
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From page 36...
... The NSF director and the National Science Board need to ensure that, at the
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From page 37...
... The panel believes that it is important to support promising initiatives in science and engineering that cross disciplinary lines or that are otherwise frustrated by the NSF structure. Solicitations for the STC program should be managed by NSF as a whole so that competition can take place across all program directorates and funds can be provided for the fields of greatest opportunity.
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From page 38...
... Although that might give them an advantage during the review process over those who are just sending in proposals, the panel believes that existing STCs should be allowed to compete. They should have neither advantages nor penalties in this process.
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From page 39...
... NSF has responded to the concerns well; the centers that have had difficulty were able to make corrections within a short period. The National Academy of Public Administration report indicated that NSF does not have a clear method for removing or replacing an STC director and that the National Science Board should be involved in developing such a process.
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From page 40...
... The NSF needs to assist in controlling this process by avoiding redundancy of reviews and by making data previously collected available to all legitimate claimants.
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Key Terms

  • scientific leadership
  • existing stcs
  • program directorates
  • nsf structure
  • stc solicitations

  • administrative management
  • nsf director
  • previously collected
  • future stc
  • scientific questions

  • societal benefits
  • repeatedly noted
  • existing process
  • resulting societal
  • allows scientists

  • solicitation shown
  • separate identity
  • education linked
  • original solicitation
  • require facilities

  • support promising
  • program provides
  • substantial resources
  • legitimate claimants
  • technology centers

  • dynamic nature
  • policies allowing
  • require coordination
  • differing roles
  • center funding


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