Assessing the Value of Research in the Chemical Sciences (1998) / Chapter Skim
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11 Assessing the Value of Research at the National Science Foundation
11 Assessing the Value of Research at the National Science Foundation
Pages 107-111
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From page 107... ...
in 1993 and its imminent implementation with the development of the FY 1999 budget request has made all federal agencies more sensitive to the importance of assessing the results of their activities. This presentation reflects the wide-ranging thinking and discussion that have gone into developing the National Science Foundation's (NSF's)
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From page 108... ...
These provide the context for assessing agency performance. NSF's continuing mission is stated in the preamble to the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (Public Law 810507~: "To promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense; and for other purposes." GPRA authorizes and directs NSF to initiate and support the following: · Basic scientific research and research fundamental to the engineering process, · Programs to strengthen scientific and engineering research potential, · Science and engineering education programs at all levels and in all the various fields of science and engineering, and · An information base for science and engineering appropriate for development of national and international policy.
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From page 109... ...
· Diverse, globally oriented science and engineering work force NSF is successful in making progress toward this outcome goal when, in the aggregate, NSF programs provide a wide range of opportunities to promising investigators; expose students and scientists and engineers to world-class professional practices and increase their international experiences; strengthen the skills of the instructional work force in science and technology; ensure access to modern technologies; enhance flexibility in training to suit an increasingly broad set of roles for scientists, engineers, and technologists; when business and industry recognize the quality of students prepared for the technological work force through NSF-sponsored programs; and when the participation of underrepresented groups in NSFsponsored projects and programs increases In addition to these successful performance standards, NSF has developed similar descriptions for exceptional performance and unacceptable performance. The descriptive standards include terms that require expert judgment, but we have attempted to limit these to concepts routinely judged through the merit review system,which gathers advice to inform project selection by program officers.
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From page 110... ...
Andrew Kaldor, Exxon Research and Development Corp.: I was impressed by both the DOE and NSF presentations. It is very satisfying to see government program managers actually use some of these tools and matrices.
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From page 111... ...
You soon reach a point where you really can't cut administrative costs much more. However, if you look then at the science support budget what I have to say applies particularly to NSF, which is supporting extramural research and largely basic researchthere are no strategic programs that you can measure against.
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