|
|
|
|
|
APPENDIX A
THE CHARGE TO THE TASK FORCE ON SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING INFRASTRUCTURE
The quality and adequacy of the infrastructure for science and
engineering are critical to maintaining the leadership of the United
States on the frontiers of discovery and for insuring their continuous
contribution to the strength of the national economy and to quality
of life. Since the last major assessments were conducted over a
decade ago, that infrastructure has grown and changed, and the needs
of science and engineering communities have evolved. The National
Science Board, which has a responsibility for monitoring the health
of the national research and education enterprise, has determined
that there is a need for an assessment of the current status of
the national infrastructure for fundamental science and engineering,
to ensure its quality and availability to the broad S&E community
in the future.
Several trends contribute to the need for a new assessment:
- The impact of new technologies on research facilities and equipment;
- Changing infrastructure needs in the context of new discoveries,
challenges, and opportunities;
- The impact of new tools and capabilities, such as IT and large
data bases;
- Rapidly escalating cost of research facilities;
- Changes in the university environment affecting support for
S&E infrastructure development and operation; and the need
for new strategies for partnering and collaboration.
The Task Force on Science and Engineering Infrastructure (INF),
reporting to the Committee on Programs and Plans (CPP) is established
to undertake and guide an assessment of the fundamental science
and engineering infrastructure in the United States. The task force
will develop terms of reference and a workplan with the aim of informing
the national dialogue on S&E infrastructure and highlighting
the role of NSF as well as the larger resource and management strategies
of interest to Federal policymakers in both the executive and legislative
branches.
The workplan should enable an assessment of the current status
of the national S&E infrastructure, the changing needs of science
and engineering, and the requirements for a capability of appropriate
quality and size to ensure continuing U.S. leadership. It should
describe the scope and character of the assessment and a process
for including appropriate stakeholders, such as other Federal agencies,
and representatives of the private sector and the science and engineering
communities. The workplan should include consideration of the following
issues:
- Appropriate strategies for sharing the costs of the infrastructure
with respect to both development and operations among different
sectors, communities, and nations;
- Partnering and use arrangements conducive to ensuring the most
effective use of limited resources and the advancement of discovery;
- The balance between maintaining the quality of existing facilities
and creation of new ones; and
- The process for establishing priorities for investment in infrastructure
across fields, sectors, and Federal agencies.
|