News Release

National Science Board to meet August 15-16, 2017, in Arlington, VA

NSF’s merit review report and a panel discussion about the skilled technical workforce are on the National Science Board meeting agenda

National Science Board

National Science Board (Credit and Larger Version)

August 11, 2017

The National Science Board (NSB) will meet August 15 – 16, 2017, to address science and engineering policy issues relevant to the National Science Foundation (NSF). Members of the media and the public are invited to open portions of the meeting, which will also be webcast: http://www.tvworldwide.com/events/nsf/170815/. The meeting agenda is available here.

 

Meeting sessions open to the public on August 15:

NSB Plenary (8:00 – 8:30 a.m.)

NSB Chair Maria Zuber will give an overview of major issues and highlights from recent meetings on Capitol Hill and NSF Director France Córdova will give a brief presentation.

Committee on Strategy (8:30 – 10:00 a.m.)

The Committee on Strategy will receive an update on NSF’s FY 2018 Budget Request and briefings on recent reports by the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM). Members will also discuss Facilities and Administration (F&A) costs.

Committee on Oversight (10:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.)

The Committee on Oversight will hear highlights of NSF’s annual merit review report, discuss the findings, and consider whether the report should be presented every other year. This would provide opportunities in the interim to create documents based on the report data that the Board can use in other settings. The Inspector General will present the recently released report on Research Integrity, which has been the subject of public and Congressional interest.

Committee on External Engagement (1:00 p.m. – 1:40 p.m.)

The Committee on External Engagement will summarize Board members’ May-July congressional meetings, provide updates on plans for fall activities including the Louisiana listening sessions, and discuss a “Best Practice Guide” for public statements by NSB members.

 

Meeting sessions open to the public August 16:

Committee on Awards and Facilities (8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.)

The committee will hear a presentation on NSF’s No Cost Overrun policy and a related external review of the policy. In addition, the agenda includes an update on plans for oversight of major research facilities, drawing on guidance from the NAPA report and the Business and Operations Advisory Committee’s subcommittee report.

Committee on National Science and Engineering Policy (9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.)

Committee members will discuss feedback on the Indicators 2018 “Orange Book,” receive an update on the plans for the 2018 Digest and Overview, and begin a conversation on a possible policy “companion” to Indicators 2018.

National Science Board Plenary (1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.)

The Board will hear brief remarks and receive Open Committee Reports, vote on a resolution to move the Annual Merit Review report to a biennial report, approve the NSB meeting schedule for CY 2018, and participate in a panel discussion on the Skilled Technical Workforce with a student, educator, and businessperson.

In a closed session on August 15, the Committee on Awards and Facilities will consider action items to authorize awards for operations and management of the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (MagLab) and for supplemental initial operations of the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON). The full Board will vote on these action items during closed session on August 16.

 

About the National Science Board

Jointly, the National Science Board and the National Science Foundation (NSF) Director—the ex-officio 25th member—pursue the goals and function of the Foundation. NSB establishes the agency’s policies within the framework of applicable national policies set forth by the President and Congress. NSB identifies issues critical to NSF's future, approves the agency's strategic budget directions and the annual budget submission to the Office of Management and Budget, and new major programs and awards. The NSB also provides the President and Congress with a biennial report on U.S. progress in science and technology, providing comparisons to other nations in the areas of research and development, STEM education, and workforce training.

The President appoints Board members for six-year terms and may reappoint members for a second term. Members are drawn primarily from universities and industry and selected for their eminence in research, education, and records of distinguished service. Collectively, the Board represents a variety of science and engineering disciplines and regions across the United States. Learn more about the NSB and its current composition here.

Note: Reporters are invited to attend all open sessions, subject to provisions of the Government in the Sunshine Act. All sessions will be held at the NSF headquarters, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia.  Journalists interested in attending and covering the meeting should contact Nadine Lymn at (703) 292-2490 or nlymn@nsf.gov.


The U.S. National Science Foundation propels the nation forward by advancing fundamental research in all fields of science and engineering. NSF supports research and people by providing facilities, instruments and funding to support their ingenuity and sustain the U.S. as a global leader in research and innovation. With a fiscal year 2023 budget of $9.5 billion, NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives more than 40,000 competitive proposals and makes about 11,000 new awards. Those awards include support for cooperative research with industry, Arctic and Antarctic research and operations, and U.S. participation in international scientific efforts.

Useful NSB Web Sites:

Home Page: http://www.nsf.gov/nsb
Media Contact: http://www.nsf.gov/staff/staff_bio.jsp?lan=nlymn&org=NSF
News: http://www.nsf.gov/nsb/news
Meetings: http://www.nsf.gov/nsb/meetings
Publications: http://www.nsf.gov/nsb/publications
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NationalScienceBoard
Twitter: Twitter: https://twitter.com/intent/user?screen_name=NSF_NSB
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkrHRzuGSrPp2haQs0T_Pww

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