Responsible Conduct of Research, 8818-8819 [E9-4100]

Download as PDF 8818 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 37 / Thursday, February 26, 2009 / Notices Title of Collection: Request for Proposals. OMB Approval Number: 3145–0080. Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 2009. Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to extend an information collection for three years. Proposed Project: The Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Subpart 15.2—‘‘Solicitation and Receipt of Proposals and Information’’ prescribes policies and procedures for preparing and issuing Requests for Proposals. The FAR System has been developed in accordance with the requirement of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act of 1974, as amended. The NSF Act of 1950, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 1870, Sec. II, states that NSF has the authority to: (c) Enter into contracts or other arrangements, or modifications thereof, for the carrying on, by organizations or individuals in the United States and foreign countries, including other government agencies of the United States and of foreign countries, of such scientific or engineering activities as the Foundation deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act, and, at the request of the Secretary of Defense, specific scientific or engineering activities in connection with matters relating to international cooperation or national security, and, when deemed appropriate by the Foundation, such contracts or other arrangements or modifications thereof, may be entered into without legal consideration, without performance or other bonds and without regard to section 5 of title 41, U.S.C. Use of the Information: Request for Proposals (RFP) is used to competitively solicit proposals in response to NSF need for services. Impact will be on those individuals or organizations who elect to submit proposals in response to the RFP. Information gathered will be evaluated in light of NSF procurement requirements to determine who will be awarded a contract. Estimate of Burden: The Foundation estimates that, on average, 558 hours per respondent will be required to complete the RFP. Respondents: Individuals; business or other for-profit; not-for-profit institutions; Federal government; state, local, or tribal governments. Estimated Number of Responses: 75. Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 41,850 hours. VerDate Nov<24>2008 17:53 Feb 25, 2009 Jkt 217001 Dated: February 20, 2009. Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation. [FR Doc. E9–4072 Filed 2–25–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7555–01–P NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION Responsible Conduct of Research AGENCY: National Science Foundation (NSF). ACTION: Request for public comment on requirement for students and postdoctoral researchers involved in NSF proposals to be educated in the responsible and ethical conduct of research (RCR). SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is soliciting public comment on the agency’s proposed implementation of Section 7009 of the America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science (COMPETES) Act (42 U.S.C. 1862o–1). This section of the Act requires that ‘‘each institution that applies for financial assistance from the Foundation for science and engineering research or education describe in its grant proposal a plan to provide appropriate training and oversight in the responsible and ethical conduct of research to undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers participating in the proposed research project.’’ SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Ethical and responsible conduct of research is critical for excellence, as well as public trust, in science and engineering. Consequently, education in the responsible and ethical conduct of research is considered essential in the preparation of future scientists and engineers. The COMPETES Act focuses public attention on the importance of the national research community’s enduring commitment and broader efforts to provide RCR training as an integral part of the preparation and long-term professional development of current and future generations of scientists and engineers. A wide array of information exists to help inform RCR training. For example, many professional societies as well as governmental licensing authorities for professional scientists and engineers have adopted policies or best practices that might be usefully considered. In addition, research is illuminating existing practices surrounding ethical issues, and providing an evaluation of pedagogical innovations in ethics PO 00000 Frm 00046 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 education. A recent NSF-funded workshop entitled Ethics Education: What’s Been Learned? What Should be Done? was held by the National Academies of Science & Engineering. Information about the workshop, as well as additional resources, are available at: https://www.nae.edu/nae/ engethicscen.nsf/weblinks/NKAL7LHM86?OpenDocument. A brief notice about the workshop’s main themes is forthcoming in The Bridge, Volume 39, Number 1—Spring 2009, which will be available online in mid-March at: https:// www.nae.edu/nae/ bridgecom.nsf?OpenDatabase. NSF is adding ‘‘the responsible and ethical conduct of research’’ as a Representative Activity in the listing of Broader Impacts Representative Activities available electronically at https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/gpg/broader impacts.pdf. NSF is committed to continue its funding of research in this important area through programs such as Ethics Education in Science and Engineering (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_ summ.jsp?pims_id=13338& org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund) and to promote the development and implementation of effective practices through its education and training programs. The agency will also continue to explore other mechanisms to support the academic community’s efforts in providing training in the responsible and ethical conduct of research. Proposed Implementation Plan: Effective October 1, 2009, NSF will require that at the time of proposal submission to NSF, a proposing institution’s Authorized Organizational Representative must certify that the institution has a plan to provide appropriate training and oversight in the responsible and ethical conduct of research to undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers who will be supported by NSF to conduct research. While training plans are not required to be included in proposals submitted, institutions are advised that they are subject to review upon request. NSF will modify its standard award conditions to clearly stipulate that institutions are responsible for verifying that undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers supported by NSF to conduct research have received RCR training. In addition, NSF will support the development of an online digital library containing research findings, pedagogical materials, and promising practices regarding the ethical and responsible conduct of research in science and engineering. The E:\FR\FM\26FEN1.SGM 26FEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 37 / Thursday, February 26, 2009 / Notices development and evolution of the digital library will be informed by the research communities that NSF supports, and it will serve as a living resource of multimedia materials that may be used to train current and future generations of scientists and engineers in the responsible and ethical conduct of research. Invitation to Comment: The Foundation welcomes public comment on any aspect of the proposed Implementation Plan. Issues that responders may wish to address include, but are not limited to, the following: • What challenges do institutions face in meeting the new RCR requirement? • What role should Principal Investigators play in meeting NSF’s RCR requirement? • There are likely to be differences in the RCR plans that institutions develop to respond to this new requirement. What are the pros and cons of exploring a diversity of approaches? • How might online resources be most effective in assisting with training students and postdocs in the responsible and ethical conduct of research? • Discuss possible approaches to verifying that the requisite RCR training has been provided. Comments: Comments regarding NSF’s proposed implementation should be e-mailed to RCRinput@nsf.gov by March 31, 2009. Please include your comments in the body of the e-mail and in an attachment. Include your name, title, organization, postal address, telephone number, and e-mail address in your message. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the NSF’s implementation of the America COMPETES Act, contact Jean Feldman; Head, Policy Office, Division of Institution & Award Support; National Science Foundation; 4201 Wilson Blvd.; Arlington, VA 22230; e-mail: jfeldman@nsf.gov; telephone: (703) 292– 8243; fax: (703) 292–9171. Dated: February 23, 2009. Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation. [FR Doc. E9–4100 Filed 2–25–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7555–01–P OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET Federal Regulatory Review AGENCY: Office of Management and Budget, Executive Office of the President. VerDate Nov<24>2008 16:56 Feb 25, 2009 Jkt 217001 ACTION: Request for comments. SUMMARY: The Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is developing a set of recommendations to the President for a new Executive Order on Federal Regulatory Review, and invites public comments on how to improve the process and principles governing regulation. DATES: Comments must be in writing and received by March 16, 2009. ADDRESSES: Submit comments by one of the following methods: • E-mail: oira_submission@omb.eop.gov. • Fax: (202) 395–7245. • Mail: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Records Management Center, Office of Management and Budget, Attn: Mabel Echols, Room 10102, NEOB, 725 17th Street, NW.,Washington, DC 20503. We are still experiencing delays in the regular mail, including first class and express mail. To ensure that your comments are received on time, we recommend that comments be electronically submitted. All comments submitted in response to this notice will be made available to the public on OMB’s Web site. For this reason, please do not include in your comments information of a confidential nature, such as sensitive personal information or proprietary information. If you send an e-mail comment directly to OMB, your e-mail address will be automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mabel Echols, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Records Management Center, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10102, NEOB, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503. Telephone: (202) 395–6880. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For well over two decades, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) at OMB has reviewed Federal regulations. The purposes of such review have been to ensure consistency with Presidential priorities, to coordinate regulatory policy, and to offer a dispassionate and analytical ’’second opinion’’ on agency actions. In a recent Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies, published in the Federal Register [74 FR 5977], the President directed the Director of OMB to produce a set of recommendations for a new Executive Order on Federal regulatory review. Among other things, he stated PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 8819 that the recommendations should offer suggestions for the following: • The relationship between OIRA and the agencies; • Disclosure and transparency; • Encouraging public participation in agency regulatory processes; • The role of cost-benefit analysis; • The role of distributional considerations, fairness, and concern for the interests of future generations; • Methods of ensuring that regulatory review does not produce undue delay; • The role of the behavioral sciences in formulating regulatory policy; and • The best tools for achieving public goals through the regulatory process. Executive Orders are not subject to notice and comment procedures, and as a general rule, public comment is not formally sought before they are issued. In this case, however, there has been an unusually high level of public interest, and because of the evident importance and fundamental nature of the relevant issues, the Director of OMB invites public comments on the principles and procedures governing regulatory review. These comments will be read and considered seriously even though no responses will be given. This public process is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. Kevin F. Neyland, Acting Administrator, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. [FR Doc. E9–4080 Filed 2–25–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3110–01–P OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE Notice of Meeting of the Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Small and Minority Business (ITAC–11) AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative. ACTION: Notice of a partially opened meeting. SUMMARY: The Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Small and Minority Business (ITAC–11) will hold a meeting on Monday, March 23, 2009, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The meeting will be closed to the public from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and opened to the public from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. DATES: The meeting is scheduled for March 23, 2009, unless otherwise notified. E:\FR\FM\26FEN1.SGM 26FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 37 (Thursday, February 26, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8818-8819]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-4100]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Responsible Conduct of Research

AGENCY: National Science Foundation (NSF).

ACTION: Request for public comment on requirement for students and 
postdoctoral researchers involved in NSF proposals to be educated in 
the responsible and ethical conduct of research (RCR).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is soliciting public 
comment on the agency's proposed implementation of Section 7009 of the 
America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in 
Technology, Education, and Science (COMPETES) Act (42 U.S.C. 1862o-1). 
This section of the Act requires that ``each institution that applies 
for financial assistance from the Foundation for science and 
engineering research or education describe in its grant proposal a plan 
to provide appropriate training and oversight in the responsible and 
ethical conduct of research to undergraduate students, graduate 
students, and postdoctoral researchers participating in the proposed 
research project.''

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Ethical and responsible conduct of research 
is critical for excellence, as well as public trust, in science and 
engineering. Consequently, education in the responsible and ethical 
conduct of research is considered essential in the preparation of 
future scientists and engineers. The COMPETES Act focuses public 
attention on the importance of the national research community's 
enduring commitment and broader efforts to provide RCR training as an 
integral part of the preparation and long-term professional development 
of current and future generations of scientists and engineers.
    A wide array of information exists to help inform RCR training. For 
example, many professional societies as well as governmental licensing 
authorities for professional scientists and engineers have adopted 
policies or best practices that might be usefully considered. In 
addition, research is illuminating existing practices surrounding 
ethical issues, and providing an evaluation of pedagogical innovations 
in ethics education. A recent NSF-funded workshop entitled Ethics 
Education: What's Been Learned? What Should be Done? was held by the 
National Academies of Science & Engineering. Information about the 
workshop, as well as additional resources, are available at: https://
www.nae.edu/nae/engethicscen.nsf/weblinks/NKAL-7LHM86?OpenDocument. A 
brief notice about the workshop's main themes is forthcoming in The 
Bridge, Volume 39, Number 1--Spring 2009, which will be available 
online in mid-March at: https://www.nae.edu/nae/
bridgecom.nsf?OpenDatabase. NSF is adding ``the responsible and ethical 
conduct of research'' as a Representative Activity in the listing of 
Broader Impacts Representative Activities available electronically at 
https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/gpg/broaderimpacts.pdf.
    NSF is committed to continue its funding of research in this 
important area through programs such as Ethics Education in Science and 
Engineering (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims--
id=13338&org=NSF&sel--org=NSF&from=fund) and to promote the development 
and implementation of effective practices through its education and 
training programs. The agency will also continue to explore other 
mechanisms to support the academic community's efforts in providing 
training in the responsible and ethical conduct of research.
    Proposed Implementation Plan: Effective October 1, 2009, NSF will 
require that at the time of proposal submission to NSF, a proposing 
institution's Authorized Organizational Representative must certify 
that the institution has a plan to provide appropriate training and 
oversight in the responsible and ethical conduct of research to 
undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers who 
will be supported by NSF to conduct research. While training plans are 
not required to be included in proposals submitted, institutions are 
advised that they are subject to review upon request. NSF will modify 
its standard award conditions to clearly stipulate that institutions 
are responsible for verifying that undergraduate students, graduate 
students, and postdoctoral researchers supported by NSF to conduct 
research have received RCR training.
    In addition, NSF will support the development of an online digital 
library containing research findings, pedagogical materials, and 
promising practices regarding the ethical and responsible conduct of 
research in science and engineering. The

[[Page 8819]]

development and evolution of the digital library will be informed by 
the research communities that NSF supports, and it will serve as a 
living resource of multimedia materials that may be used to train 
current and future generations of scientists and engineers in the 
responsible and ethical conduct of research.
    Invitation to Comment: The Foundation welcomes public comment on 
any aspect of the proposed Implementation Plan. Issues that responders 
may wish to address include, but are not limited to, the following:
     What challenges do institutions face in meeting the new 
RCR requirement?
     What role should Principal Investigators play in meeting 
NSF's RCR requirement?
     There are likely to be differences in the RCR plans that 
institutions develop to respond to this new requirement. What are the 
pros and cons of exploring a diversity of approaches?
     How might online resources be most effective in assisting 
with training students and postdocs in the responsible and ethical 
conduct of research?
     Discuss possible approaches to verifying that the 
requisite RCR training has been provided.
    Comments: Comments regarding NSF's proposed implementation should 
be e-mailed to RCRinput@nsf.gov by March 31, 2009. Please include your 
comments in the body of the e-mail and in an attachment. Include your 
name, title, organization, postal address, telephone number, and e-mail 
address in your message.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the NSF's 
implementation of the America COMPETES Act, contact Jean Feldman; Head, 
Policy Office, Division of Institution & Award Support; National 
Science Foundation; 4201 Wilson Blvd.; Arlington, VA 22230; e-mail: 
jfeldman@nsf.gov; telephone: (703) 292-8243; fax: (703) 292-9171.

    Dated: February 23, 2009.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. E9-4100 Filed 2-25-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P
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