Request for Information: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics at the Poles, 13401-13402 [2021-04697]
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13401
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 43 / Monday, March 8, 2021 / Notices
Issued: March 2, 2021.
Lisa Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2021–04696 Filed 3–5–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020–02–P
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission for OMB
Review; Comment Request; Generic
Clearance for Formative Data
Collections for Research and
Evaluation, New Collection
Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Policy, Chief Evaluation
Office, Department of Labor.
ACTION: Notice of information collection;
request for comment.
AGENCY:
The Department of Labor
(DOL), as part of its continuing effort to
reduce paperwork and respondent
burden, conducts a preclearance
consultation program to provide the
general public and federal agencies with
an opportunity to comment on proposed
and/or continuing collections of
information in accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(PRA95). This program helps to ensure
that requested data can be provided in
the desired format, reporting burden
(time and financial resources) is
minimized, collection instruments are
clearly understood, and the impact of
collection requirements on respondents
is properly assessed. Currently, the
Department of Labor is soliciting
comments concerning the collection of
data for formative data collections for
SUMMARY:
research and evaluations. A copy of the
proposed Information Collection
Request (ICR) can be obtained by
contacting the office listed below in the
addressee section of this notice.
DATES: Written comments must be
submitted to the office listed in the
addressee section below on or before
May 7, 2021.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
by either one of the following methods:
Email: ChiefEvaluationOffice@
dol.gov; Mail or Courier: Chayun Yi,
Chief Evaluation Office, OASP, U.S.
Department of Labor, Room S–2312, 200
Constitution Avenue NW, Washington,
DC 20210. Instructions: Please submit
one copy of your comments by only one
method. All submissions received must
include the agency name and OMB
Control Number identified above for
this information collection. Comments,
including any personal information
provided, become a matter of public
record. They will also be summarized
and/or included in the request for OMB
approval of the information collection
request.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Chayun Yi by email at
ChiefEvaluationOffice@dol.gov or by
phone at (202) 693–5084.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background: The Chief Evaluation
Office (CEO) of the U.S. Department of
Labor (DOL) intends to design and
conduct evaluations of DOL-funded
programs. Under this generic clearance,
DOL would engage in a variety of
formative data collections with
researchers, practitioners, TA providers,
service providers and potential
participants throughout the field to
fulfill the following goals: (1) Inform the
development of CEO research, (2)
maintain a research agenda that is
rigorous and relevant, (3) ensure that
research products are as current as
possible and (4) inform the provision of
technical assistance. CEO envisions
using a variety of techniques including
semi-structured discussions, focus
groups, surveys, and telephone or inperson interviews, in order to reach
these goals. Following standard OMB
requirements, DOL will submit a change
request for each individual data
collection activity under this generic
clearance. Each request will include the
individual instrument(s), a justification
specific to the individual information
collection, and any supplementary
documents. OMB should review
requests within 10 days of submission.
Type of Review: New information
collection request.
OMB Control Number: 1290–0NEW.
Affected Public: The populations to be
studied include key stakeholder groups
involved in DOL projects and programs,
state or local government officials,
service providers, participants in DOL
programs or similar comparison groups,
experts in fields pertaining to DOL
research and programs, or others
involved in conducting DOL research or
evaluation projects.
Comments submitted in response to
this request will be summarized and/or
included in the request for Office of
Management and Budget approval of the
information collection request; they will
also become a matter of public record.
ESTIMATED ANNUAL BURDEN HOURS
Type of instrument
(form/activity)
Number of
respondents
Average
burden time
per response
(hours)
Total number
of responses
Estimated
burden hours
Semi-structured discussions and focus groups ...................
Interviews .............................................................................
Questionnaires/surveys ........................................................
3,000
1,500
1,000
1
1
1
3,000
1,500
1,000
1
1
1
3,000
1,500
1,000
Total ..............................................................................
5,500
........................
5,500
........................
5,500
Christina Yancey,
Chief Evaluation Officer, U.S. Department of
Labor.
[FR Doc. 2021–04685 Filed 3–5–21; 8:45 am]
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Number of
responses per
respondent
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Request for Information: Science,
Technology, Engineering, Art, and
Mathematics at the Poles
National Science Foundation.
Request for information.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The National Science
Foundation’s (NSF) Office of Polar
Programs (OPP) and the Education and
Human Resources (EHR) Directorate
SUMMARY:
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request input from interested parties on
the goals, values, and approaches for
managing the Antarctic Artist and
Writers (AAW) Program and possibly
expanding that program to include the
Arctic. In addition, OPP and EHR
request input into whether the NSF
program which selects and sends
educators to the Poles should be under
a common management structure. This
RFI will help inform NSF as it considers
potential avenues for managing and
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08MRN1
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13402
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 43 / Monday, March 8, 2021 / Notices
enhancing education and outreach
efforts related to polar science.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before April 7,
2021.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments to
Valentine H. Kass, polarsteam@nsf.gov.
Submissions should include ‘‘RFI
Response: Polar STEAM?’’ in the subject
line of the message.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance
Officer, National Science Foundation,
2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Suite
W18200, Alexandria, Virginia 22314;
telephone (703) 292–7556; or send email
to splimpto@nsf.gov. Individuals who
use a telecommunications device for the
deaf (TDD) may call the Federal
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at
1–800–877–8339, which is accessible 24
hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a
year (including Federal holidays).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Instructions: Response to this RFI is
voluntary. Each individual or institution
is requested to submit only one
response. Responses should include the
name of the person(s) or organization(s)
filing the comment. Please include the
number of the question or questions to
which you are responding. Please limit
your response to no more than six
pages.
In accordance with FAR 15.202(3),
responses to this notice are not offers
and cannot be accepted by the
Government to form a binding contract.
Responders are solely responsible for all
expenses associated with responding to
this RFI.
Background Information: The Office
of Polar Programs (OPP) promotes
creative and innovative scientific
research, engineering, and education in
and about the polar regions, catalyzing
fundamental discovery and
understanding of polar systems and
their global interactions to inform the
nation and advance the welfare of all
people. OPP supports world-class Arctic
and Antarctic science through grants to
researchers across the U.S. OPP also
provides polar facilities and logistical
support for that research. https://
www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=OPP.
The mission of the Education and
Human Resources Directorate (EHR) is
to achieve excellence in U.S. science,
technology, engineering, and
mathematics (STEM) education at all
levels and in all settings (both formal
and informal) in order to support the
development of a diverse and wellprepared workforce of scientists,
technicians, engineers, mathematicians
and educators and a well-informed
citizenry that have access to the ideas
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:05 Mar 05, 2021
Jkt 253001
and tools of science and engineering.
https://www.nsf.gov/dir/
index.jsp?org=EHR.
Given their respective missions, OPP
and EHR collaborate to enhance both
formal and informal polar education.
Incorporating Art into STEM learning
experiences (commonly referred to as
STEAM, e.g., Science, Technology,
Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) allows
students of all ages to access science
concepts from different vantage points,
promotes creative thinking, speaks to a
broader swath of learners, and enhances
engagement and understanding.
(Findings in the emerging field of
theory, research and practice of STEAM
can be found at The Integration of the
Humanities and Arts with Sciences
Engineering and Medicine in Higher
Education | National Academies, and at
www.informalscience.org.)
For decades, OPP managed the
Antarctic Artists and Writers (AAW)
program to support writing and artistic
projects specifically designed to
increase the public’s understanding and
appreciation of the Antarctic and the
human endeavors on the southernmost
continent, with priority given to projects
that focus on interpreting and
representing the scientific activities
being conducted in the unique Antarctic
region. The AAW program was paused
in 2020, in order to assess the best way
to move the program forward. https://
www.nsf.gov/pubs/2019/nsf19568/
nsf19568.htm.
In addition to AAW, OPP has
supported sending educators, both
informal and formal, to both the
Antarctic and Arctic to work
collaboratively with researchers. This
program provides a unique professional
development opportunity that benefits
not only the individual educators but
the diverse communities they serve. In
addition, the Polar Artists and Writers
and polar educators programs provide
unique avenues for NSF-funded
researchers to enhance the Broader
Impact of their work.
This RFI is part of NSF’s effort to
think more broadly about enhancing
and sustaining polar education as we
deliberate about the most effective way
forward for the AAW program.
Specifically, OPP and EHR are seeking
input to:
(1) Identify organizations with the
capacity to manage programs that are:
(a) Solely focused on the AAW program,
(b) focused on both artists and
educators, or (c) other options identified
thru this RFI.
(2) Investigate the opportunities and
constraints for expanding the Antarctic
Artists and Writers program to include
PO 00000
Frm 00124
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 9990
the Arctic, i.e., creating a Polar Artists
and Writers program.
(3) Evaluate the possibility of comanaging the polar educators program
and Polar Artists and Writers program.
Information Requested: Responders
are asked to answer one or more of the
following questions in responses to the
RFI:
1. Please describe the opportunities
and constraints of managing the
Antarctic Artists and Writers (AAW)
program as a stand-alone program
versus creating a management structure
that also includes the program which
selects formal and informal educators to
work collaboratively with researchers in
the Antarctic and Arctic.
2. Please describe the opportunities
and constraints of expanding the AAW
program to include the Arctic,
understanding that logistic issues are
unique to each region and that the
Arctic is home to Indigenous and local
peoples.
3. Please identify one or more
organizations that have the capabilities
to manage and promote national
competitions for (1) artists and writers,
(2) educators (formal and informal), or
(3) both artists and writers and
educators.
What are the unique or special
characteristics of each of these
organizations? Please describe the
extent these named organizations have
connections, if any, to:
(i) The scientific community,
especially Arctic and Antarctic polar
research.
(ii) Artists and Writers organizations
(iii) Educator organizations
How would such organization(s)
further the impact of the program with
respect to:
(i) Broadening inclusiveness and
diversity within the program as well as
through its outreach efforts;
(ii) enhancing the publics’
understanding of the polar regions and
engagement with polar scientific
research;
(iii) widely distributing and
promoting the program’s outcomes and
educational efforts over time;
(iv) evaluating the program’s
effectiveness over time?
Dated: March 2, 2021.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science
Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2021–04697 Filed 3–5–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555–01–P
E:\FR\FM\08MRN1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 43 (Monday, March 8, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13401-13402]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-04697]
=======================================================================
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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Request for Information: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art,
and Mathematics at the Poles
AGENCY: National Science Foundation.
ACTION: Request for information.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation's (NSF) Office of Polar
Programs (OPP) and the Education and Human Resources (EHR) Directorate
request input from interested parties on the goals, values, and
approaches for managing the Antarctic Artist and Writers (AAW) Program
and possibly expanding that program to include the Arctic. In addition,
OPP and EHR request input into whether the NSF program which selects
and sends educators to the Poles should be under a common management
structure. This RFI will help inform NSF as it considers potential
avenues for managing and
[[Page 13402]]
enhancing education and outreach efforts related to polar science.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
April 7, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments to Valentine H. Kass, [email protected].
Submissions should include ``RFI Response: Polar STEAM?'' in the
subject line of the message.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance
Officer, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Suite
W18200, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone (703) 292-7556; or send
email to [email protected]. Individuals who use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay
Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339, which is accessible 24 hours a day, 7
days a week, 365 days a year (including Federal holidays).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Instructions: Response to this RFI is voluntary. Each individual or
institution is requested to submit only one response. Responses should
include the name of the person(s) or organization(s) filing the
comment. Please include the number of the question or questions to
which you are responding. Please limit your response to no more than
six pages.
In accordance with FAR 15.202(3), responses to this notice are not
offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding
contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated
with responding to this RFI.
Background Information: The Office of Polar Programs (OPP) promotes
creative and innovative scientific research, engineering, and education
in and about the polar regions, catalyzing fundamental discovery and
understanding of polar systems and their global interactions to inform
the nation and advance the welfare of all people. OPP supports world-
class Arctic and Antarctic science through grants to researchers across
the U.S. OPP also provides polar facilities and logistical support for
that research. https://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=OPP.
The mission of the Education and Human Resources Directorate (EHR)
is to achieve excellence in U.S. science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics (STEM) education at all levels and in all settings (both
formal and informal) in order to support the development of a diverse
and well-prepared workforce of scientists, technicians, engineers,
mathematicians and educators and a well-informed citizenry that have
access to the ideas and tools of science and engineering. https://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=EHR.
Given their respective missions, OPP and EHR collaborate to enhance
both formal and informal polar education. Incorporating Art into STEM
learning experiences (commonly referred to as STEAM, e.g., Science,
Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) allows students of all ages
to access science concepts from different vantage points, promotes
creative thinking, speaks to a broader swath of learners, and enhances
engagement and understanding. (Findings in the emerging field of
theory, research and practice of STEAM can be found at The Integration
of the Humanities and Arts with Sciences Engineering and Medicine in
Higher Education [verbar] National Academies, and at
www.informalscience.org.)
For decades, OPP managed the Antarctic Artists and Writers (AAW)
program to support writing and artistic projects specifically designed
to increase the public's understanding and appreciation of the
Antarctic and the human endeavors on the southernmost continent, with
priority given to projects that focus on interpreting and representing
the scientific activities being conducted in the unique Antarctic
region. The AAW program was paused in 2020, in order to assess the best
way to move the program forward. https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2019/nsf19568/nsf19568.htm.
In addition to AAW, OPP has supported sending educators, both
informal and formal, to both the Antarctic and Arctic to work
collaboratively with researchers. This program provides a unique
professional development opportunity that benefits not only the
individual educators but the diverse communities they serve. In
addition, the Polar Artists and Writers and polar educators programs
provide unique avenues for NSF-funded researchers to enhance the
Broader Impact of their work.
This RFI is part of NSF's effort to think more broadly about
enhancing and sustaining polar education as we deliberate about the
most effective way forward for the AAW program. Specifically, OPP and
EHR are seeking input to:
(1) Identify organizations with the capacity to manage programs
that are: (a) Solely focused on the AAW program, (b) focused on both
artists and educators, or (c) other options identified thru this RFI.
(2) Investigate the opportunities and constraints for expanding the
Antarctic Artists and Writers program to include the Arctic, i.e.,
creating a Polar Artists and Writers program.
(3) Evaluate the possibility of co-managing the polar educators
program and Polar Artists and Writers program.
Information Requested: Responders are asked to answer one or more
of the following questions in responses to the RFI:
1. Please describe the opportunities and constraints of managing
the Antarctic Artists and Writers (AAW) program as a stand-alone
program versus creating a management structure that also includes the
program which selects formal and informal educators to work
collaboratively with researchers in the Antarctic and Arctic.
2. Please describe the opportunities and constraints of expanding
the AAW program to include the Arctic, understanding that logistic
issues are unique to each region and that the Arctic is home to
Indigenous and local peoples.
3. Please identify one or more organizations that have the
capabilities to manage and promote national competitions for (1)
artists and writers, (2) educators (formal and informal), or (3) both
artists and writers and educators.
What are the unique or special characteristics of each of these
organizations? Please describe the extent these named organizations
have connections, if any, to:
(i) The scientific community, especially Arctic and Antarctic polar
research.
(ii) Artists and Writers organizations
(iii) Educator organizations
How would such organization(s) further the impact of the program
with respect to:
(i) Broadening inclusiveness and diversity within the program as
well as through its outreach efforts;
(ii) enhancing the publics' understanding of the polar regions and
engagement with polar scientific research;
(iii) widely distributing and promoting the program's outcomes and
educational efforts over time;
(iv) evaluating the program's effectiveness over time?
Dated: March 2, 2021.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2021-04697 Filed 3-5-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P