Functions

to initiate and support basic scientific research and programs to strengthen scientific research potential and science education programs at all levels in the mathematical, physical, medical, biological, social, and other sciences, and to initiate and support research fundamental to the engineering process and programs to strengthen engineering research potential and engineering education programs at all levels in the various fields of engineering, by making contracts or other arrangements (including grants, loans, and other forms of assistance) to support such scientific, engineering, and educational activities and to appraise the impact of research upon industrial development and upon the general welfare; to award, as provided in section 1869 of this title, scholarships and graduate fellowships for study and research in the sciences or in engineering; to foster the interchange of scientific and engineering information among scientists and engineers in the United States and foreign countries; to foster and support the development and use of computer and other scientific and engineering methods and technologies, primarily for research and education in the sciences and engineering; to evaluate the status and needs of the various sciences and fields of engineering as evidenced by programs, projects, and studies undertaken by agencies of the Federal Government, by individuals, and by public and private research groups, employing by grant or contract such consulting services as it may deem necessary for the purpose of such evaluations; and to take into consideration the results of such evaluations in correlating the research and educational programs undertaken or supported by the Foundation with programs, projects, and studies undertaken by agencies of the Federal Government, by individuals, and by public and private research groups; to provide a central clearinghouse for the collection, interpretation, and analysis of data on scientific and engineering resources and to provide a source of information for policy formulation by other agencies of the Federal Government; to initiate and maintain a program for the determination of the total amount of money for scientific and engineering research, including money allocated for the construction of the facilities wherein such research is conducted, received by each educational institution and appropriate nonprofit organization in the United States, by grant, contract, or other arrangement from agencies of the Federal Government, and to report annually thereon to the President and the Congress; and to take a leading role in fostering and supporting research and education activities to improve the security of networked information systems. The Foundation is authorized to initiate and support specific scientific and engineering activities in connection with matters relating to international cooperation, national security, and the effects of scientific and engineering applications upon society by making contracts or other arrangements (including grants, loans, and other forms of assistance) for the conduct of such activities. When initiated or supported pursuant to requests made by any other Federal department or agency, including the Office of Technology Assessment, such activities shall be financed whenever feasible from funds transferred to the Foundation by the requesting official as provided in section 1873(f) of this title, and any such activities shall be unclassified and shall be identified by the Foundation as being undertaken at the request of the appropriate official. In addition to the authority contained in subsections (a) and (b), the Foundation is authorized to initiate and support scientific and engineering research, including applied research, at academic and other nonprofit institutions. When so directed by the President, the Foundation is further authorized to support, through other appropriate organizations, applied scientific research and engineering research relevant to national problems involving the public interest. In exercising the authority contained in this subsection, the Foundation may employ by grant or contract such consulting services as it deems necessary, and shall coordinate and correlate its activities with respect to any such problem with other agencies of the Federal Government undertaking similar programs in that field. The Board and the Director shall recommend and encourage the pursuit of national policies for the promotion of research and education in science and engineering. In exercising the authority and discharging the functions referred to in the foregoing subsections, it shall be an objective of the Foundation to strengthen research and education in the sciences and engineering, including independent research by individuals, throughout the United States, and to avoid undue concentration of such research and education. The Foundation shall render an annual report to the President for submission on or before the 15th day of April of each year to the Congress summarizing the activities of the Foundation and making such recommendations as it may deem appropriate. Such report shall include information as to the acquisition and disposition by the Foundation of any patents and patent rights. In carrying out subsection (a)(4), the Foundation is authorized to foster and support access by the research and education communities to computer networks which may be used substantially for purposes in addition to research and education in the sciences and engineering, if the additional uses will tend to increase the overall capabilities of the networks to support such research and education activities. The Director of the Foundation shall continue to review the efforts by the Foundation to sustain and strengthen scientific efforts in the face of logistical challenges for the United States Antarctic Program. the Inspector General of the National Science Foundation in audit reports and memoranda on the United States Antarctic Program in the last 4 years; the U.S. Antarctic Program Blue Ribbon Panel report, More and Better Science in Antarctica through Increased Logistical Effectiveness, issued July 23, 2012; and the National Research Council report, Future Science Opportunities in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, issued September 2011. Efforts by the Foundation to track its progress in addressing the issues and recommendations under subparagraph (A). Efforts by the Foundation to address other opportunities and challenges, including efforts on scientific research, coordination with other Federal agencies and international partners, logistics and transportation, health and safety of participants, oversight and financial management of awardees and contractors, and resources and policy challenges. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Jan. 6, 2017], the Director shall brief the appropriate committees of Congress on the ongoing review, including findings and any recommendations.” The National Science Foundation shall conduct a study of the divergence in access to high technology (commonly referred to as the ‘digital divide’) in the United States. Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 17, 2000], the Director of the National Science Foundation shall submit a report to Congress setting forth the findings of the study conducted under subsection (a).” improve public understanding of public policy issues involving science and technology; facilitate the participation of qualified scientists and engineers and of undergraduate and graduate students in public activities aimed at the resolution of public policy issues having significant scientific and technical aspects; and assist nonprofit, citizens, and bona fide public interest groups to acquire necessary scientific and technical expertise in order to improve their comprehension of scientific and technical aspects of public policy issues. qualified scientists and engineers to work on public policy issues with significant scientific and technical components in conjunction with units of State and local government, nonprofit organizations, or bona fide public interest groups; internship programs for science and engineering undergraduate or graduate students to work on public policy issues with significant scientific and technical components in conjunction with units of State and local government, nonprofit organizations, or bona fide public interest groups as part of their academic training; forums, conferences, and workshops on public policy issues with significant scientific and technical components; training in the presentation of scientific and technical studies in a manner which (A) improves public understanding of the ways in which science and technology influence contemporary life, (B) improves public access to the results of scientific and technical research, (C) encourages and facilitates interaction between laypersons and scientists on public issues with important scientific and technological components, and (D) increases public knowledge and understanding of the ethical and value implications of scientific and technological developments; new and existing programs using radio or television to increase public understanding of public policy issues with significant scientific and technical components; and bona fide public interest groups to acquire necessary scientific and technical expertise relating to the scientific and technical aspects of public policy issues and to enable such groups to bring together in appropriate forums experts whose research has been directed to the resolution of such issues.” improve public understanding of science, engineering and technology and their impact on public policy issues; facilitate the participation of experienced scientists and engineers as well as graduate and undergraduate students in helping the public understand science, engineering and technology and their impact on public policies; and the extent to which the proposal of the society or group will contribute to the development of facts, issues, and arguments relevant to public policy issues having significant scientific and technical aspects, and the ability of the society or group, using its own resources, to conduct such forums, conferences, and workshops. One or more review panels shall be established for the purpose of evaluating applications for awards under this section. The membership of each review panel shall have balanced representation from the scientific and nonscientific communities and the public and private sectors. No contract, grant or other arrangement shall be made under this Section without the prior approval of the National Science Board. To assist the Congress in evaluating activities initiated pursuant to this Section, the Director of the National Science Foundation, in consultation with a review panel having a balanced representation from the scientific and nonscientific community and the public and private sectors, is directed to prepare a comprehensive analysis and assessment of such activities to be submitted to the House Committee on Science and Technology [now Committee on Science, Space, and Technology] and the Senate Committee on Labor and Public Welfare [now Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions], not later than October 31, 1977. An interim report is required no later than March 1, 1977.” If an institution of higher education determines, after affording notice and opportunity for hearing to an individual attending, or employed by, such institution, that such individual has been convicted by any court of record of any crime which was committed after the date of enactment of this Act [Aug. 16, 1973] and which involved the use of (or assistance to others in the use of) force, disruption, or the seizure of property under control of any institution of higher education to prevent officials or students in such institution from engaging in their duties or pursuing their studies, and that such crime was of a serious nature and contributed to a substantial disruption of the administration of the institution with respect to which such crime was committed, then the institution which such individual attends, or is employed by, shall deny for a period of two years any further payment to, or for the direct benefit of, such individual under any of the programs specified in subsection (c). If an institution denies an individual assistance under the authority of the preceding sentence of this subsection, then any institution which such individual subsequently attends shall deny for the remainder of the two-year period any further payment to, or for the direct benefit of, such individual under any of the programs specified in subsection (c). If an institution of higher education determines, after affording notice and opportunity for hearing to an individual attending, or employed by, such institution, that such individual has willfully refused to obey a lawful regulation or order of such institution after the date of enactment of this Act [Aug. 16, 1973], and that such refusal was of a serious nature and contributed to a substantial disruption of the administration of such institution, then such institution shall deny, for a period of two years, any further payment to, or for the direct benefit of, such individual under any of the programs specified in subsection (c). The programs authorized by the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 [this chapter]; and The programs authorized under title IX of the National Defense Education Act of 1958 [sections 1876 to 1879 of this title] relating to establishing the Science Information Service. Nothing in this Act [Pub. L. 93–96], or any Act amended by this Act, shall be construed to prohibit any institution of higher education from refusing to award, continue, or extend any financial assistance under any such Act to any individual because of any misconduct which in its judgment bears adversely on his fitness for such assistance. Nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting or prejudicing the rights and prerogatives of any institution of higher education to institute and carry out an independent, disciplinary proceeding pursuant to existing authority, practice, and law. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the freedom of any student to verbal expression of individual views or opinions.” The Foundation is authorized and directed— In conducting the review, the Director shall examine, at a minimum, the following: Implementation by the Foundation of issues and recommendations identified by— From the funds authorized under the program ‘Science and Society’, the National Science Foundation is authorized to provide support which is designed to— Awards made pursuant to this section shall, to the extent feasible, include support for— The National Science Foundation is authorized and directed to conduct an experimental ‘Science for Citizens Program’ and an augmented Public Understanding of Science Program under which funds will be available for pilot projects to: assist nationally recognized professional societies and groups serving important public purposes in conducting a limited number of forums, conferences, and workshops to increase public understanding of science and technology, and of their impact on public policy issues, after consideration of the following eligibility factors: The programs referred to in subsections (a) and (b) are as follows: (Source: (May 10, 1950, ch. 171, § 3, 64 Stat. 149; Pub. L. 85–510, § 1, July 11, 1958, 72 Stat. 353; Pub. L. 86–232, § 1, Sept. 8, 1959, 73 Stat. 467; Pub. L. 90–407, § 1, July 18, 1968, 82 Stat. 360; Pub. L. 92–372, § 8, Aug. 10, 1972, 86 Stat. 528; Pub. L. 92–484, § 10(b), Oct. 13, 1972, 86 Stat. 802; Pub. L. 94–273, § 11(3), Apr. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 378; Pub. L. 95–99, § 12(a), formerly § 14(a), Aug. 15, 1977, 91 Stat. 835, renumbered § 12(a), Pub. L. 99–159, title I, § 109(h), Nov. 22, 1985, 99 Stat. 890; Pub. L. 99–159, title I, §§ 109(e)(2), 110(a)(1)–(11), Nov. 22, 1985, 99 Stat. 890, 891; Pub. L. 99–383, § 7(a), Aug. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 814; Pub. L. 102–476, § 4, Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2300; Pub. L. 102–588, title II, § 217, Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5117; Pub. L. 105–207, title II, § 202(e), July 29, 1998, 112 Stat. 875; Pub. L. 107–305, § 7, Nov. 27, 2002, 116 Stat. 2375.))