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In the December 13, 1996 Issue:

Environmental Management Projects Sought


The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Offices of Energy Research and Environmental Management is requesting applications for research grants for performance of innovative, fundamental research to support the management and disposal of DOE radioactive, hazardous chemical, and mixed wastes; the stabilization of nuclear materials and spent nuclear fuel; remediation of contaminated sites; and the decontamination and decommissioning of facilities.

More than $20 million for the Environmental Management Science Program (EMSP) is available in FY97. Multiple-year funding for projects in the amount of $100,000 and $300,000 per year is expected. Collaboration between researchers and other institutions such as universities, industry, nonprofit organizations, the DOE National Laboratories and/or other federal laboratories are strongly encouraged.

DOE is responsible for waste management and cleanup of sites that include radioactive hazards, contaminated soils and water and more than 7,000 contaminated structures. Due to the wide scope of the activities, DOE seeks to involve more basic science researchers to assist with remediation efforts.

DOE currently has ongoing applied research and engineering efforts; these efforts are being supplemented with basic research funded through this program. Proposed research under this program should contribute to environmental management activities that would decrease risk for the public and workers, provide opportunities for major cost reductions, and, in general, should address problems that are considered intractable without new knowledge.

Specific technology needs and research challenges are identified for six topics:

Pre-applications are strongly encouraged and are due by January 15, 1997. Applicants will receive a notice encouraging or discouraging a formal application within three weeks. Formal applications are due by April 16, 1997.

More information on the program is available through the Web at http://www.em.doe.gov/science or through SSTI at 614/421-SSTI (7784). Research funded in the EMSP in FY96 can be found on the Web at http://www.doe.gov/em52/science-grants.html


NSF To Change Review Criteria


Criteria used by one of the largest funders of basic research to evaluate research proposals is slated to change in 1997. The National Science Foundation (NSF) is revising the criteria used to evaluate approximately 30,000 proposals per year and is seeking comments on the proposed criteria.

NSF has undertaken the process to revise the criteria because "an examination...is prudent from time to time. The current criteria have not changed since 1981, and the proposed changes are intended to make the criteria clearer to the community and to bring them more in line with the 1994 NSF Strategic Plan."

The current criteria ask reviewers to evaluate a proposal for: 1) research performance competence, 2) intrinsic merit of the research, 3) utility or relevance of the research, and 4) the effect on the infrastructure of science and engineering.

The proposed criteria ask reviewers to determine: 1) what is the intellectual merit and quality of the proposed activity? and, 2) what are the broader impacts of the proposed activity?

Background and an e-mail form to comment on the changes can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/meritrev.htm Comments must be received by January 31, 1997 with final action expected to be taken in the summer of 1997.


Committee Approves of NSF Cooperative Research Centers


A panel of external evaluators has concluded that the National Science Foundation's State/Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers (S/I/UCRC) Program supports NSF's strategic goals. The panel also found that "the development of cooperative research centers involving states, industries and NSF can be an important contributing element to maintaining and developing a competitive US industry."

The S/I/UCRC program was established in 1991 as the result of discussions between NSF and the National Governors' Association's Science and Technology Council of the States (STCS). There have been three competitions for awards and a total of 13 awards have been made. This is the first time a Committee of Visitors (COV) has evaluated the program.

The COV found that a critical issue in the program is the difficulty in obtaining initial state funding commitments and then assuring the commitments over the duration of the program. The three-part funding requirement (state, industry and NSF) "represents a significant challenge..." and the COV recommended that the funding aspect of the S/I/UCRC program be evaluated in depth. It also recommended that a state entity, such as an economic development agency, and official contact should be clearly identified as part of the proposal process.

Contact SSTI at 614/421-SSTI (7784) for more information on the report.


Walker Receives NASA Award


U.S. Representative Robert Walker (R-PA), the retiring chairman of the House Science Committee, was recently awarded NASA's Distinguished Service Medal. The Medal was established in 1959 and is awarded to any person in the federal service who, by distinguished service, ability, or courage, has personally made a contribution representing substantial progress to the NASA mission in the interests of the United States. The contribution must be so extraordinary that other forms of recognition by NASA would be inadequate.

Past recipients include astronauts Alan Shepherd and John Glenn.

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