Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 89.djvu/489

 PUBLIC LAW 94-86—AUG. 9, 1975

89 STAT. 429

(c) The National Science Foundation is authorized and directed to conduct a Research Initiation and Support program, referred to hereinafter as RIAS. RIAS shall have the purpose of strengthening programs of training and research for young scientists at the graduate and postgraduate levels at educational institutions. Awards under this program may include support for exploratory research by such young scientists, the acquisition of instruments, equipment, and facilities for research and training, and other programs and activities aimed at meeting departmental, interdepartmental, or institutionwide training and research needs, or a combination thereof. Awards under RIAS shall be made on a competitive basis and may cover periods not to exceed four years. Notwithstanding any provisions of this or any other Act, of the total amount authorized under section 1, category (6), not less than $5,000,000 shall be available for RIAS. (d) The National Science Foundation is authorized and directed to conduct a Comprehensive Assistance to Undergraduate Science Education program, referred to hereinafter as CAUSE. CAUSE shall have the purpose of strengthening the science education capabilities of predominantly undergraduate educational institutions and departments or groups of departments thereof through awards to four-year colleges, to two-year colleges, to the undergraduate component of advanced degree institutions, and to groups of such institutions. Notwithstanding any provisions of this or any other Act, of the total amount authorized under section 1, category (6), not less than $15,000,000 shall be available for CAUSE and not less than $3,500,000 thereof shall be awarded to two-year institutions. Awards within each category of CAUSE shall be made on a competitive basis. (e) As used in this Act, "Science Education Innovation" means projects aimed at the development of new approaclies to the teaching of science to students, teachers, and professionals, including but not limited to new curricula, new technologies, new methods, and retraining or other efforts to make the existing scientific manpower pool better able to fulfill the Nation's manpower needs. As used in this Act, "Science Education Support" means projects aimed at building a capability to teach science, including but not limited to awards for equipment, conferences, and institutional development. SEC. 3. The Director of the National Science Foundation is authorized and directed to prepare a comprehensive plan for the establishment and conduct of a "Science for Citizens Program". Such program shall be designed— (1) to improve public understanding of public policy issues involving science and technology; (2) to facilitate the participation of experienced scientists and engineers as well as graduate and undergraduate students in public activities, including community and citizen group activities, aimed at the resolution of public policy issues having significant scientific and technical aspects; (3) to enable nonprofit citizens public interest groups to acquire necessary technical expertise to assist them in dealing with the scientific and technical aspects of public policy issues; and (4) to provide grants and contracts to academic and other nonprofit organizations for the conduct of applied research designed to improve the effectiveness of the programs conducted under paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of this section.

Research Initiation and Support program.

Comprehensive Assistance to Undergraduate Science Education program.

"Science Education Innovation.

Science for Citizens Program. Comprehensive plan.

42 USC 18<34 note.

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