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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 2927556; 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 18008778339, 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 persons or organizations 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 15.2023, 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
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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 publics 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 NSFs 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
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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 organizations 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 programs outcomes and educational efforts over time;
iv evaluating the programs effectiveness over time?
Dated: March 2, 2021.
Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
FR Doc. 202104697 Filed 3521; 8:45 am BILLING CODE 755501P

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