agreements awarded to universities, nonprofit, and other research organizations. Most of this research is directed to the resolution of scientific questions concerning fundamental life processes, natural laws and phenomena, fundamental processes influencing man's environment and the forces impacting on man as a member of society as well as on the behavior of his society. Additional research is focused on selected societal problems of national importance and is directed toward contributing to the knowledge required for their practical solution.

The NSF encourages cooperative efforts by universities, industries, and government, and promotes the application of research and development for better products and services which improve the quality of life, create employment opportunities, stimulate economic growth, and increase productivity and foreign trade.

The Foundation supports major national and international science programs including the U.S. Antarctic Program, International Decade of Ocean Exploration, Ocean Sediment Coring Program, and others.

Support is given, through contracts, to national centers where large facilities are made available for the use of qualified scientists. Among the centers supported by the Foundation are: the Kitt Peak National Observatory, the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, the National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center, and the National Center for Atmospheric Research. The Very Large Array (VLA) Radio Astronomy Observatory, now under construction, is the largest facility of its kind. In 1976, the NSF assumed responsibility for the funding and management of the Sacramento Peak Observatory, a transfer from the Department of Defense (Air Force).

The development and use of computer and other methodologies and technologies is supported. Support is

also provided for problem-focused interdisciplinary research aimed at making better use of the Nation's depletable energy resources and developing alternative energy resources, stimulating economic growth and productivity in both the private and public sectors, maintaining and improving environmental quality, enhancing our capabilities for dealing effectively with social issues, and better anticipating the impacts of technological change. Also supported are experimental efforts to improve and accelerate the application of research and development by industries, government, and other institutions, and to increase the non-Federal investment in research and development.

The Foundation's science education activities span all levels of education. Support is provided to identify and encourage scientific talent and to stimulate more participation in the sciences by minorities, women, and the handicapped. Schools, colleges, and universities are encouraged, through grants, to improve the quality of science instruction and the use of validated knowledge and effective instructional strategies.

Support is also provided for research and development activities to advance our knowledge of how scientific concepts, processes, and skills are learned and to encourage the development of materials and techniques by which learning processes in science can be improved. Support is also provided to bring about greater understanding of science and technology as it affects contemporary life, including the social and ethical implications of an increasingly technology-dependent society. All awards are made on a competitive basis.

The Foundation also supports research aimed at formulating science policy through analysis of existing and emerging national issues that have sig nificant scientific and technological content. It defines options and supplies analysis directed toward enhancing the

contribution of science and technology to the Nation.

NSF develops and disseminates information relating to scientific resources, including manpower, to facilitate national decisions to strengthen the scientific effort of the Nation. Programs to improve the information systems and services available to U.S. scientists, foster the interchange of scientific information among scientists of the United States and foreign countries, and provide support for the translation of foreign scientific information are also Foundation activities.

International programs, including cooperative scientific research activities, are supported through the exchange of American and foreign scientists and engineers, the execution of jointly designed research projects, participation in the activities of international science organizations, and travel to international conferences.

The National Science Foundation, awards annually the Alan T. Waterman Award to an outstanding young scientist. This award provides for up to $150,000 and 3 years of research and study at the institution of the awardee's choice. The Foundation also provides support for the President's Committee on the National Medal of Science.

Sources of Information

GRANTS

Individuals or organizations who plan to submit grant proposals should refer to the NSF Guide to Programs and appropriate program brochures and announcements which may be obtained as indicated in the reference to publications, below.

CONTRACTS

The Foundation publicizes contracting and subcontracting opportunities in the Commerce Business Daily and other appropriate publications.

Organizations seeking to undertake contract work for the Foundation may

contact the Division of Grants and Contracts, Room 640.

SMALL BUSINESS

This is a new office established in the Foundation to provide information to small business companies with strong research capabilities in science and technology.

PUBLICATIONS

Detailed brochures are issued announcing and describing new programs and critical dates and application procedures for competitions, and may be obtained from the Publications Unit, National Science Foundation, 1800 G Street NW., Washington, D.C, 20550. The monthly NSF Bulletin, summarizNSF activities, is available from the ing program announcements and other Public Information Branch, National Science Foundation, 1800 G Street dition, the quarterly Arctic Bulletin is NW., Washington, D.C. 20550. In ad

available from the Division of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation, 1800 G Street NW., Washington, D.C. 20550. Information concerning supported research may be obtained Research Applied to National Needs through the RANN Document Center, National Science Foundation, 1800 G Street NW., Washington, D.C. 20550.

Other publications include Science Indicators-1974 and Science at the Bicentennial-A Report from the Research Community, the seventh and eighth annual reports of the National Science Board. Mosaic, the NSF bimonthly magazine; Guide to Programs which summarizes information about NSF support programs; and the quarterly Antarctic Journal of the United States, available from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402.

COMMITTEE MINUTES

Summary minutes of open meetings of Foundation advisory groups may be

The National Transportation Safety Board was established as an independent agency of the Federal Government on April 1, 1975, by the Independent Safety Board Act of 1974 (88 Stat. 2156; 49 U.S.C. 1901).

The Safety Board consists of five Board members appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, for 5-year terms. The President designates two of these members as Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board for 2-year terms. The designation of the Chairman is made by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

The mission of the National Transportation Safety Board is to promote transportation safety by conducting independent accident investigations and by formulating safety improvement recommendations.

Functions

ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION

The Board is responsible for investigating, determining accident cause, and reporting the facts and circumstances of all U.S. civil aviation accidents; all railroad accidents in which there is a fatality or substantial property damage, or which involve a passenger train; all pipeline accidents in which there is a fatality or substantial property damage; highway accidents, including railroad grade-crossing accidents, that the Board selects in cooperation with the States; major marine casualties, and marine accidents involving a public vessel and a nonpublic vessel, in accordance with regulations prescribed jointly by the Board and the U.S. Coast Guard; and other transportation accidents which are catastrophic, involve problems of a recurring character, or otherwise should be investigated in the judgment of the Board.

SAFETY PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

In addition, the Board conducts special studies and makes recommendations on matters pertaining to transportation safety and transportation accident prevention; assesses techniques of accident investigation and publishes recommended procedures for accident investigations; establishes regulatory requirements for reporting accidents; evaluates the transportation safety consciousness and efficacy in preventing accidents of other Government agencies; evaluates the adequacy of safeguards and procedures concerning the transportation of hazardous materials, and the performance of other Government agencies charged with assuring the safe transportation of such materials; and reports annually to the Congress on its activities.

CERTIFICATE OR LICENSE APPEAL

The Board also reviews on appeal the suspension, amendment, modification, revocation, or denial of any certificate or license issued by the Secretary or an Administrator of the Department of Transportation.

Sources of Information

The Board publishes annually a List of Publications. This list, as well as single copies of the publications of the Safety Board listed therein, may be obtained free of charge from the Publications Unit, Room 808A at the Washington, D.C., headquarters, 800 Independence Avenue SW., or by writing to the Publications Unit, National Transportation Safety Board, Washington, D.C. 20594,

PUBLIC REFERENCE ROOM

The Public Reference Room of the Safety Board is available for record inspection or copying. It is located in Room 806B at the Board's Washing