National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1994

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Title I: National Science Foundation Authorization

Title II: Research and Education in Strategic Areas

Title III: General Provisions

National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1994 - Title I: National Science Foundation Authorization - Authorizes appropriations to the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Critical Technologies Institute for FY 1995 through 1999.

(Sec. 103) Amends the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 to direct NSF to include in its annual report to the President a strategic plan defining its goals, criteria, and procedures.

(Sec. 106) Requires the Director of NSF (Director) to develop an Arctic logistics support program and related budget to facilitate United States Arctic research. Authorizes FY 1996 through 1999 appropriations.

Title II: Research and Education in Strategic Areas - National Science Foundation Strategic Research and Education Authorization Act of 1994 - Authorizes the Director to establish the following cross-directorate initiatives: (1) advanced manufacturing technology; (2) advanced materials and processing; (3) biotechnology; (4) civil infrastructure systems; (5) global change research; (6) environmental research; (7) high performance computing and communications; and (8) science, mathematics, engineering, and technology education. Authorizes FY 1995 through 1999 appropriations.

(Sec. 203) Authorizes the Director, within the advanced manufacturing technology initiative, to: (1) make awards to universities for research and education to accelerate technologies of particular value to low population regions; (2) establish graduate student traineeships; (3) establish teaching fellowships for persons from industry; (4) develop curricula; and (5) establish the Small Manufacturers Renewal and Training (pilot) Program to sponsor engineering students to work as interns with small manufacturers.

Requires the Director to expand the number of Engineering Research Centers and the Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers Program.

(Sec. 208) Authorizes the Director, within the environmental reseach initiative, to establish a National Environmental Research Program (including a National Environmental Research Forum, research centers, and a fellowship program).

Title III: General Provisions - Amends the Academic Research Facilities Modernization Act of 1988 to require the Director, when making awards for academic facilities maintenance, to include projects for the acquisition of research instrumentation.

(Sec. 302) Amends the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act to authorize the Director to make awards to institutions of higher education and local educational agencies to develop science, computer science, technology, and mathematics curricula in accord with traditional cultural values of Native Hawaiian students, Pacific Islander students, and Native American students.

Includes individuals with disabilities as an underrepresented group for which the Committee on Equal Opportunities in Science and Engineering should encourage full participation in scientific, engineering, and professional fields.

(Sec. 303) Authorizes appropriations for the Director to: (1) make grants to organizations, including colleges and universities, to promote cooperative research projects between scientists in the United States and scientists in Latin America; and (2) establish a cross-directorate program between the United States and the Newly Independent States to make awards to individuals, small groups, and research centers to support collaborative research efforts between scientists and engineers from both countries.

(Sec. 304) Requires the Director to continue to carry out the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research in certain States that have: (1) historically received little research and development funding; and (2) demonstrated a research commitment.

(Sec. 305) Authorizes appropriations for a National Undergraduate Teaching Fellows program to improve undergraduate education in science, mathematics, and engineering.

(Sec. 306) Amends the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 and the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1988 to modify certain administrative procedures.