The Foundation is authorized to—(1) support activities designed to—(A) increase the participation of women in courses of study at the undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels leading to degrees in scientific and engineering fields;
(B) encourage women to consider and prepare for careers in science and engineering; or
(C) provide traineeship and fellowship opportunities for women in science and engineering;
(2) support programs in science, engineering, and mathematics in elementary and secondary schools so as to stimulate the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and information by female students and to increase female student awareness of career opportunities requiring scientific and engineering skills;
(3) support activities in continuing education in science and engineering which provide opportunities for women who—(A) are in the work force, or
(B) who are not in the work force because their careers have been interrupted,
to acquire new knowledge, techniques, and skills in scientific and engineering fields;
(4) undertake a comprehensive research program designed to increase public understanding of (A) the potential contribution of women in science and engineering and (B) the means to facilitate the participation and advancement of women in scientific and engineering careers;
(5) establish a visiting women scientists and engineers program;
(6) support activities designed to improve the availability and quality of public information concerning the importance of the participation of women in careers in science and engineering;
(7) support activities of museums and science centers which demonstrate potential to interest and involve women in science and engineering;
(8) make grants, to be known as the National Research Opportunity Grants, to women scientists and engineers who (A) have received their doctorates within five years prior to the date of the award or (B) have received their doctorates, have had their careers interrupted, and are re-entering the work force within five years after such interruption;
(9) make grants to women eligible under paragraph (8) to assist such women in planning and developing a research project eligible for support under such paragraph;
(10) provide support to individuals or academic institutions for full-time or part-time visiting professorships for women in science and engineering;
(11) support demonstration project activities of individuals, public agencies, and private entities designed to encourage the employment and advancement of women in science and engineering; and
(12) encourage its entrepreneurial programs to recruit and support women to extend their focus beyond the laboratory and into the commercial world.
(Pub. L. 96–516, § 33, Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 3011; Pub. L. 99–159, title I, § 111(b)(6), Nov. 22, 1985, 99 Stat. 892; Pub. L. 115–6, § 3, Feb. 28, 2017, 131 Stat. 11.)
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was enacted as part of the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act, and not as part of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 which comprises this chapter.
Amendments2017—Par. (12). Pub. L. 115–6 added par. (12).
1985—Par. (1). Pub. L. 99–159, § 111(b)(6)(A), substituted “engineering” for “technology” and “technical” wherever appearing.
Par. (2). Pub. L. 99–159, § 111(b)(6)(A), (B), inserted “, engineering,” after “science”, and substituted “engineering” for “technical”.
Par. (3). Pub. L. 99–159, § 111(b)(6)(A), substituted “engineering fields” for “technical fields”.
Par. (4). Pub. L. 99–159, § 111(b)(6)(A), substituted “engineering” for “technology” and “technical”.
Par. (5). Pub. L. 99–159, § 111(b)(6)(C), inserted applicability to engineers.
Pars. (6), (7). Pub. L. 99–159, § 111(b)(6)(A), substituted “engineering” for “technology”.
Par. (8). Pub. L. 99–159, § 111(b)(6)(C), inserted applicability to engineers.
Par. (10). Pub. L. 99–159, § 111(b)(6)(D), inserted applicability to engineering.
Par. (11). Pub. L. 99–159, § 111(b)(6)(E), substituted “science and engineering” for “science, engineering, and technology”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
FindingsPub. L. 115–6, § 2, Feb. 28, 2017, 131 Stat. 11, provided that:
“The Congress finds that—
“(1) women make up almost 50 percent of the workforce, but less than 25 percent of the workforce in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions;
“(2) women are less likely to focus on the STEM disciplines in undergraduate and graduate study;
“(3) only 26 percent of women who do attain degrees in STEM fields work in STEM jobs;
“(4) there is an increasing demand for individuals with STEM degrees to extend their focus beyond the laboratory so they can be leaders in discovery commercialization;
“(5) studies have shown that technology and commercialization ventures are successful when women are in top management positions; and
“(6) the National Science Foundation’s mission includes supporting women in STEM disciplines.”
Commission on the Advancement of Women and Minorities in Science, Engineering, and Technology DevelopmentPub. L. 105–255, Oct. 14, 1998, 112 Stat. 1889, provided that:
Task Force on Women, Minorities, and the Handicapped in Science and TechnologyPub. L. 99–383, § 8, Aug. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 815, provided that:
“(a) It is the purpose of this section to establish a task force on women, minorities, and the handicapped in science and technology to—“(1) examine the current status of women, minorities, and the handicapped in science and engineering positions in the Federal Government and in federally assisted research programs;
“(2) coordinate existing Federal programs designed to promote the employment of women, minorities, and the handicapped in such positions;
“(3) suggest cooperative interagency programs for promoting such employment;
“(4) identify exemplary State, local, or private sector programs designed to promote such employment; and
“(5) develop a long-range plan to advance opportunities for women, minorities, and the handicapped in Federal scientific and technical positions in federally assisted research, and to coordinate the activities of participating agencies with the Committee on Equal Opportunities in Science and Engineering established by section 36 of the National Science Foundation Authorization and Science and Technology Equal Opportunities Act [now the National Science Foundation Authorization and Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act] (42 U.S.C. 1885c), after the termination of the task force established by this section.
“(b) For purposes of this section, the term ‘participating agency’ means—“(1) the National Science Foundation;
“(2) the Department of Health and Human Services;
“(3) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;
“(4) the Environmental Protection Agency;
“(5) the Department of Agriculture;
“(6) the Department of Defense;
“(7) the Department of Education;
“(8) the Department of Energy;
“(9) the Department of Commerce; and
“(10) the Department of the Interior.
“(c)(1) The task force on women, minorities, and the handicapped in science and technology shall be composed of individuals appointed by participating agencies pursuant to this subsection.
“(2) The head of each participating agency shall appoint two individuals to serve as members of the task force. If an appointed member is unable to serve for the duration of the task force, the head of the participating agency who appointed that member shall appoint another individual to fill the vacancy.
“(3) Task force members may be appointed from private business, academia, professional associations, or nonprofit foundations.
“(d) The task force shall prepare and submit a report on its findings and recommendations to the President, the Congress, and the head of each participating agency not later than December 31, 1989.
“(e) The Office of Science and Technology Policy shall call the first meeting of the task force not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Aug. 21, 1986], shall ensure that each participating agency has appointed two members, and shall assist the task force to meet its objectives.
“(f)(1) Members of the task force not otherwise employed by the Federal Government shall be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred by them in carrying out the duties of the task force.
“(2) The Director of the National Science Foundation shall make provision for administrative support of the task force, and may enter into agreements with the heads of other participating agencies to facilitate the work of the task force.
“(g) The task force shall terminate on January 31, 1990.”