De más está decir que un representante de Puerto Rico podría ayudar a mejorar las relaciones con esta agencia y a proveer oportunidades para desarrollar aún mas la capacidad de investigación en Puerto Rico.

June 28, 2013

Dear Colleague:

I am writing on a matter of great importance to the nation's science and engineering research and education enterprise, and one for which you and your organization can make a direct and substantial contribution.

The six-year terms of eight Members (one-third) of the National Science Board will expire on May 10, 2014. Given the significance of the Board's role, described below, and the vital activities of your own organization in advancing the progress of research and education, I would be most grateful to have your recommendations for highly qualified individuals to serve on the Board. The nomination process is online and is described below.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Act of 1950 created the Board with 24 Members serving 6-year terms. The NSF Director is also an ex officio member. The Act confers on the Board the dual responsibilities of overseeing the activities of and establishing policies for NSF, as well as serving as an advisory body to the President and Congress on individual policy matters related to science and engineering and education in science and engineering.

The Board is not an honorary board or an advisory committee. It is an oversight and governance board. As a result, considerable time is required from Board members to meet their responsibilities. Every two years, the Board solicits recommendations for new members from leading scientific, engineering, and educational organizations, as well as the public, and submits them to the White House for consideration. Members are formally appointed by the President.

The Call for Nominations web portal is open (www.nsf.gov/nsb/members/nominations.jsp) and accepting submissions for the Board class of 2014-2020 from now until July 29, 2013. I encourage you to submit recommended nominations as soon as possible, and wish to call your attention to the three components required:

1. Letter of recommendation (see information below);
2. Nominee's biography; and
3. Nominee's curriculum vitae.

The letter of recommendation needs to address, on a point by point basis, the items listed in the box below. Letters failing to provide this information will disadvantage the individual being nominated.

1. Demonstrated record of distinguished service and the potential for further contributions.
2. Demonstrated performance at the highest level in the scientific, technological, engineering, industrial, public sector, and educational communities, as appropriate for the individual under consideration, as measured by

• outstanding scientific, technological, engineering, or public service credentials;
• broadly recognized intellectual contributions, especially those relevant to NSF activities;
• breadth, depth, and understanding of scientific knowledge, and contributions; and
• truly exceptional scientific, technological, engineering, industrial, educational, or administrative accomplishments.

3. Unquestionable commitment to devote the time necessary for effectively performing and discharging Board duties. The Board meets five times per year, and numerous activities, including those associated with standing and ad hoc committees and task forces, occur between meetings, usually via teleconference but sometimes in person. Consequently, recommendations for nominees must make clear the ability of a candidate to commit the time necessary to be a fully engaged Board member.

4. Demonstrated expertise in specific topics to be engaged by the Board during the next several years, including

Specific topics for which representation is sought in the Class of 2020

• Large/complex facility planning, construction, management and transformation
• International projects and the globalization of research
• Metrics and performance measurement
• Neuroscience and the brain
• Information science and large/complex/novel data and related analytics
• Undergraduate research
• Diversity enhancement
• Social communications and cognitive science and technology
• Science of education and STEM learning
• Biomedical Engineering
• Advanced Manufacturing
• Sustainability, water and global change
• Clean energy and energy security
• Crosscutting topics that represent long-term/persistent issues for NSF and the nation
• Understanding and appreciation of the unique long term role NSF has played in the support of basic science, engineering and education research.
• Innovation, competitiveness and leveraging investments via academic-corporate partnerships
• Evolution of the academic research enterprise

5. Finally, consideration is given to diversity, including but not limited to gender and ethnic diversity, discipline of expertise, type and size of organizational affiliation, and geographic location. To learn more about the composition of the current Board, please visit http://www.nsf.gov/nsb/members/.

For more information and to access the Nominations portal to submit a nomination, please visit: www.nsf.gov/nsb/members/nominations.jsp. Much more detailed information concerning the Board, its members, and Board activities can be found at the NSB web site, http://www.nsf.gov/nsb.

I welcome your participation in the National Science Board Member nomination process. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Brandon Powell, executive secretary for the ad hoc Committee on Nominations in the National Science Board Office at bjpowell@nsf.gov or 703.292.2769.

Sincerely,

Dan E. Arvizu

Chairman