An Assessment of the National Science Foundation's Science and Technology Centers Program

The National Science Foundation requested that the Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy of the NAS, the NAE, and the IOM form a panel to evaluate the accomplishments of the NSF Science and Technology Centers program (not individual centers) against its goals in research, education, and knowledge transfer. This report is the result of the work of the panel charged with that effort, and provides recommendations for moving forward.Table of ContentsFront MatterEXECUTIVE SUMMARYINTRODUCTIONHAS THE STC PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHED ITS GOALS?HOW WELL HAS THE DESIGN OF THE STC PROGRAM WORKED?HOW WELL HAS THE STC PROGRAM BEEN MANAGED AND EVALUATED?RECOMMENDATIONSREFERENCESAPPENDIX A: Review of Abt Report and Comments on the STC EvaluationProcessAPPENDIX B: The National Science Foundation's Science andTechnology CentersAPPENDIX C: Panel and Staff Biographic InformationAPPENDIX D: Excerpts from Visiting-Committee Reports on the Scienceand Technology Centers