33 USC Chap 17 - Sub Chap V - Sec 893a

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TITLE 33—NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS

§ 893a

private sector, and nongovernmental programs, consistent with NOAA’s mission to understand, observe, and model the Earth’s atmosphere and biosphere, including the oceans,
in an integrated manner.
(c) Report
No later than 12 months after January 4, 2011,
the Administrator, in consultation with the National Science Foundation or other such agencies with mature transformational research
portfolios, shall develop and submit a report to
the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation and the House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology
that describes NOAA’s strategy for enhancing
transformational research in its research and
development portfolio to increase United States
competitiveness in oceanic and atmospheric
science and technology. The report shall—
(1) define ‘‘transformational research’’;
(2) identify emerging and innovative areas of
research and development where transformational research has the potential to
make significant and revolutionary – 1 advancements in both understanding and U.S.
science leadership;
(3) describe how transformational research
priorities are identified and appropriately – 1
balanced in the context of NOAA’s broader research portfolio;
(4) describe NOAA’s plan for developing a
competitive peer review and priority-setting
– 1 process, funding mechanisms, performance
and evaluation measures, and transition-tooperation guidelines for transformational research; and
(5) describe partnerships with other agencies
involved in transformational research.

eral public and other coastal stakeholders, including underrepresented groups in ocean and
atmospheric science and policy careers. In conducting those activities, the Administrator shall
build upon the educational programs and activities of the agency, with consideration given to
the goal of promoting the participation of individuals identified in sections 1885a and 1885b of
title 42 in STEM fields and in promoting the acquisition and retention of highly qualified and
motivated young scientists to complement and
supplement workforce needs.
(b) Educational program goals
The education programs developed by NOAA
shall, to the extent applicable—
(1) carry out and support research based programs and activities designed to increase student interest and participation in STEM;
(2) improve public literacy in STEM;
(3) employ proven strategies and methods for
improving student learning and teaching in
STEM;
(4) provide curriculum support materials and
other resources that—
(A) are designed to be integrated with
comprehensive STEM education;
(B) are aligned with national science education standards;
(C) are designed considering the unique
needs of underrepresented groups, translating such materials and other resources;
(D) promote the adoption and implementation of high-quality education practices that
build toward college and career-readiness;
and
(E) are promoted widely, especially among
individuals identified in sections 1885a and
1885b of title 42; and

(Pub. L. 110–69, title IV, § 4001, Aug. 9, 2007, 121
Stat. 599; Pub. L. 111–358, title III, § 301, Jan. 4,
2011, 124 Stat. 3996.)

(5) create and support opportunities for enhanced and ongoing professional development
for teachers using best practices that improves the STEM content and knowledge of
the teachers, including through programs
linking STEM teachers with STEM educators
at the higher education level.
(c) NOAA science education plan
The Administrator, appropriate National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration programs,
ocean atmospheric science and education experts, and interested members of the public
shall maintain a science education plan setting
forth education goals and strategies for the Administration, as well as programmatic actions
to carry out such goals and priorities over the
next 20 years, and evaluate and update such plan
every 5 years.
(d) Metrics
In executing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration science education plan
under subsection (c), the Administrator shall
maintain a comprehensive system for evaluating
the Administration’s educational programs and
activities. In so doing, the Administrator shall
ensure that such education programs have measurable objectives and milestones as well as
clear, documented metrics for evaluating programs. For each such education program or
portfolio of similar programs, the Administrator
shall—

Editorial Notes
AMENDMENTS
2011—Pub. L. 111–358 designated existing provisions as
subsec. (a), inserted heading, and added subsecs. (b) and
(c).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
CHANGE OF NAME
Committee on Science and Technology of House of
Representatives changed to Committee on Science,
Space, and Technology of House of Representatives by
House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Twelfth Congress,
Jan. 5, 2011.

§ 893a. NOAA ocean and atmospheric science
education programs
(a) In general
The Administrator of the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration shall conduct,
develop, support, promote, and coordinate formal and informal educational activities at all
levels to enhance public awareness and understanding of ocean, coastal, Great Lakes, and atmospheric science and stewardship by the gen1 So

in original.

§ 893b

TITLE 33—NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS

(1) encourage the collection of evidence as
relevant to the measurable objectives and
milestones; and
(2) ensure that program or portfolio evaluations focus on educational outcomes and not
just inputs, activities completed, or the number of participants.
(e) Construction
Nothing in this section may be construed to
affect the application of section 1232a of title 20
or sections 794 and 794d of title 29.
(f) STEM defined
In this section, the term ‘‘STEM’’ means the
academic and professional disciplines of science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics.
(Pub. L. 110–69, title IV, § 4002, Aug. 9, 2007, 121
Stat. 600; Pub. L. 111–358, title III, § 302, Jan. 4,
2011, 124 Stat. 3997; Pub. L. 114–329, title III, § 314,
Jan. 6, 2017, 130 Stat. 3015.)
Editorial Notes
AMENDMENTS
2017—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 114–329, § 314(a), substituted
‘‘the agency, with consideration given to the goal of
promoting the participation of individuals identified in
sections 1885a and 1885b of title 42’’ for ‘‘agency, with
consideration given to the goal of promoting the participation of individuals from underrepresented
groups’’.
Subsec. (b)(4)(C) to (E). Pub. L. 114–329, § 314(b), added
subpars. (C) and (E) and redesignated former subpar. (C)
as (D).
Subsecs. (d) to (f). Pub. L. 114–329, § 314(c), added subsec. (d) and redesignated former subsecs. (d) and (e) as
(e) and (f), respectively.
2011—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 111–358, § 302(1), substituted
‘‘agency, with consideration given to the goal of promoting the participation of individuals from underrepresented groups in STEM fields and in promoting the
acquisition and retention of highly qualified and motivated young scientists to complement and supplement
workforce needs.’’ for ‘‘the agency.’’
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 111–358, § 302(3), added subsec. (b).
Former subsec. (b) redesignated (c).
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 111–358, § 302(4), substituted
‘‘maintain’’ for ‘‘develop’’.
Pub. L. 111–358, § 302(2), redesignated subsec. (b) as (c).
Former subsec. (c) redesignated (d).
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 111–358, § 302(2), redesignated subsec. (c) as (d).
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 111–358, § 302(5), added subsec. (e).

§ 893b. NOAA’s contribution to innovation
(a) Participation in interagency activities
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall be a full participant in any
interagency effort to promote innovation and
economic competitiveness through near-term
and long-term basic scientific research and development and the promotion of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education, consistent with the agency mission, including authorized activities.
(b) Historic foundation
In order to carry out the participation described in subsection (a), the Administrator of
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall build on the historic role of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
in stimulating excellence in the advancement of

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ocean and atmospheric science and engineering
disciplines and in providing opportunities and
incentives for the pursuit of academic studies in
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
(Pub. L. 110–69, title IV, § 4003, Aug. 9, 2007, 121
Stat. 600.)
§ 893c. Workforce study
(a) In general
The Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans
and Atmosphere, in cooperation with the Secretary of Education, shall request the National
Academy of Sciences to conduct a study on the
scientific workforce in the areas of oceanic and
atmospheric research and development. The
study shall investigate—
(1) whether there is a shortage in the number of individuals with advanced degrees in
oceanic and atmospheric sciences who have
the ability to conduct high quality scientific
research in physical and chemical oceanography, meteorology, and atmospheric modeling, and related fields, for government, nonprofit, and private sector entities;
(2) whether there is a shortage in the number of individuals with technical or tradebased degrees, skillsets, or credentials suited
to a career in oceanic and atmospheric data
collection, processing, satellite production, or
satellite operations;
(3) what Federal programs are available to
help facilitate the education of students hoping to pursue these degrees, skillsets, or credentials;
(4) barriers to transitioning highly qualified
oceanic and atmospheric scientists or highly
qualified
technical
professionals
and
tradespeople into Federal civil service scientist career tracks;
(5) what institutions of higher education, the
private sector, and the Congress could do to
increase the number of individuals with such
post baccalaureate degrees, skillsets, or credentials;
(6) the impact of an aging Federal workforce
on the ability of Federal agencies to conduct
high quality scientific research, observations,
and monitoring;
(7) what actions the Federal government can
take to assist the transition of highly qualified scientists, technical professionals, and
tradespeople into Federal career positions;
(8) workforce diversity and actions the Federal Government can take to increase diversity in the scientific workforce; and
(9) actions the Federal Government can take
to shorten the hiring backlog for such workforce.
(b) Coordination
The Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans
and Atmosphere and the Secretary of Education
shall consult with the heads of other Federal
agencies and departments with oceanic and atmospheric expertise or authority in preparing
the specifications for the study.
(c) Report
No later than 18 months after December 23,
2022, the Under Secretary of Commerce for