The Measure of STAR: Review of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Science To Achieve Results (STAR) Research Grants Program

by National Research Council, Division on Earth and Life Studies, Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology, Committee to Review EPA's Research Grants Program

Overview

The report favorably reviews the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's competitive research grants program, finding that it has yielded significant new findings and knowledge critical for EPA's decision-making process. Established in 1995, the grants program was designed to enable the nation's best scientists and engineers to explore new ways to safeguard the environment and protect public health. The program awards about $100 million a year in grants and fellowships to independent investigators, multidisciplinary teams, and graduate students at universities and nonprofit institutions.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780309089388
Publisher:	National Academies Press
Publication date:	06/12/2003
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.50(d)

Table of Contents

	Summary	1
1	Introduction	14
	EPA's Research Program	15
	The STAR Program	16
	The National Research Council Committee	17
	Organization of the Report	18
	References	19
2	Overview of the STAR Program	20
	Evolution of the Program	21
	Components of the Program	27
	Research Fields	29
	Operation of the Program	44
	Fellowships	55
	Previous Evaluations of the Program	57
	Conclusions and Recommendations	59
	References	60
3	Competitive Grant Programs in Other Federal Agencies	64
	The National Science Foundation	65
	National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in NIH	74
	Department of Energy, Office of Biological and Environmental Research	78
	U.S. Department of Agriculture National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program	80
	National Aeronautics and Space Administration	83
	National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration	86
	Conclusions	89
	References	90
4	Measure for Measure	91
	What are Metrics?	92
	Use of Metrics in Evaluation	94
	Bibliometric Analysis	98
	Government Performance and Results Act	101
	Conclusions	105
	References	106
5	Taking the Measure of STAR	108
	Research Program	109
	Fellowship Program	137
	Conclusions	139
	Recommendations	142
	References	143
Appendix A.	Biographic Information on the Committee to Review EPA's Research Grants Program	149
Appendix B.	Previous Reviews of the STAR Program	153
Appendix C.	Performance Measures Used by Other Agencies and Organizations	165