Through its Committee on Education and Human Resources, the National Science Board is undertaking a series of three field hearings beginning in the Spring of 1998. Field hearings will enable the Board, through panels featuring invited participants, to present information on NSF-funded projects in various geographic regions.

The field hearings are designed to fill a niche in policy discussions and deliberations within the scientific and educational communities. The National Science Board - composed of 24 eminent scientists, engineers, and educators - serves not only as the governing body of the National Science Foundation (NSF), but also as policy advisor to the President and Congress. In both capacities, it is important that the Board systematically interact with the broader public and various communities in fulfilling its mandate.