Operation of the Committee on National Statistics

美国国家科学院国家统计委员会致力于改进用于许多科学领域分析的统计方法。它的工作还旨在提高重要的基础研究和公共政策决定所依据的统计资料的质量。该委员会由杰出的统计学家和其他杰出的科学家组成，确定统计问题至关重要的问题领域，并进行研究，全面评价这些问题并寻求提供可行的解决办法。由国家科学基金会领导的联邦机构联盟为委员会的发展活动和基本运作费用提供广泛支持。每个机构每年按其在委员会年度议程中的利益和自身研究预算的规模提供一笔资金。目前所建议的奖金代表了基金会在1988财政年度对该财团的财政参与。该奖项还附有通知，表明基金会打算在未来几年根据令人满意的科学进展和资金的可用性，为委员会的维持作出类似的贡献。

The Committee on National Statistics of the National Academy of Sciences works to improve the statistical methods used for analysis in many fields of science. Its work is also aimed at upgrading the quality of statistical information on which important basic research and public policy decisions are founded. The committee, composed of distinguished statisticians and other scientists of eminence, identifies problem areas in which statistical questions are pivotal, and carries out studies which evaluate these questions comprehensively and seek to provide feasible solutions. Broad support for the committee's developmental activities and basic operating costs is provided by a consortium of federal agencies led by the National Science Foundation. Each agency contributes an annual sum proportionate to its interest in the committee's yearly agenda and the size of its own research budget. The award recommended at present represents the foundation's financial participation in the consortium for Fiscal Year 1988. The award also carries notification of the foundation's intention to make similar contributions to the committee's upkeep in future years, contingent upon satisfactory scientific progress and the availability of funds.