DESIGN A WEBSITE FOR THE NATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COMMISSION AND DEVELOP A WEB BASED INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR RESEARCH GRANTS OF THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Abstract

The software project undertaken had two components. The first was to design a new website for the National Science and Technology Commission (NASTEC) and the second was to develop a web based information system for improving the research grant award scheme of the National Science Foundation (NSF). The NASTEC website provides information to the general public on activities of the organization and access to various science and technology policy related documents and recommendations of the Commission. It was developed a year ago but because of lack of qualified staff at NASTEC, has not been updated regularly. And the existing web site was inadequate and lacks appearance and presentation. The main purpose of the project was to update and design a new website to improve its presentation. Therefore a new website was developed to overcome the drawbacks of the existing web site of NASTEC. One of the major functions of the National Science Foundation (NSF) is the awarding of research grants to scientists in research and development institutions. The information related to research grants was handled using a computer-based system. But it was incomplete and does not provide adequate information to the grantee, since it was being accessed and maintained by the scientific staff of the NSF. It would be desirable that the grantee has access to information related to his/her own grant, including information related to deadlines for progress reports, account balance etc. The present database holds limited information and a more user friendly database would be desirable. An information system was developed to meet all the requirements of research grants of NSF. An authorized person holding a research grant of the NSF would be given access to the system through the internet. He/she would be able to monitor the progress of the grant which will include the scientific as well as financial progress.