Program in Science, Technology, and Society STS Division of Social and Economic Sciences SES Directo

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Program in Science, Technology, and Society
(STS)Division of Social and Economic Sciences
(SES)Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and
Economic Sciences (SBE)

• History of Science SocietyAnnual
  MeetingGraduate Student Early Career Group2
  November 2007
• Funding Opportunities forHistorians of Science
• STS Program DirectorsFred Kronz, Steve Zehr,
  Laurel Smith-Doerr

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National Science Foundation
Director Deputy Director
National Science Board
Inspector General
Staff Offices
Computer, Information Science Engineering
Mathematical Physical Sciences
Biological Sciences
Engineering
Geosciences
Social, Behavioral Economic Sciences
Budget, Finance Award Management
Information Resource Management
Education Human Resources
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Division ofSocial and Economic Sciences

• SES is one of three divisions that constitutes
  SBE (the other two are BCS and SRS).
• SES supports research on the intellectual and
  social contexts that govern the development and
  use of science and technology
• SES also support research to develop and advance
  scientific knowledge by focusing on economic,
  legal, political and social systems,
  organizations, and institutions

Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic
Sciences
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Division ofSocial and Economic Sciences

• FY06 Allocations by Program
• Cross-Directorate Activities 4.0M
• Decision, Risk, Management Sciences 6.5M
• Economics 22.0M
• Innovation and Organizational Change 2.0M
• Law and Social Science 4.3M
• Methodology, Measurement Statistics 3.4M
• Political Science 8.0M
• Science, Technology and Society 8.0M
• Sociology 8.0M
• The average increase for FY07 was 6 a similar
  increase is expected for FY08 (the FY begins
  October 1st).

Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic
Sciences
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Science, Technology and Society Program

• STS considers proposals that examine questions
  that arise in the interactions of science,
  technology and society.
• STS has four core areas
• Ethics and Values in Science and Technology
• History and Philosophy of Science and Technology
• Social Studies of Science and Technology
• Studies of Policy in Science and Technology
• The core areas overlap, but are distinguished by
  different scientific and scholarly orientations
  and focuses they take to the subject.
• All STS Proposals are evaluated by an
  interdisciplinary panel.
• Hybrid proposals (involving two or more) core
  areas are encouraged.

Division of Social and Economic Sciences
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Modes of Support in the STS Program

• The STS program has eight modes of support
• Dissertation Research Improvement Grants
• Post-doctoral Fellowships
• Professional Development Fellowships
• Scholars Awards
• Standard Research Grants (Collaborative)
• Small Grants for Training and Research
• Conference and Workshop Awards
• Other Grant Opportunities Associated with SS
• The first seven are characterized more fully in
  the one-page handout, the eighth is characterized
  below.

Division of Social and Economic Sciences
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How to Develop a Proposal

• PREPARATION
• Decide on your long-term research and education
  goals
• Develop your innovative idea
• Survey the literature
• Contact Investigators working on the topic
• Prepare a brief concept paper
• Discuss the project with colleagues/mentors
• Prepare to do the project
• Determine available resources
• Realistically assess needs
• Develop preliminary data
• Present to colleagues/mentors/students

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How to Develop a Proposal

• (B) Activities for Enhancing the Efficacy of
  Proposal Writing
• Peruse NSF Publications
• Program Announcements/Solicitations
• Additional Program Web Pages
• Grant Proposal Guide
• Funded Project Abstracts
• Reports, Special Publications
• Consult with mentors, previous panelists, program
  officers (current former), your institutions
  SRO
• Request copy of successful NSF proposal from PI
• Serve as an ad hoc reviewer for the STS program

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How to Develop a Proposal

• (C) Address NSFs two key review criteria
• The intellectual merit of the proposed activity
• Importance
• Qualifications
• Creativity and originality
• Conception and organization
• Access to resources
• The broader impacts of the proposed activity
• Training
• Diversity
• Infrastructure
• Dissemination/Public Awareness
• Societal Benefits

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How to Develop a Proposal

• (D) Apply for Funding
• Determine possible funding sources
• Understand the ground rules
• Read carefully announcements and instructions
• Determine whether your project fits program scope
  
• Look over prior award abstracts
• Ascertain evaluation procedures and criteria
• Talk with NSF Program Officer
• Coordinate with your institutions SRO

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How to Develop a Proposal

• (E) Carefully craft the proposal budget
• Amounts
• RealisticReasonable for the work to be done
• Well JustifiedNeeds are well established
• AppropriateIn-line with program guidelines
• Eligible costs
• Personnel
• Equipment
• Travel
• Other Direct Costs, Subawards
• Facilities Administrative Costs

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Proposal Process Timeline
Returned as Inappropriate/Withdrawn
Award via DGA
Proposal Processing Unit
NSF Program Officer
Decline
Organization
Proposal received by NSF
Div. Dir. Concur
Award
90 Days
6 months
30 days
DGA Review Processing of Award
Proposal Preparation Time
Review of Proposal P.O. Recommend

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Three Cross-Directorate Activities Related to STS
and of interest to HSS

• Impacts of Biology on Science
• Science of Science and Innovation Policy
• Faculty Early Career Development Program

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Impacts of Biology on Society

• Spans across two directorates SBE and BIO
• Fosters research that specifically addresses the
  interactions of the biological sciences with
  society.
• Considers proposals that fall under one or more
  core areas of STS in the context of biological
  questions.
• Promotes partnerships between biologists and
  philosophers or historians or social scientists
  to address current issues relevant to the impacts
  of biology on society and vice versa.
• For more information, see the Dear Colleague
  Letter at
• http//www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_k
  eynsf06039

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Science of Science and Innovation Policy

• Promotes the development of usable knowledge and
  theories for establishing SSIP as a new science
• Strives to improve and expand science metrics,
  datasets and analytical tools
• Coordinates efforts among federal agencies to
  develop a roadmap for the long-term development
  of science
• Broaden participation in the STEM workforce
• For more information, see the Prospectus at
• http//www.nsf.gov/sbe/scisip/scisip_prospectus.pd
  f

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CAREER Faculty Early Career Development Program

• Recognizes and supports early career-development
  activities of educator-scholars who are most
  likely to become the academic leaders of the 21st
  century.
• Awardees are selected on the basis of creative
  career-development plans that effectively
  integrate research and education in the context
  of the mission of their institution.
• 400K minimum, to be used over a 5 year period
• For more information, see the solicitation NSF
  05-579 at
• http//www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id52
  62

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For More Information Please Contact An STS
Program Director

• Fred Kronz fkronz_at_nsf.gov
• 703-292-7283
• Steve Zehr szehr_at_nsf.gov
• 703-292-7318
• Laurel Smith-Doerr lsmithdo_at_nsf.gov
• 703-292-8543

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The End

• Your questions are most welcome.

Where Discoveries Begin