Opportunity Information: Apply for 15 506
Apply for 15 506
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Science, Technology, and Society" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.075 Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 11, 2015 and posted on Oct 17, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 2, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $6,200,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $180,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Who May Submit Proposals Proposals may only be submitted by the following Organization limit varies by the mode of support ul liStandard Research Grants and Grants for Collaborative Research US Academic Institutions and Non Profit Research Organizations./li liScholars Awards and Postdoctoral Fellowships US Academic Institutions and Independent Scholars./li liDoctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants US Academic Institutions./li liConference and Workshop Support No limitations. See NSFs Proposals and Awards Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG), ChapterI, Section Efor categories of proposers eligible to submit proposals to NSF./li /ul See Section II. Program Description for detailed information about each mode of support. Who May Serve as PI PI eligibility limit varies by the mode of support. See Section II. Program Description for detailed information about each mode of support.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Science, Technology, and Society (STS) program (Funding Opportunity No. 15-506) is a discretionary grant opportunity in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category (CFDA 47.075, Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences). It funds research that examines science and engineering not only as technical activities, but as human and institutional ones as well. The program is designed for projects that use historical, philosophical, and social scientific approaches to study how STEM fields develop, how they shape society, and how society in turn shapes them. In practice, this means proposals can focus on the ideas, tools, institutions, cultures, and social relationships that influence scientific and technological work, including in areas connected to medical science.
STS is intentionally broad in the types of topics it supports. Beyond traditional history and philosophy of science and technology, it explicitly welcomes interdisciplinary studies that engage questions of ethics, equity, governance, and public policy when those questions are tightly linked to STEM disciplines. Projects might investigate issues such as responsible innovation, the social impacts of emerging technologies, the governance of scientific expertise, the distribution of benefits and harms across communities, or how standards, infrastructures, and professional norms shape research and engineering outcomes. The unifying feature is that the work should be grounded in STS methods and contribute to understanding STEM as an intellectual, material, and social enterprise.
The program offers multiple "modes of support," and eligibility depends on which mode you apply under. Standard Research Grants and Collaborative Research Grants can be submitted by U.S. academic institutions and nonprofit research organizations. Scholar Awards and Postdoctoral Fellowships can be submitted by U.S. academic institutions and independent scholars. Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grants (DDIGs) may be submitted by U.S. academic institutions. Conference and workshop proposals have no limitations stated in the synopsis, but all proposers must still fit within NSF eligibility rules described in the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG). Who may serve as the principal investigator also varies by support mode, so applicants are expected to confirm PI rules in the program description and the PAPPG. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
Key funding parameters in the listing include an estimated total program funding level of about $6.2 million, with typical award sizes ranging from a floor of $3,000 up to a ceiling of $180,000 (actual budgets and durations can vary by project type and support mechanism). Because this is a program solicitation rather than a single one-time competition, deadlines repeat annually.
The proposal review timeline is described as approximately six months. Proposals are evaluated by ad hoc reviewers chosen for topical expertise and by an advisory panel that meets twice each year. Applicants should plan around this review cycle when targeting start dates, especially if the work is time-sensitive or tied to academic-year scheduling.
There are two annual proposal deadlines for most submission types: February 2 for proposals intended to be funded as early as July, and August 3 for proposals intended to be funded in or after January. The main exception is the Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant track, which has only one deadline each year: August 3. The solicitation encourages prospective applicants who are unsure about fit to contact an STS program officer before submitting, which can be especially useful for interdisciplinary projects that sit between STS and other NSF programs.
For reference and full details, the opportunity is published as NSF Publication 15-506, posted October 17, 2014, created August 11, 2015, and remains archived until September 2, 2028. Applicants who need help accessing the announcement through Grants.gov are directed to NSF Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov, and applicants are expected to follow NSF submission and eligibility guidance in the PAPPG alongside the STS-specific instructions in the program solicitation.
NSF Science, Technology, and Society (STS) Program (NSF 15-506) - FAQs
What is the NSF Science, Technology, and Society (STS) program (NSF 15-506)?
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Science, Technology, and Society (STS) program (Funding Opportunity No. 15-506) is a discretionary grant opportunity in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category (CFDA 47.075, Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences). It supports research that studies science and engineering not only as technical work, but also as human, institutional, and social activity.
What kinds of research does STS fund?
STS funds research that uses historical, philosophical, and social scientific approaches to examine how STEM fields develop, how they shape society, and how society shapes them. Projects can analyze the ideas, tools, institutions, cultures, and social relationships that influence scientific and technological work, including topics connected to medical science.
Does the STS program support interdisciplinary projects?
Yes. The program explicitly welcomes interdisciplinary studies, including work that engages ethics, equity, governance, and public policy, as long as those questions are tightly linked to STEM disciplines and the project is grounded in STS methods.
What are examples of topics that may fit under STS?
The solicitation indicates STS is intentionally broad. Examples of topic areas mentioned include responsible innovation, social impacts of emerging technologies, governance of scientific expertise, how benefits and harms are distributed across communities, and how standards, infrastructures, and professional norms shape research and engineering outcomes.
What is the unifying requirement across STS projects?
The unifying feature is that the proposed work should be grounded in Science, Technology, and Society (STS) methods and contribute to understanding STEM as an intellectual, material, and social enterprise.
What types of support (funding mechanisms) are available under this opportunity?
The program offers multiple modes of support, including Standard Research Grants, Collaborative Research Grants, Scholar Awards, Postdoctoral Fellowships, Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grants (DDIGs), and conference/workshop proposals.
Who is eligible to submit Standard Research Grants and Collaborative Research Grants?
Standard Research Grants and Collaborative Research Grants can be submitted by U.S. academic institutions and nonprofit research organizations.
Who is eligible to submit Scholar Awards and Postdoctoral Fellowships?
Scholar Awards and Postdoctoral Fellowships can be submitted by U.S. academic institutions and independent scholars.
Who is eligible to submit Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grants (DDIGs)?
Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grants (DDIGs) may be submitted by U.S. academic institutions.
Are there any limitations for conference or workshop proposals?
The synopsis does not state limitations for conference and workshop proposals. However, all proposers must still fit within NSF eligibility rules described in the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG).
Can anyone serve as Principal Investigator (PI) on an STS proposal?
PI eligibility varies by the mode of support. Applicants are expected to confirm who may serve as PI using the program description and the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG).
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
How much funding is available through the STS program?
The listing includes an estimated total program funding level of about $6.2 million.
What are typical award sizes for STS grants?
Typical award sizes range from a floor of $3,000 to a ceiling of $180,000. Actual budgets and project durations can vary by project type and support mechanism.
Is this a one-time competition or an ongoing program?
This is a program solicitation rather than a single one-time competition, and deadlines repeat annually.
How long does the NSF review process take for STS proposals?
The proposal review timeline is described as approximately six months.
How are STS proposals reviewed?
Proposals are evaluated by ad hoc reviewers selected for topical expertise and by an advisory panel that meets twice each year.
How should applicants plan around the review cycle?
Applicants are encouraged to plan around the approximately six-month review timeline when targeting project start dates, particularly for time-sensitive work or projects tied to academic-year scheduling.
What are the annual deadlines for STS proposals?
For most submission types, there are two annual proposal deadlines: February 2 and August 3.
What does the February 2 deadline correspond to?
February 2 is for proposals intended to be funded as early as July.
What does the August 3 deadline correspond to?
August 3 is for proposals intended to be funded in or after January.
Is the DDIG deadline different from other STS submission types?
Yes. The Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant (DDIG) track has only one deadline each year: August 3.
Should applicants contact NSF before submitting?
The solicitation encourages prospective applicants who are unsure about fit to contact an STS program officer before submitting. This can be especially useful for interdisciplinary proposals that may sit between STS and other NSF programs.
Where can applicants find the official solicitation and full requirements?
The opportunity is published as NSF Publication 15-506. Applicants are expected to follow NSF submission and eligibility guidance in the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) along with the STS-specific instructions in the program solicitation.
When was this opportunity posted and how long will it remain available?
The opportunity is posted October 17, 2014, created August 11, 2015, and remains archived until September 2, 2028.
Where can applicants get help accessing the opportunity through Grants.gov?
Applicants who need help accessing the announcement through Grants.gov are directed to NSF Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.
What federal program classification details are provided for this opportunity?
The listing identifies this opportunity under CFDA 47.075 (Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences) and categorizes it in Science and Technology and other Research and Development.
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