Opportunity Information: Apply for 08 553
Apply for 08 553
- 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 Feb 7, 2011 and posted on Mar 4, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 1, 2011 Full Proposal Deadline(s) August 1, Annually. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $9,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $180,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 40 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Organization Limit Proposals may only be submitted by the following Organization limit varies by the mode of support. See Section II. Program Description for detailed information about each mode of support. PI Limit 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 Number 08-553) funds research that investigates how science, engineering, and technology develop in relation to society, and how societal forces, institutions, and values shape (and are shaped by) technical and scientific work. The program is aimed at projects that ask historical, philosophical, sociological, and policy-relevant questions about scientific and technological change, including the ethical and value dimensions that come along with real-world research and innovation. In practical terms, STS supports scholarship that helps explain how knowledge is produced, how expertise is organized, how technological systems affect people and communities, and how decisions about research and innovation are made and justified.
STS is organized into four core components that reflect different scholarly traditions, while still covering overlapping subject matter. Ethics and Values in Science, Engineering and Technology (EVS) focuses on normative questions and responsible practice, such as ethical frameworks, public values, responsible conduct of research, and the moral implications of emerging technologies. History and Philosophy of Science, Engineering and Technology (HPS) supports work that examines scientific and engineering knowledge through historical development and philosophical analysis, including how concepts, methods, and evidence standards change over time. Social Studies of Science, Engineering and Technology (SSS) concentrates on the social organization of science and technology, such as laboratories, professions, communities of practice, institutional incentives, credibility, public trust, and the social dynamics of expertise. Studies of Policy, Science, Engineering and Technology (SPS) addresses policy processes and outcomes connected to science and technology, including governance, regulation, funding systems, innovation policy, risk and uncertainty, and the interaction between technical evidence and public decision-making.
A notable feature of this opportunity is its explicit encouragement of hybrid proposals that integrate two or more of these components. NSF is signaling that proposals do not need to stay in a single lane (for example, purely historical or purely sociological). Instead, applicants can combine approaches, such as linking ethical analysis to policy design, pairing historical case studies with contemporary governance questions, or integrating philosophical arguments with empirical social-science methods. The emphasis is on rigorous scholarship that advances understanding of science and technology in context, rather than treating technical activity as isolated from social life.
The opportunity offers multiple modes of support to match different career stages and project types. These include Scholars Awards; Standard Research Grants and Grants for Collaborative Research (supporting single-investigator or multi-institution team projects); Postdoctoral Fellowships; Professional Development Fellowships; Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (DDRIGs); Small Grants for Training and Research; and Conference and Workshop Awards, along with other funding opportunities described in the program announcement. This range makes STS suitable for everything from individual research projects and dissertation support to field-building activities like workshops that set research agendas or connect communities of scholars.
In terms of funding scale, NSF anticipated about 40 awards under this opportunity, with an estimated total program funding level of $9,000,000. Individual awards generally range from a floor of $3,000 up to a ceiling of $180,000, depending on the specific mode of support and project scope. Cost sharing or matching is listed as required, which means applicants should plan for some level of committed resources consistent with the solicitation requirements and the selected support mechanism.
Key administrative details include that this is a discretionary grant opportunity in the science and technology research and development activity category, associated with CFDA number 47.075 (Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences). The program listed full proposal target dates of February 1 and August 1 on an annual cycle, with a full proposal deadline of August 1 annually. Eligibility is described as varying by the mode of support, including limits on which organizations may submit and who may serve as PI depending on the specific funding mechanism; applicants are directed to the detailed eligibility language in Section II of the program description in NSF Publication 08-553.
For applicants needing help accessing the announcement or submitting through Grants.gov, the listing points to NSF Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov. The full solicitation is referenced as NSF Publication 08-553, which is where applicants would find the detailed requirements for proposal preparation, allowable costs, review criteria, and the specific expectations tied to each STS support track.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - NSF Science, Technology, and Society (STS) Program (Funding Opportunity Number 08-553)
1) What is the NSF Science, Technology, and Society (STS) program?
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Science, Technology, and Society (STS) program (Funding Opportunity Number 08-553) supports research that examines how science, engineering, and technology develop in relation to society, and how societal forces, institutions, and values shape (and are shaped by) scientific and technical work.
2) What kinds of research questions does STS fund?
STS funds research that asks historical, philosophical, sociological, and policy-relevant questions about scientific and technological change. The program also emphasizes the ethical and value dimensions that accompany real-world research and innovation, including how knowledge is produced, how expertise is organized, how technological systems affect people and communities, and how decisions about research and innovation are made and justified.
3) What are the four core components (areas) within STS?
STS is organized into four core components:
- Ethics and Values in Science, Engineering and Technology (EVS): normative questions, responsible practice, ethical frameworks, public values, responsible conduct of research, and moral implications of emerging technologies.
- History and Philosophy of Science, Engineering and Technology (HPS): historical development and philosophical analysis of scientific/engineering knowledge, including changes in concepts, methods, and evidence standards over time.
- Social Studies of Science, Engineering and Technology (SSS): social organization of science and technology, including laboratories, professions, communities of practice, institutional incentives, credibility, public trust, and social dynamics of expertise.
- Studies of Policy, Science, Engineering and Technology (SPS): policy processes and outcomes related to science and technology, such as governance, regulation, funding systems, innovation policy, risk and uncertainty, and how technical evidence interacts with public decision-making.
4) Does STS allow interdisciplinary or mixed-method proposals?
Yes. A notable feature of this opportunity is that NSF explicitly encourages hybrid proposals that integrate two or more of the four components. Proposals are not expected to stay within a single approach (for example, purely historical or purely sociological). The program highlights combinations such as ethical analysis linked to policy design, historical case studies connected to contemporary governance, or philosophical arguments integrated with empirical social-science methods.
5) What is the overall emphasis of the STS program?
The emphasis is on rigorous scholarship that advances understanding of science and technology in context, rather than treating technical activity as isolated from social life.
6) What types (modes) of funding or support are available through STS?
The program offers multiple modes of support, including:
- Scholars Awards
- Standard Research Grants and Grants for Collaborative Research (single-investigator or multi-institution team projects)
- Postdoctoral Fellowships
- Professional Development Fellowships
- Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (DDRIGs)
- Small Grants for Training and Research
- Conference and Workshop Awards
- Other funding opportunities described in the program announcement
7) Who is this STS opportunity meant to support?
Based on the listed support mechanisms, STS is positioned to support a range of career stages and project types, including individual research projects, multi-institution collaborations, dissertation-related research improvement, postdoctoral work, professional development, and community or field-building activities such as conferences and workshops.
8) How many awards does NSF expect to make under this opportunity?
NSF anticipated about 40 awards under this STS opportunity.
9) What is the estimated total funding level for the program?
The estimated total program funding level is $9,000,000.
10) What is the typical award size range?
Individual awards generally range from $3,000 (floor) up to $180,000 (ceiling), depending on the specific mode of support and the project scope.
11) Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. Cost sharing or matching is listed as required, so applicants should plan for committed resources consistent with the solicitation requirements and the selected support mechanism.
12) What kind of grant is this (administrative category)?
This is described as a discretionary grant opportunity in the science and technology research and development activity category.
13) What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 47.075 (Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences).
14) What are the proposal dates and deadlines mentioned for STS?
The listing indicates full proposal target dates of February 1 and August 1 on an annual cycle, and also notes a full proposal deadline of August 1 annually.
15) Are applicants required to apply within only one STS component (EVS, HPS, SSS, SPS)?
No. The opportunity explicitly encourages proposals that integrate two or more components, so applicants can design projects that cross these areas when it strengthens the scholarship and research design.
16) Are collaborative or multi-institution projects supported?
Yes. The opportunity includes Standard Research Grants and Grants for Collaborative Research, which are described as supporting single-investigator projects as well as multi-institution team projects.
17) Does STS support conferences and workshops?
Yes. Conference and Workshop Awards are listed among the supported modes, including activities that can help set research agendas or connect communities of scholars.
18) Does this program support dissertation-related funding?
Yes. Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (DDRIGs) are included as one of the support mechanisms.
19) Does STS offer opportunities specifically for postdoctoral researchers?
Yes. Postdoctoral Fellowships are listed as one of the available modes of support.
20) Does STS include professional development support?
Yes. Professional Development Fellowships are specifically listed among the available support mechanisms.
21) What does NSF say about where to find detailed requirements (proposal preparation, allowable costs, review criteria)?
The full solicitation is referenced as NSF Publication 08-553. That publication is where applicants are directed to find detailed requirements for proposal preparation, allowable costs, review criteria, and specific expectations tied to each STS support track.
22) What does eligibility depend on for this STS opportunity?
Eligibility varies by the mode of support. The listing notes that there may be limits on which organizations may submit and who may serve as PI depending on the specific funding mechanism, and it directs applicants to the detailed eligibility language in Section II of NSF Publication 08-553.
23) Where can applicants get help with accessing the announcement or submitting through Grants.gov?
For help with accessing the announcement or submitting through Grants.gov, the listing points to NSF Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.
24) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this STS program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is 08-553.
25) What is the NSF publication number referenced for the full solicitation?
The full solicitation is referenced as NSF Publication 08-553.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (08 553) also looked into and applied for these:
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| Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program Apply for 08 557 Funding Number: 08 557 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grants in the Directorate for Biological Sciences Apply for 08 564 Funding Number: 08 564 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $15,000 |
| Expeditions in Computing Apply for 08 568 Funding Number: 08 568 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Information and Intelligent Systems (IIS) Core Programs Apply for 08 575 Funding Number: 08 575 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Talent Expansion Program Apply for 08 569 Funding Number: 08 569 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| Computer and Network Systems (CNS) Core Programs Apply for 08 576 Funding Number: 08 576 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowships Apply for 08 581 Funding Number: 08 581 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| CISE Cross Cutting Programs FY 2009 and FY 2010 Apply for 08 578 Funding Number: 08 578 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| NSF/DOE Partnership in Basic Plasma Science and Engineering Apply for 08 589 Funding Number: 08 589 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Research and Evaluation on Education in Science and Engineering Apply for 08 585 Funding Number: 08 585 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Partnerships for Innovation Apply for 08 583 Funding Number: 08 583 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| Discovery Research K 12 Apply for 08 609 Funding Number: 08 609 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Science of Science and Innovation Policy Apply for 08 586 Funding Number: 08 586 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Ecology of Infectious Diseases Apply for 08 601 Funding Number: 08 601 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $2,500,000 |
| Cyber Physical Systems Apply for 08 611 Funding Number: 08 611 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $5,000,000 |
| Research Initiation Grants to Broaden Participation in Biology Apply for 09 501 Funding Number: 09 501 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $200,000 |
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