September 2019

On September 24, Arthur Lupia, assistant director of the Social, Behavioral, and Economic (SBE) Sciences Directorate at the National Science Foundation (NSF), announced the repositioning of certain research programs within the directorate. The changes will be in effect for proposals submitted for deadlines after January 1, 2020.

As noted in Lupia’s announcement, the intent of the repositioning is to respond to new and emerging areas of scientific inquiry, help researchers better connect their work to national priorities, and make the value of basic research in SBE more apparent to stakeholders. While some of the programs are being rebranded, they build upon work from traditionally supported basic research in SBE. Lupia first raised the potential repositioning of programs at the December 2018 SBE Advisory Committee meeting.

The changes to the SBE programs include:

• Resource Implementations for Data Intensive Research will become Human Networks and Data Science.
• The Linguistics program will become Dynamic Language Infrastructure, while continuing a partnership with the National Endowment for the Humanities.
• The former Science of Learning program will morph into  the Science of Learning and Augmented Intelligence.
• Two programs will build off of Political Science – Security and Preparedness and Accountable Institutions and Behavior.
• Law and Science will expand the breadth of the sciences under the previous Law and Social Science program.
• Science of Science: Discovery, Communication, and Impact, builds on the Science of Science and Innovation Policy Program.
• Ethical and Responsible Research builds on the Cultivating Cultures for Ethical STEM Program for helping scientists do work that is more replicable, reproducible, and ethical.
• Science and Technology Studies will build on the previous Science, Technology, and Society Program to support new research on better understanding and improving societal impacts.

Other programs will continue to be supported by the SBE directorate, including Cognitive Neuroscience and Developmental Sciences.

Lupia provided additional information in a preview of the changes and the rationale for the repositioning during a COSSA Headlines webinar earlier in September. SBE will also be hosting webinars and virtual office hours with Lupia to discuss the changes throughout October:

• September 30, 4:00-5:00 pm ET
• October 4, 4:00-5:00 pm ET
• October 9, 3:00-4:00 pm ET
• October 15, 2:00-3:00 pm ET
• October 25, 2:00-3:00 pm ET
• October 25, 4:00-5:00 pm ET