The Science of Science:Discovery, Communication, and Impact (SoS:DCI) program is designed to increase the public value of scientific activity.
The program pursues this goal by supporting basic research in three fundamental areas:
How to increase the rate of socially beneficial discovery; How
to improve science communication outcomes; and How to expand the societal benefits of scientific activity.
The SoS:DCI program, which builds upon the formerScience of Science & Innovation Policy (SciSIP)program, funds research that builds theoretical and empirical understandings of these three areas.
With this goal in mind, proposals should:
Develop data, models, indicators, and associated analytical tools that constitute and enable transformative advances rather than incremental change.
Identify ethical challenges and mitigate potential risks to people and institutions.
Provide credible metrics and rigorous assessments of their proposed project’s impact.
Include robust data management plans with the goal to increase the usability, validity, and reliability of scientific materials.
See PAPPG Chapter II.C.
2. j and Data Management for NSF SBE Directorate Proposals and Awards for additional information (https://www.nsf.gov/sbe/DMP/SBE_DataMgmtPlanPolicy_RevisedApril201 8. pdf).
The SoS:DCI program places a high priority on broadening participation.
It encourages leadership from junior faculty, women, members of historically underrepresented groups, and proposals from Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), Research Undergraduate Institutions (RUIs), and EPSCoR states.
Of particular interestare proposals that have the highest potential to strengthen America’s global leadership in science and increase national competitiveness across a broad range of domains.
These include proposals that analyze strategies for strengthening and diversifying the scientific workforce, as well as ways to more effectively cultivate high-impact discovery across sectors.
The program strongly encourages convergent research and collaboration.
RAPIDs and EAGERsSoS:DCI supports small grants that are time-critical and small grants that are high-risk and of a potentially transformative nature.
See Chapter II.E.1 and Chapter II.E.2of the NSFProposal and Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 19-1)(https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=papp) for guidance on submitting Grants for Rapid Response Research (RAPID) and EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) proposals.
Research Advanced by Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering (RAISE)SoS:DCI supports interdisciplinary projects whose scientific advances lie in great part outside the scope of a single program or discipline, such that substantial funding support from more than one program or discipline is necessary.
See Chapter II.E.3of the NSFProposal and Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 19-1)(https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=papp) for guidance on submitting a RAISE proposal.
Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI)SoS:DCI supports collaboration between academic research institutions and industry.
SeeChapter II.E.4of the NSFProposal and Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 19-1)(https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=papp) for guidance on submitting a GOALI proposal.
ConferencesSoS:DCIfunds conferences and interdisciplinary research activities that strengthenunderstanding and dissemination of the research topic among the social and behavioral sciences, policy community and the larger scientific community.
See Chapter II.E.7 of the NSF Proposal and Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 19-1) (https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=papp) for guidance on submitting Conference proposals.
Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (DDRIGs)The Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants funding opportunity is designed to improve the quality of dissertation research.
DDRIG awards provide funds for items not normally available through the student's university such as enabling doctoral students to undertake significant data-gathering projects and to conduct field research in settings away from their campus.
For program specific guidelines and submission instructions on the Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grants (DDRIGs) in SoS:DCI, please review the SoS:DCI DDRIG solicitation which may be accessed via theSoS:DCI DDRIG web site.