Science and Technology Studies (STS)

Overview

STS research encompasses a wide range of methods and disciplines. Some researchers rely on primary data collected during fieldwork or on existing sources of secondary data. Others use data from historical or governmental archives, while others develop conceptual or social analyses to answer theoretical or ethical questions. STS researchers draw on the resources and methods of a wide range of disciplines, including anthropology, communication studies, economics, history, philosophy, political science, psychology and sociology. They come from an even broader range of fields, in addition to those already mentioned, including the natural and physical sciences, engineering, liberal arts and humanities. The range of STS research is reflected by the primary STS professional societies, including the Society for Social Studies of Science (4S), the Society for the History of Technology (SHOT), the History of Science Society (HSS), the Philosophy of Science Association (PSA), the American Association for the History of Medicine (AAHM), the American Society for Environmental History (ASEH), the Society for Philosophy of Science in Practice (SPSP) and the International Society for the History, Philosophy, and Social Studies of Biology (ISHPSSB). 

STS research seeks to understand how scientific knowledge is produced and sanctioned, and how it is challenged and changes. It examines the theoretical foundations of science, brings to light underlying presuppositions and alternative interpretations, and assesses the reliability of research methods. It investigates how materials, devices and techniques are designed and developed; how and by whom they are diffused, used, adapted and rejected; how they are affected by social and cultural environments; and how they influence quality of life, culture and society. It also considers how socio-cultural values are embedded in science and technology, and how issues of governance and equity evolve with the development and use of scientific knowledge and technological artifacts. In addition, it explores relationships between STEM and fundamental social categories including race and gender, poverty and development, trust and credibility, participation and democracy, health and pathology, risk and uncertainty, globalization and environmental concerns. 

Traditional STS Focus Areas 
The program encourages research that furthers STS as a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary field, including, but by no means limited to the following: 

1. Research on the social organization of scientific work and how this shapes the production of knowledge and its intellectual and social impacts. 
2. Research on the historical, conceptual and methodological foundations of any of the natural, social or engineering sciences including their foundations, origins or place in modern society. 
3. Mixed methods approaches and other approaches that integrate multiple STS perspectives with each other or with innovative approaches from the arts or humanities. 
4. Interdisciplinary projects on topics of broad societal concern that engage in integrative, collaborative research involving at least one STS expert and at least one expert in some other STEM field, with prospective outcomes that serve to advance both fields. 
5. STS projects that contribute to NSF's research-focused Big Ideas, or that contribute to other pertinent initiatives such as Ethical and Responsible Research (ER2), Science of Broadening Participation and ADVANCE.

New Areas of Emphasis for STS

The STS program strongly encourages research that addresses complex socio-technical and techno-scientific problems from multiple perspectives that capture the different social facets of the problem. These social facets may include ethics, policy, governance, justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, race, gender, trust, reliability, risk and uncertainty, sustainability, user-centeredness, and globalization. The goal is to bring different disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives to the problem and thereby make use of a variety of theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches. Some examples of questions that address such problems may include, but are by no means limited to, the following: 

1. How can emerging technologies such as machine learning systems, gene drives or quantum computers be developed and implemented so that they can benefit everyone? How are people interacting with these emerging technologies and how will they affect culture, society and norms? 
2. What are the best approaches for maintaining and developing the built environment while respecting the natural environment as well as local cultures and values? What factors need to be considered to ensure that technologies work well within social and cultural contexts? 
3. How can major technological shifts in energy, algorithm usage, transportation or communication be accomplished in ways that are transparent and consistent with societal values, engage diverse perspectives in all phases of development and benefit broad sectors of society? 
4. How can justice, equity, inclusion and diversity (JEDI) impact STEM and change the practice and quality of STEM research?

STANDARD RESEARCH GRANTS and GRANTS FOR COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH 
Due to budgetary constraints, the Requested Amount will rarely exceed $750,000 including indirect costs. The duration is typically two to three years. Proposals exceeding the suggested time frame or budget must have extraordinary justification and merit for eclipsing the requested guidelines.

SCHOLARS AWARDS
Due to budgetary constraints, the requested amount will rarely exceed $350,000. The duration is usually one year. Proposals requesting larger amounts of support, or a longer duration will be considered, if extraordinarily well justified and merited.

RESEARCH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
Due to budgetary constraints, the Requested Amount will rarely exceed $300,000.

CONFERENCE GRANTS
The requested amount for conferences and workshops is expected to be under $50,000.

DOCTORAL DISSERTATION RESEARCH IMPROVEMENT GRANTS (DDRIGs)
Due to budgetary limitations, the requested amount for DDRIG proposals should not exceed $25,000