NSF 25-505: Build and Broaden: Enhancing Social, Behavioral and Economic Science Research and Capacity at Minority-Serving Institutions

Overview:

Build and Broaden (B2) supports fundamental research and research capacity across disciplines at minority-serving institutions (MSIs) and encourages research collaborations with scholars at MSIs. Growing the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workforce is a national priority. National forecasts of the impending shortage of workers with science and engineering skills and essential research workers underscore a need to expand opportunities to participate in STEM research ( President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, 2012).

The Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE) supports research in many areas associated with our evolving world, including fundamental research on human behavior and surrounding social, economic and natural environments. Research supported in SBE advances the understanding of people, social organizations and society in a changing world where there are increasing new opportunities for interconnectedness as well as challenges that affect the ability to live dignified, healthy and productive lives.

Minority-serving institutions (MSIs) play a critical role in educating millions of Americans. They provide a vehicle for educational attainment, social mobility, and promote higher education for both rural and urban communities. MSIs thus enable millions of students from a variety of backgrounds to participate in STEM fields. 

Program Description
The goal of the SBE B2 funding opportunity is to encourage submission of proposals from MSIs, and partnerships with and among MSIs, in order to advance fundamental research and build capacity in the SBE sciences. NSF’s SBE directorate welcomes submission of proposals from MSIs, and from partnerships that include MSIs, that address any of the research areas supported by the directorate.

B2 is designed to support research projects that:
•    Contribute to stronger, more innovative science by diversifying research and widening the STEM pipeline.
•    Furthers intellectual innovation in the social and behavioral sciences.
•    Provide researchers with new ways to diversify and sustain collaborations.
•    Build capacity and enhance research productivity in the SBE sciences at MSIs.
•    Foster partnerships that strengthen career and research trajectories for faculty at MSIs.

Supported projects are expected to yield results that will promote scientific progress; advance national health, prosperity and welfare; strengthen collaborative research initiatives involving MSI scholars and MSI institutions; and establish more robust training and research networks among researchers in the SBE sciences and across other disciplines that have similar interests.

Proposals from Principal Investigators who are not affiliated with MSIs must partner with senior/key personnel, a co-PI or a sub-awardee PI who is based at an MSI. In these cases, PIs must describe how their project will foster partnerships or research capacity-building with at least one MSI.

In addition to standard research and collaborative research proposals that advance research and build capacity for investigators at MSIs, the B2 Program also invites conference proposals, Early-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) proposals) and Research Coordination Network (RCN) proposals.

NSF's Social, Behavioral and Economic (SBE) Sciences Directorate Replaces: NSF 22-638
Award Information
Estimated Number of Awards: 25 to 30
Anticipated Funding Amount: $8,000,000  
Estimated program budget, number of awards and average award size/duration are subject to the availability of funds and quality of proposals.
Due Dates: Full Proposal Target Date(s): January 23, 2025; January 15, 2026 (and the Third Thursday in January, Annually Thereafter)

Solicitation limitations:

An individual may be the principal investigator (PI) or co-PI for only one proposal for this program; i.e., no investigator, PI or co-PI, can be listed on the NSF proposal cover sheet on more than one proposal to the Build and Broaden Program per year. 

U.S. Embassy to the United Kingdom PAS Annual Program Statement

Overview:

The U.S. Embassy to the United Kingdom’s Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) is pleased to announce the launch of its annual Public Diplomacy grants program. PDS manages the U.S. Embassy & Consulates in the United Kingdom’s grants program. We invite proposals from the following entities for projects that strengthen bilateral ties between the United States and the United Kingdom.

All programs must promote at least one U.S. Embassy priority program area (listed below) and Include a U.S. element or connection. This should be highlighted in your proposal. Programs can include U.S. experts, organizations, or institutions in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policies and perspectives. 

Examples of grants program projects include, but are not limited to:
• Academic and professional lectures, seminars, and speaker programs.
• Artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions.
• Professional and academic exchanges and projects.
• Professional development workshops and training.

All proposed programs must include a public-facing element, targeting audiences across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, with special consideration for youth audiences aged 18-35 and regions outside of London.

Priority Program Areas
Democracy and Shared Values: Activities that promote the U.S.-UK bilateral relationship and build people-to-people ties.
•    Special attention will be given to projects that commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence; promote our shared values between the U.S. and the UK, including our commitment to democracy and human rights, women’s empowerment, and equity and inclusion to support underserved communities.

Global Challenges: Activities that build public support for the U.S.-UK alliance and U.S. foreign policy priorities related to shared national security challenges; and/or address transnational challenges such as mis- and disinformation from hostile actors; and/or projects that promote peaceful dialogue and counter-radicalization, and equity and social justice.
•    Special attention will be given to projects focused on countering mis/disinformation; bolstering support for Ukraine; raising awareness around PRC interventionist activities; and promoting peace and prosperity in Northern Ireland.

Climate Change, Science, and Technology: Activities that build awareness, action and cooperation on global priorities including climate/environment, sustainability, cybersecurity, entrepreneurship, STEAM, and/or improve the connections between U.S. and UK businesses. Special attention will be given to projects that:
•    Advance collaboration on the safe and responsible use of AI; promote climate-smart policies and infrastructure to support green growth and transatlantic security; and support women and girls in developing STEAM skills.
 

Length of Performance Period:1 to 12 months
Participants and Audience Reach: All applicants for awards must specify the program’s target audience (noting any emphasis on diverse audiences) and estimate the expected audience reach through direct contact and, if possible, through indirect contact (via social media or traditional media). Proposals must include evaluation measures for analysis of impact.

Solicitation limitations:

Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding.

DCL: Strengthening the Evidence Base Related to Broadening the Participation of LGBTQI+ Individuals in STEM

Overview:

This Dear Colleague Letter encourages proposals for activities that inform and support efforts to increase the participation, inclusion and well-being of all, to include LGBTQI+ individuals in STEM to promote a diverse and innovative science and engineering workforce.

This DCL aims to advance NSF’s Vision of a "nation that leads the world in science and engineering research and innovation, to the benefit of all, without barriers to participation"

This DCL encourages four proposal types:

1. Proposals for fundamental, use-inspired, and/or translational research and/or research syntheses. 
2. Proposals to design and deliver new conferences, colloquia, and workshops focused on research that advances education and workforce development activities related to building and/or applying the evidence base related to SOGI.
3. Group travel proposals to support participation in existing or planned meetings and conferences aligned with the goals of this DCL.
4. Proposals to fund activities aligned with the goals of this DCL and associated with increasing access, engagement, inclusion, and/or belonging in STEM research, workforce development, and education.

There is no deadline associated with the DCL. Proposals pursuant to the DCL will be submitted to existing NSF programs, and will need to follow the deadlines and other conditions associated with those programs. 

When developing proposals submitted in response to this DCL, proposers are strongly encouraged to integrate evidence related to factors affecting the participation of LGBTQI+ individuals in STEM.

Clif Family Foundation Grants

Overview:

The Clif Family Foundation is an organization we started in 2006 to support small-to-midsize grassroots groups led by people whose vision and commitment we deeply admire. We have been proud to support hundreds of organizations that are working tirelessly to strengthen our food system, enhance equitable community health outcomes, and protect the places we play by being stewards of our environment and natural resources. Our desire has been to leave the world a better place for our children.  

Priorities

• Regenerative and Organic Farming: Accelerate the adoption of regenerative farming practices, including organic, climate-resilient, equitable, and agroecological approaches.  
• Food Production Workers’ Health and Safety: Amplify efforts to secure healthy, safe, just, and empowering working and living conditions for food production workers.  
• Healthy Food Access: Advance food systems’ changes that make healthy and sustainably produced food accessible, affordable, and culturally appropriate.  
• Inclusive Outdoors Access: Catalyze solutions that expand access to safe places to enable healthy physical activity and improve mental health.  
• Climate Justice: Expand community resilience efforts that prevent or mitigate climate change and accelerate climate justice.  
• Indoors and Outdoors Safe from Pollution: Promote preventative health approaches by identifying and eliminating toxics from our air, water, soil, and human-made materials. 

Clif Family Foundation currently offers two types of grants: Open Call and By Invitation Only.

Open Call Grants
These grants support general operating cost or specific projects and applicants must be registered as (or fiscally sponsored by) a 501(c)3 organization. 

Priority is given to applicants that:

• Advance our strategic priorities and align with our values
• Focus their work primarily in the United States and its organized incorporated territories 
• Demonstrate strong community ties 
• Have operating budgets under $3MM 
• Operate at the grassroots level to implement change at the local, state or national stage

By Invitation Only Grants:
Our By Invitation Only (BIO) grants support nonprofit organizations in the U.S. working on critical issues that are aligned with the Clif Family Foundation’s strategic priorities and values. 
There are two main programs for BIO grants: 

• Food Systems Transformation, focused on:
  Farmworker Justice, Health and Safety 
  Increased Access to Good Food (i.e., healthy and equitably/regeneratively produced food) for disadvantaged communities
  Organic and Regenerative Farming, emphasizing human/social and equity dimensions
• Climate Justice, focused on:
  A Resilient Built Environment: helping communities secure climate- ready structures—places that are safe, affordable, healthy and carbon positive
  Economic Justice: enabling solutions to come from, benefit, and create jobs in disadvantaged communities including community ownership of energy systems, and community-stewarded lands
  A More Powerful Climate Movement: helping grow from the bottom up a more effective movement that ensures this moment of unprecedented federal climate support reaches disadvantaged communities

The Foundation reviews applications twice a year;
Deadlines are March 1 and August 1.

Grant announcements occur approximately four months after the deadline. Typical grants range from $5,000 - $50,000 and last for one year.
 

The Comerica Charitable Foundation Grants

Overview:

The Comerica Charitable Foundation funds programs and/or projects by partnering with community organizations through event sponsorships. This allows us to demonstrate our support of these important community organizations.

Comerica's Giving Focus
All funding requests must be in alignment with one, or more of our giving priorities, which include:

1. Education for low-and moderate-income (LMI) individuals and families, including programs that support:

a. Financial education (Pre-K through 12th grade and adult);
b. Business-focused and STEM-related education; and
c. College scholarships for business, finance and STEM-related fields.

2. Economic/community development support for programs that promote and enhance opportunities for LMI families and communities through:

a. Economic self-sufficiency;
b. Job creation, training, readiness and retention;
c. Neighborhood/community revitalization and business development;
d. Small business training and development; and
e. Affordable housing advocacy and development.

3. Human services programs that enhance and protect the health and well-being of LMI individuals and families, including:

a. Transitional and supportive services and housing; and
b. Feeding the hungry/food access.

4. Equity programs that identify, invest and partner with the community to serve and promote scalable and sustainable strategies addressing systemic racism, social injustice, and the improvement of societal well-being:

a. Education & Opportunity

* Closing the Digital Divide – Advancing representation in the technology industry
* Support of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) & Hispanic Supporting Institutions (HSIs)
* PreK-12 education

b. Economic Empowerment

* Fair Chance Hiring
* Supplier Diversity
* Workforce Development

c. Social Justice

* Workforce Advocacy

Solicitation limitations:

The Comerica Charitable Foundation ONLY accepts grant proposals online by invitation and has four grant seasons during which charitable organizations may request support.

Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Program (S-STEM)

Overview:

The S-STEM program provides institutions of higher education (IHEs) with funds for scholarships to encourage and enable domestic low-income students with academic ability, talent or potential and demonstrated financial need to enter the U.S. workforce following completion of associate, baccalaureate, or graduate degrees in S-STEM eligible disciplines. To enable social mobility of these students with academic talent, funds should be allocated to support scholars in areas of regional or national need. Funds also enable IHEs to establish a coherent ecosystem of effective evidence-based practices (curricular and co-curricular activities taking place during the academic year and over the summer and winter break months if appropriate) and to assess the effects of those practices and other factors on retention, student success, academic/career pathways, and degree attainment, including transfer, and entry into the U.S. workforce or graduate programs in STEM. See Section II.B.2 for details on some common elements of all Track 1, 2 and 3 proposals and Section V.A.11 for additional details on required supplementary documents.

S-STEM awards in Tracks 1, 2 and 3 facilitate the establishment of infrastructure and collaborations to: (1) provide scholarships to domestic low income academically promising students with demonstrated financial need pursuing a degree in one of the S-STEM eligible disciplines; (2) adapt and implement evidence-based curricular and co-curricular activities to support NSF S-STEM scholars; (3) increase retention, student success, and graduation of these low-income students in STEM; (4) test strategies for systematically supporting student academic and career pathways in STEM in ways that are congruent with the institutional context and resources; and (5) disseminate findings on what works related to the supports and interventions undertaken by the project, in particular to other institutions working to support low-income STEM students.

In addition to providing funds for scholarships, the S-STEM program also supports the implementation and testing of an ensemble of existing effective evidence-based curricular and co-curricular activities featuring: (1) close involvement of faculty in S-STEM eligible disciplines, (2) one-on-one mentoring for students, (3) provisions and adaptation of activities that support student success, including the formation of student cohorts and other effective practices (e.g., student support services; professional and workforce development activities), (4) covering of academic expenses that become barriers for success for low-income students (e.g., graduation fees, standardize testing fees, graduate school application fees, etc.)

Proposals with a strong focus on workforce development are encouraged to partner with business, industry, local community organizations, national labs, or other federal or state government organizations to provide appropriate opportunities to scholars, including but not limited to internships, research and service-learning activities and other opportunities above and beyond the financial support provided through scholarships.

[For description of the three Program Tracks, see sponsor's full Funding Announcement.]

Award Information

• Anticipated Funding Amount: $80,000,000 to $120,000,000
• Awards for Track 1 (Institutional Capacity Building) projects may not exceed $1,000,000 total for a maximum duration of 6 years.
• Awards for Track 2 (Implementation: Single Institution) projects may not exceed $2,000,000 total for a maximum duration of 6 years.
• Awards for Track 3 (Inter-institutional Consortia) projects may not exceed $5,000,000 total for a maximum duration of 6 years.
• Collaborative Planning projects may not exceed $100,000 for a maximum duration of 1 year.

Solicitation limitations:

Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization: 2

An institution may submit up to two proposals (either as a single institution or as a subawardee or a member of an inter-institutional consortia project (lead or co-lead) for a given S-STEM deadline. Multiple proposals from an institution must not overlap with regard to S-STEM eligible disciplines.

Institutions with a current S-STEM award should wait at least until the end of the third year of execution of their current award before submitting a new S-STEM proposal focused on students pursuing degrees in the same discipline(s).

The above restrictions do not apply to collaborative planning grant proposals.

Addressing Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Human-Animal Interaction

Overview:

The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) is issuing a call for research proposals from institutions and organizations across the globe to investigate the health outcomes of pet ownership and/or animal-assisted interventions (AAI), both for the people and the animals involved. Proposals should have a strong theoretical framework and focus on innovative approaches to studying the positive effects of companion animals on human health.

HABRI is interested in funding a wide range of studies focused on the human-animal bond.

Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:
• Studies investigating the vital role of pet ownership for the health and well-being of people, pets, and communities.
• Broadly generalizable human-animal bond studies impacting large populations in the categories of child health and development, healthy aging, mental health, and physical health.
• The human health impacts of animal-assisted interventions, including in professional practice, volunteer programs, and educational contexts, and research that refines or informs best practices to improve health outcomes and quality of life for the humans and animals involved.
• Studies that are translational in that at least one aim is to produce actionable advice, guidelines, and recommendations for policymakers as it relates to supporting pet owners, the human-animal bond and/or human-animal interactions.
• Studies that are translational in that at least one aim is to produce actionable advice, guidelines, and recommendations for veterinarians and other pet care professionals, pet owners and/or those interested in acquiring a pet.
• Studies with clinical implications for human health practitioners or studies with at least one aim to produce actionable advice, guidelines, and recommendations for human health practitioners working with and/or supporting pet owners, the human-animal bond and/or animal-assisted interventions.
• How companion animal ownership and/or interaction helps address those impacted by public health and social crises, such as generalized anxiety and stress; social isolation and loneliness; suicide, addiction, and substance abuse; access to social service and housing; trauma and/or post-traumatic stress; obesity and physical activity; and cardiovascular health.
• The role of pets in supporting the health and wellbeing of people from diverse backgrounds or underrepresented or minoritized populations.
• The role of the human-animal bond in veterinary medicine, including its impact on access to care, compliance and quality of care, and veterinary team wellbeing. Studies that explore the role of veterinarians and animal health professionals in human-animal bond research are also of interest.
• The bond between humans and a wide variety of pet species which may include (but are not limited to) dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, small mammals, horses and fish.
• International perspectives of the human-animal bond, investigating the health outcomes of pet ownership and/or AAI in countries, communities, and cultures, including those that are under-represented in current literature.

Evaluation will be based on rigor of study design and methods, potential for significant impact on future practices related to the understanding or treatment of mental and physical health conditions, capabilities of investigators, adequacy of facilities, cost-effective yet realistic budget, and for potential contribution to the scientific field of human-animal interaction (HAI), and relevance to HABRI’s mission.

Adherence to the highest standards of human and animal care and welfare is essential, and studies that also measure the welfare of the animals involved are important to HABRI’s mission of supporting the mutual health benefits of the human-animal bond. All funded studies must undergo Institutional Review Board (IRB) and/or Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) review and approval, and all animals participating in funded studies must be under the care of a veterinarian. No invasive procedures will be funded.

HABRI Webinar linked here: https://habri.org/grants/funding-opportunities/#webinar

Award Information: While there is no budget cap, HABRI awards an average of 5-6 projects each year with project costs averaging approximately $49,000 per project and an average duration of about 20 months

Youth Cyber Awareness and Cyber Safety

Overview:

 U.S. Mission to Argentina: PAS invites academic, cultural, educational and non-profit organizations, as well as individuals, to submit proposals that strictly adhere to the priority areas of interest of the US Embassy in Argentina detailed below. 

The Office of Public Affairs of the United States Embassy in Argentina (PAS) announces the Public Diplomacy Annual Grants Fund. This announcement describes our funding priorities, strategic themes, and procedures for submitting funding requests. 

All awards must include a U.S. element or a clear, explicit connection with experts, organizations, or institutions from the United States in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy, values, and perspectives. 

Priority Region: Project activities must take place or be initiated in Argentina and be directed towards Argentinian audiences/participants. Priority will be given to projects taking place in underserved, marginalized areas.
Interested parties may apply to either one or the two activities. For each activity, the minimum application shall be in the amount of $20,000 and the maximum shall be $30,000. Organizations willing to apply for the two activities will do so for a minimum budget of $40,000 and a maximum of $60,000.

1. Comprehensive Youth Cyber Awareness and Safety Messaging Campaign with Influencers: 
This campaign will be aimed at addressing key cybersecurity risks faced by youth in Argentina. The campaign will cover a range of issues, including youth cyber hygiene, combatting disinformation, promoting an inclusive cybersecurity workforce, and countering underage online gambling. With the increasing use of digital platforms and the growing influence of online influencers, young people are exposed to various digital threats.

This campaign will partner with selected influencers to raise awareness and provide practical solutions on safe online behavior, responsible media consumption, and opportunities for young women to enter the cybersecurity field. The campaign shall promote inclusive messages that emphasize cyber hygiene, the fight against disinformation, and career development in cybersecurity. 

Activities shall include:

• Collaboration with influencers to develop and disseminate content on cyber hygiene, recognizing disinformation, career opportunities in cybersecurity, and the risks associated with underage online gambling.

• Social media campaign across platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and Argentine streaming media. Content shall cover various aspects of online safety, including cyber hygiene practices, disinformation awareness, and opportunities for women in cybersecurity. 

• Creation and distribution of videos, infographics, and articles that provide practical tips on online behavior, identifying disinformation, and understanding cybersecurity as a career option, especially for women. This will include specific content focused on recognizing the risks of online gambling. 

• Partnerships with local universities and binational centers across Argentina to integrate campaign messages into digital literacy and STEM programs, emphasizing the need for inclusive participation in the cybersecurity workforce and fostering resilience against online threats, including disinformation and underage gambling.

2. Tech Forum on Cybersecurity: 
The event shall bring together key stakeholders, including media, academia, influencers, and civil society, to raise awareness about cybersecurity and to drive action and national level advocacy efforts toward protecting vulnerable systems, media ecosystems, infrastructure, and other vital networks in the region. The Tech Forum will equip participants with the knowledge and tools needed to advocate for cybersecurity improvements, foster regional cooperation, promote cybersecurity hygiene, address critical vulnerabilities, and engage in practical problem-solving through a hackathon. 

Activities shall include:
•    Discussions led by cybersecurity experts, focusing on the latest threats, best practices, and tools for improving cybersecurity.
•    Organization of panels with representatives from government agencies, the private sector, and civil society to discuss regional cybersecurity cooperation.
•    Hands-on instruction for participants on cybersecurity hygiene, including techniques to protect against phishing, malware, and other common threats.
•    Facilitate a hackathon where teams work together to create and present solutions to specific cybersecurity challenges, with a focus on practical application and regional relevance, culminating with one-time incubation grants for successful solutions.

Promoting Educational Attainment and Economic Mobility among Racially, Ethnically, and Economically Diverse Groups after the 2023 Supreme Court Decision to Ban Race-Conscious Admissions at Colleges and Universities

Overview:

The initiative focuses on ways to promote educational attainment and economic mobility among racially, ethnically, and economically diverse groups following the court’s ruling that the declared that use of race-conscious admissions policies violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment and was, therefore, unconstitutional.

In a June 2023 decision, the Supreme Court held that admission practices at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina-Chapel-Hill were unconstitutionally race-conscious and violated the 14th Amendment. Proponents of race-conscious admissions policies have argued that such policies acknowledge and help compensate for systemically unequal opportunities in education and contribute to a more diverse workforce. Critics have argued that race-conscious admissions policies limit opportunities for Asian and white applicants. The Court’s decision may also have effects on employment and promotion decisions in the workplace and other settings.

Prior to this decision, ten states had banned the use of race-conscious admissions for their public colleges and universities: Arizona, California, Florida, Idaho, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Texas, and Washington. Research on alternative methods for achieving diversity suggests that they do not work as well as race-conscious policies in diversifying college and graduate and professional school enrollment. As a result, the Supreme Court’s decision is likely to generate experimentation with a range of methods to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education and the educational attainment and economic mobility of underrepresented and lower-income groups.

A brief letter of inquiry (LOI; four-page maximum excluding references) must precede a full proposal to determine whether the proposed project is in line with the Foundation’s program priorities and available funds. All applications must be submitted through the Foundation’s online submission system, Fluxx, received by October 29, 2024.

We are especially interested in proposals that will advance social science research on the social, political, and economic effects of the Supreme Court decision and the future of race-conscious policies more generally. Examples of the kinds of topics and questions that are of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• What are the short- and long-run effects of the June 2023 Supreme Court ruling that restricts race-conscious policies in university and college admissions on who attends college and where?
• What has experience with the direct admissions or percentage plans of California, Texas, and other states revealed about what happens to racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity in enrollment and degree completion when race-conscious admission policies are no longer permissible for undergraduates or graduate students?
• Which alternatives to race-conscious policies, whether independently or in tandem, generate socioeconomic and racial and ethnic diversity in applications, admissions, enrollment, debt-free degree completion, and social mobility?
• To what extent are the beneficiaries of race-conscious admissions policies, who enroll in selective colleges and universities, more or less likely to graduate relative to those attending less-selective institutions?
• To what extent do race-neutral or alternative admissions policies contribute to the promotion of educational attainment and economic mobility among racially, ethnically, and economically diverse groups following the Supreme Court decision?
• What are the racial and socioeconomic composition effects of eliminating other admission practices such as early admissions, the use of standardized test scores, or the preferential treatment of the children of donors, alumni, faculty, and recruited athletes?
• To what extent will the race-conscious admissions ban impact the effort that high school students put into their studies, their educational aspirations, and their subsequent enrollment in higher education?
• What are the educational, social, and civic engagement benefits that derive from students’ interactions with classmates whose backgrounds, race and ethnicity, experiences, and political views differ from their own?
• What can we learn from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU’s) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSI’s) on how to support retention, recruitment, and degree completion for students from marginalized groups?
•  What program or policy changes might provide the basis for addressing historical racial harm in the context of higher education access and economic mobility?
• To what extent might improvements in college affordability lead to the promotion of educational attainment and economic mobility among racially, ethnically, and economically diverse groups?
• To what extent will the Supreme Court decision alter the college-to-career pipeline that many employers rely on to diversify their workforce?
• To what extent is the Supreme Court decision affecting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (D.E.I) initiatives in the recruitment, hiring, retention, promotion, and advancement of workers of color and or/other groups in higher education and in the private and public sectors?
• How are attitudes towards the use of race, ethnicity, or gender criteria in admissions, hiring, or contracting preferences formed? What factors are associated with opposition to and support for race-conscious policies? How might the framing of diversity, bias, opportunity, and/or mobility affect opposition or support for race-conscious policies?

The Science of Learning and Augmented Intelligence

Overview:

Science of Learning and Augmented Intelligence (SL) supports potentially transformative research that develops basic theoretical insights and fundamental knowledge about principles, processes and mechanisms of learning, and about augmented intelligence - how human cognitive function can be augmented through interactions with others, contextual variations, and technological advances.

The program supports research addressing learning in individuals and in groups, across a wide range of domains at one or more levels of analysis including: molecular/cellular mechanisms; brain systems; cognitive, affective, and behavioral processes; and social/cultural influences.

The program also supports research on augmented intelligence that clearly articulates principled ways in which human approaches to learning and related processes, such as in design, complex decision-making and problem-solving, can be improved through interactions with others, and/or the use of artificial intelligence in technology. These could include ways of using knowledge about human functioning to improve the design of collaborative technologies that have capabilities to learn to adapt to humans.

For both aspects of the program, there is special interest in collaborative and collective models of learning and/or intelligence that are supported by the unprecedented speed and scale of technological connectivity.  This includes emphasis on how people and technology working together in new ways and at scale can achieve more than either can attain alone. The program also seeks explanations for how the emergent intelligence of groups, organizations, and networks intersects with processes of learning, behavior and cognition in individuals.  

Projects that are convergent and/or interdisciplinary may be especially valuable in advancing basic understanding of these areas, but research within a single discipline or methodology is also appropriate. Connections between proposed research and specific technological, educational, and workforce applications will be considered as valuable broader impacts but are not necessarily central to the intellectual merit of proposed research. The program supports a variety of approaches including: experiments, field studies, surveys, computational modeling, and artificial intelligence/machine learning methods.

Examples of general research questions within scope of Science of Learning and Augmented Intelligence (SL) include:

• What are the underlying mechanisms that support transfer of learning from one context to another or from one domain to another?  How is learning generalized from a small set of specific experiences?  What is the basis for robust learning that is resilient against potential interference from new experiences?  How is learning consolidated and reconsolidated from transient experience to stable memory?
• How do human interactions with technologies, imbued with artificial intelligence, provide improved human task performance?  What models best describe the interplay of the individual and collaborative processes that lead to co-creation of knowledge and collective intelligence? In what ways do the capacities and constraints of human cognition inform improved methods of human-artificial intelligence collaboration? 
• How can we integrate research findings and insights across levels of analysis, relating understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms of learning in the neurons to circuit and systems-level computations of learning in the brain, to cognitive, affective, social, and behavioral processes of learning? What is the relationship between assembly of new networks (development) and learning new knowledge in a maturing/mature brain? What concepts, tools (including Big Data, machine learning, and other computational models), or questions will provide the most productive linkages across levels of analysis?
• How can insights from biological learners contribute and derive new theoretic perspectives to artificial intelligence, neuromorphic engineering, materials science, and nanotechnology? How can the ability of biological systems to learn from relatively few examples improve efficiency of artificial systems?  How do learning systems (biological and artificial) address complex issues of causal reasoning?  How can knowledge about the ways in which humans learn help in the design of human-machine interfaces?