NSF
Special Assistant Appointed to the NSF Director for Sexual Assault and Harassment Prevention and Response Implementation
On November 2, the National Science Foundation (NSF) announced the appointment of RenĆ©e V. Ferranti as the special assistant to the NSF director for sexual assault and harassment prevention and response implementation. In this new role, Ferranti will lead cross-agency efforts, implement sexual assault prevention policies, and recommend organizational improvements by providing expert evaluation of existing policies, procedures, and resources. Establishing this role is the most recent measure in the agency’s ongoing initiatives to address and prevent sexual assault and harassment (see previous COSSA coverage). Ferranti has over 25 years of experience in sexual assault prevention and response. She previously served as the director of…
NSF Press Conference: A Stride Towards Pandemic Prediction and Prevention
In an upcoming press conference, the National Science Foundation (NSF) is set to unveil the Phase II Centers Program of the Predictive Intelligence for Pandemic Prevention (PIPP) initiative, marking a significant stride towards understanding, predicting, and preventing infectious disease pandemics. This event will provide an overview of the PIPP Phase II Centers Program, discuss the roles of NSF Directorates, and highlight the necessity of broad expertise and collaboration across various research communities. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with NSF representatives, ask questions, and gain a deeper understanding of the communityās collective role in transforming societyās ability to forecast, detect, and…
AAU Launches “Fund American Science” Campaign
The Association of American Universities (AAU) has launched a new campaign titled, “Fund American Science: Congress Must Act Now to Fund the CHIPS and Science Act” in response to the insufficient funding for the science portion of the CHIPS and Science Act (see previous COSSA coverage). The AAU stresses that budget constraints and disagreements in Congress pose further threats to catching up to CHIPS and Scienceās funding goals. This campaign calls on Congress to fully fund the amounts that CHIPS and Science authorized for the Department of Energy (DOE)ās Office of Science, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the National…
NSF Invests $18.8M in Inaugural Cohort for ExLent Program
The National Science Foundation (NSF) recently announced its inaugural cohort of the Experiential Learning for Emerging and Novel Technologies (ExLENT) program, investing $18.8 million across 27 teams at U.S. institutions of higher education to expand practical learning opportunities and grow talent nationwide. This includes support for teams from minority-serving institutions and historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Initiated by NSF’s Directorates for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP) and STEM Education (EDU), ExLENT is primed to offer hands-on learning experiences in sectors outlined in the CHIPS and Science Act. This spans areas like advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, quantum information science, and…
NSF Supports Efforts to Broaden Participation in the Nationās Technology Workforce
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has pledged a commitment of nearly $5.8 million towards two pivotal projects, partnering with the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS). Aimed at promoting inclusivity in the advanced degree programs across key technological areas identified in the CHIPS and Science Act, this investment will bolster data resources and aide endeavors in the recruitment and retention of domestic graduate students from diverse backgrounds in STEM fields. Their collaborative goal with CGS is to broaden the scope of existing survey designs to collect data on graduate applications, admissions, enrollment, and completion rates. Encompassing around 60 institutions, this survey is expected to…
NSF Announces the Establishment of a New Research Security and Integrity Information Sharing Analysis Organization
The National Science Foundation (NSF), via the Office of the Chief of Research Security Strategy and Policy (OCRSSP), announced the establishment of an independent Research Security and Integrity Information Sharing Analysis Organization (RSI-ISAO). This initiative aims to bolster the U.S. research community, which encompasses institutions of higher education, non-profit research institutions, and small to medium-sized for-profit organizations. Its objective is to address foreign government interference, champion security-informed decision-making, and bridge the research community with U.S. government agencies. The NSF is inviting proposals that detail an actionable strategy for the RSI-ISAO. Anyone interested in submitting a proposal is encouraged to present…
NCSES Launches Website for the National Secure Data Service Demonstration Project
The National Science Foundationās (NSF) statistical agency, the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES), hasĀ launched a websiteĀ for the National Secure Data Service Demonstration Project (NSDS-D). NSDS-D is one of the required projects authorized under theĀ CHIPS and Science Act of 2022Ā (see previous COSSA coverage). The project is intended to inform the ongoing work to improve the governmentsā data infrastructure system, including new ways of collecting and linking data.Ā More details can be found on theirĀ website.Ā
National Science Foundation Job Opportunities and Announcements
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is gearing up for a busy start to the season and the Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences Directorate is welcoming a new acting deputy assistant director to help. Dr. Evan Heit has been announced to fill the role, succeeding Dr. Antoinette WinklerPrins, following his recent position as the division director for the Division of Research on Learning within the STEM Education Directorate. Dr. Heit holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from Stanford University and has a background serving in leadership for different programs including Future of Work at the Human-Technology Frontier.Ā The NSF is also still…
Nominations Open for the Alan T. Waterman Award
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is seeking nominations for the Alan T. Waterman Award, which recognizes an early career researcher in any field of science or engineering supported by the NSF. The award winner will receive a medal and a grant of $1 million to use over a five-year period for scientific research or advanced study in the mathematical, physical, biological, engineering, social, or other sciences at the institution of the recipient’s choice. Nominations will be accepted through September 15, 2023. Read more about the awardās criteria, the application, and the selection process here.
NSF to Launch New Program on Research Security
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has disclosed its plans to introduce a program centered around the critical domain of research security. Named the Research on Research Security Program (RRSP), the objective is to review the nuances, breadth, challenges, and potential of research security. Key focus areas under this initiative include cybersecurity, security concerning foreign travel, training on research security, and instruction on export controls. The program will aim to fund initiatives that evaluate methodologies to pinpoint research security hazards and the tactics to prevent and minimize threats. This will equip researchers with key insights on safeguarding their work, amplifying transparency and cooperation,…
AAAS Hosts Federal Agencies to Discuss Public Access Policies
On July 17, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) hosted federal agencies alongside the National Science Foundation (NSF) for a discussion, How can public access advance equity and learning? During the first half of the webinar, officials from NSF, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) discussed their implementation strategies for public access. During the panel and audience Q&A session, AAAS invited professors and PhD candidates to discuss the effect of public access on universities and students. In accordance with…
Shaping NSFās TIP Directorate
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is seeking public input into the development of a roadmap for the newly created Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP). The roadmap will guide the TIP Directorateās activities and directions for the next three years, and COSSA needs your input to help ensure that insights from social and behavioral science research are includedāif not prioritizedāin efforts to shape the future of U.S. technology development and deployment. COSSA will be submitting comments to NSF on behalf of the research community before the deadline. We want to hear from you. Comments and ideas for the roadmap should be sent…
NSF Releases New Guidelines on Research Security
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has released the Research Security Analytics Guidelines, a public document outlining the agency’s research security data-related practices. Developed in response to extensive feedback from community stakeholders, the guidelines serve as a strategic blueprint to safeguard the integrity and security of science, while promoting an open and collaborative research environment. The guidelines specify that: “These new Guidelines for Research Security Analytics are intended to ensure the responsible use of taxpayer funding, enabling NSF to continue building an open research ecosystem that preserves U.S. innovation leadership,” said Rebecca Keiser, NSF’s Chief of Research Security Strategy and Policy. The…
Trans-Atlantic Platform Seeks Social Science Proposals to Address Democracy, Governance and Trust Challenges
On June 22, The Trans-Atlantic Platform for Social Sciences and Humanities (T-AP) announced a new call for proposals focusing on Democracy, Governance and Trust (DGT). The call seeks to examine the crucial roles of democracy, governance, and trust in addressing contemporary societal challenges and disruptions. Established as a collaborative initiative between humanities and social science research funders from across the Atlantic, T-AP is dedicated to fostering transnational dialogue and relationships among funders, research organizations, and researchers. The Platform is now offering researchers an opportunity to contribute to this mission with their insights on DGT. The National Science Foundation (NSF) and National…
REQUEST FOR INPUT: Shaping NSFās TIP Directorate
Dear Social Science Community, The National Science Foundation (NSF) is seeking public input into the development of a roadmap for the newly created Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP). The roadmap will guide the TIP Directorateās activities and directions for the next three years, and COSSA needs your input to help ensure that insights from social and behavioral science research are includedāif not prioritizedāin efforts to shape the future of U.S. technology development and deployment. COSSA will be submitting comments to NSF on behalf of the research community before the deadline. We want to hear from you. Comments and…
NSF Releases Dear Colleague Letter Opportunity for High School Students
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has released a Dear Colleague Letter focused on High School Student Research Assistantships in the Social, Behavioral and Economic (SBE) Sciences. The opportunity invites SBE scientists, with existing NSF awards, to apply for additional funding to provide high school students with research experience in the field. NSF awardees may apply to support two students and are encouraged to support underrepresented groups and locations that may have less access to SBE research opportunities. A list of eligible NSF programs can be found here.
NSF Requests Information on Roadmap for new TIP Directorate
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has released a request for information (RFI) on developing a roadmap for the Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP). NSF is seeking input to inform the TIP Directorateās three-year roadmap, and is requesting comments on the following focus areas: artificial intelligence; computer hardware and software; quantum science and technology; robotics and advanced manufacturing; advanced communication technologies; biotechnology; data storage and cybersecurity; energy and industrial technologies; and advanced materials science. NSF is also requesting comments on the societal, national, and geostrategic challenges to be addressed through TIP-supported research, including United States national security and workforce…
NSF Seeks Input on New Research Security Effort, Webinars Scheduled
The Office of the Chief of Research Security Strategy and Policy (OCRSSP) at the National Science Foundation (NSF) has released a Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) seeking input from the research community on the creation of a new Research Security and Integrity Information Sharing Analysis Organization (RSI-ISAO). As previously reported, the CHIPS and Science Act passed in 2022 called for the establishment of a new research security and integrity entity to āsafeguard the security and integrity of the U.S. research enterprise while simultaneously promoting the furtherance of human knowledge.ā The new entity will be tasked with developing and sharing resources that…
NSF Accepting Proposals for New Language Science Research Initiative
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is accepting proposals that diversify and further deepen the study of language and communication. This is a collaborative initiative across several programs in the Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences with shared interests in the study of language. It is an effort to organize new relationships that integrate knowledge across disciplines and/or levels of analysis. The goal is to advance more universal and replicable theories in the language and communication sciences via diversified sampling practices, language(s) of study, methodologies, and theoretical perspectives. This is not a special competition or new program; instead investigators should submit…