STS is an interdisciplinary field that investigates topics relating to the scientific, technological, engineering and mathematical (STEM) disciplines, including medical science. STS research uses historical, philosophical, and social scientific methods to investigate STEM theory and practice with regards to history and socio-cultural formation, philosophical underpinnings, and impacts of science and technology on quality of life, culture, and society. STS researchers strive to understand how STEM fields contribute to the development and use of systems of knowledge, the production and use of materials and devices, the co-evolution of socio-technical systems and their governance, and the place of science and technology in the modern world.

 

The STS program supports proposals across the broad spectrum of STS research areas, topics, and approaches. Examples include, but are by no means limited to:

  1. Societal aspects of emerging high-tech technologies (e.g., nanotechnology, synthetic biology, neuroscience, robotics, drones, ubiquitous computing, crowd sourcing, remote-sensing)
  2. Societal aspects of emerging low-tech technologies (e.g., paper microscopes; whirlwind wheel chairs)
  3. Issues relating to equity, ethics, governance, sustainability, public engagement, user-centeredness, and inclusiveness.
  4. Integration of traditional STS approaches with innovative perspectives from the arts or humanities.
  5. Ethical, policy, and cultural issues regarding big data, surveillance and privacy in an increasingly networked world, and
  6. The science of broadening participation in STEM disciplines.

 

Deadline: February 2nd, 2015
Estimated Number of Awards: 40
Anticipated Funding Amount: $6,200,000

For more information please refer to the RFP: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2015/nsf15506/nsf15506.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click