Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences

Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences is a division of the National Science Foundation that supports research in the social sciences, behavioral sciences, and economics. The directorate's mission is to advance the understanding of human behavior, social organizations, and economic systems, and to apply this knowledge to improve the human condition. This is achieved through funding research projects, such as those conducted by Harvard University, Stanford University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and collaborating with other organizations, including the American Economic Association, American Sociological Association, and American Psychological Association. The directorate's work has far-reaching implications, influencing fields such as public policy, international relations, and global health, as seen in the work of World Health Organization, United Nations, and World Bank.

● Overview

The Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences supports research in a wide range of fields, including anthropology, sociology, psychology, economics, and political science. This research is conducted by scholars at institutions such as University of California, Berkeley, University of Michigan, and Columbia University, and is often interdisciplinary, incorporating insights from biology, computer science, and statistics. The directorate's research portfolio includes studies on inequality, poverty, and social mobility, as well as investigations into the cognitive science of decision making and the neuroscience of social behavior, building on the work of researchers like Daniel Kahneman, Amos Tversky, and Nancy Kanwisher. The directorate also supports research on global issues, such as climate change, globalization, and pandemics, which are addressed by organizations like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, World Trade Organization, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

● History

The Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences was established in 1991, as part of a broader reorganization of the National Science Foundation. The directorate's creation reflected a growing recognition of the importance of social science research in addressing national and global challenges, as highlighted by reports from the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine. Since its inception, the directorate has supported research by prominent scholars, including Nobel laureates like Gary Becker, James Heckman, and Alvin Roth, and has collaborated with other federal agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health, and National Institute on Aging. The directorate has also worked with international organizations, including the European Union, United Nations Development Programme, and World Economic Forum, to advance global research agendas.

● Organization

The Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences is led by a director, who is appointed by the National Science Foundation director, and is advised by a committee of distinguished scholars, including representatives from American Academy of Arts and Sciences, National Academy of Sciences, and Social Science Research Council. The directorate is organized into several divisions, each of which supports research in a specific area, such as social and economic sciences, behavioral and cognitive sciences, and science of science and innovation policy. The directorate also has a number of cross-cutting programs, including initiatives on big data, artificial intelligence, and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, which are addressed by organizations like National Center for Education Statistics, National Science Board, and Computer Science Teachers Association.

● Research Initiatives

The Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences supports a wide range of research initiatives, including studies on democracy and governance, inequality and social justice, and global health and well-being. The directorate also supports research on cognitive development, social cognition, and emotions and motivation, building on the work of researchers like Jean Piaget, Lev Vygotsky, and Albert Bandura. Additionally, the directorate has launched initiatives on science of science and innovation policy, science, technology, and society, and environmental and geospatial sciences, which are addressed by organizations like National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Geological Survey, and Environmental Protection Agency. The directorate's research initiatives often involve collaborations with other federal agencies, such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and Department of Energy, as well as international organizations, including the European Space Agency, International Energy Agency, and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

● Funding Opportunities

The Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences offers a range of funding opportunities for researchers, including grants, fellowships, and research assistantships. The directorate's funding programs support research at all career stages, from graduate students to senior investigators, and are open to scholars from a wide range of disciplines, including economics, sociology, psychology, and anthropology. The directorate also offers funding for research infrastructure, including data archives, research centers, and collaborative research networks, which are addressed by organizations like Interuniversity Consortium for Political and Social Research, Social Science Research Council, and Consortium of Social Science Associations. The directorate's funding opportunities are designed to support innovative and interdisciplinary research, and to promote collaboration and knowledge-sharing among scholars, as seen in the work of Santa Fe Institute, Brookings Institution, and Russell Sage Foundation.

● Notable Programs

The Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences has a number of notable programs, including the National Science Foundation's Science of Science and Innovation Policy program, which supports research on the science of science and innovation policy. The directorate also supports the Time-Sharing Experiments for the Social Sciences (TESS) program, which provides funding for experiments on social science topics, and the Resource Center for Minority Data (RCMD) program, which supports the collection and analysis of data on minority populations. Additionally, the directorate has launched initiatives on big data, artificial intelligence, and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, which are addressed by organizations like Data Science Council of America, Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, and National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. The directorate's notable programs reflect its commitment to supporting innovative and interdisciplinary research, and to promoting collaboration and knowledge-sharing among scholars, as seen in the work of National Bureau of Economic Research, American Economic Association, and Society for Research on Adolescence.

Category:National Science Foundation