The National Science Foundation’s Social, Behavioral and Economics (SBE) Directorate is poised to roll out a series of changes to some of its longstanding programs in the next few weeks. The effort involves both some “re-branding” of the names of some existing programs as well as some re-organization of research areas. However, the repositioning is not intended to alter the SBE’s mission or the types of research it supports.
According to Skip Lupia, Assistant Director for SBE, the changes will go into effect for solicitations and due dates after January 1, 2020. A forthcoming Dear Colleague Letter from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to the SBE community is expected in the coming weeks and will contain further details and explanations about the planned changes.
In recent presentations Lupia has made to SBE stakeholders, he has indicated that the proposed changes are designed to help policymakers and the general public better understand the value and impact of NSF-funded social and behavioral research. NSF plans to hold a series of webinars to answer questions about the repositioning effort after the release of the Dear Colleague Letter.
COSSA, of which PAA is a member, recently held a webinar “chat” with Dr. Lupia in which he previewed the proposed changes. View the slides from the presentation, as well as a video recording that includes oral remarks.
Stay tuned for additional updates as they become available.
#latest-news#NSF