Record Number: 6521
 
National Science Foundation
 Directorate for Social Behavioral and Economic Sciences
  Division of Social Behavioral and Economic Research
   Infrastructure Methods and Science Studies Cluster
    Societal Dimensions of Engineering Science & Technology (SDEST) Prog
 
Dr. Rachelle Hollander
4201 Wilson Boulevard, Room 995
Arlington, VA  22230
Phone: (703)306-1743  Fax: (703)306-0485
E-mail: rholland@nsf.gov
Web Site: http://www.nsf.gov:80/sbe/start.htm
E-Forms: https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/
 
ACTIVITIES SUPPORTED:         Research or Dissertation
                              Teaching or Curric/Prog Development
LAST REVIEWED:                10/16/97
ACADEMIC BACKGROUND REQUIRED: Doctorate/Equiv Professional
CITIZENSHIP REQUIRED:         U.S. Citizens
AGENCY TYPE:                  U.S. Federal Government
DEADLINES ANNOUNCED:          02/01/98
                              08/01/98
 
The Societal Dimensions of Engineering, Science, and Technology (SDEST) 
program folds together two former NSF programs, Ethics and Values 
Studies, and Research on Science and Technology, in the Division of 
Social, Behavioral and Economic Research of the National Science 
Foundation. In SDEST, the Ethics and Values Studies (EVS) component 
focuses on developing and transmitting knowledge about ethical and value 
dimensions associated with the conduct and impacts of science,  
engineering, and technology. The Research on Science and Technology (RST) 
component supports research to improve approaches and information for 
decision making concerning management and direction of research, science 
and technology. The overarching goals are to improve approaches to 
research and information for and from research in these fields and to 
make research results of broad use in educational, policy and other 
settings; and to consider the implications of research results for the 
actions of a wide range of individuals and groups, as well as for 
theories and methods in all scientific and engineering fields. Besides 
historical and philosophical modes of analysis, research on ethics and 
the conduct and impacts of science and engineering involves theories and 
methods from science and technology studies, applied ethics, and other 
areas of the social sciences and humanities. Research for decision making 
concerning science and technology takesan empirical approach to data 
collection and analysis. Information and analysis from the natural and 
physical sciences and engineering may also play a role in these research 
areas. SDEST also supports educational projects on ethics, values, and 
the conduct and impacts of science and engineering. The program works 
closely with programs in the Directorate for Education and Human 
Resources (EHR) at NSF in the consideration of these proposals. 
Educational projects use results from research on ethics and the conduct 
and impacts of science and engineering to develop programs or materials 
for formal or informal educational settings. Proposals for educational 
projects should satisfy the criteria in the EHR programannouncements, 
when relevant, and indicate how their efforts will have impacts beyond 
improving a course or curriculum at a single institution. SDEST also 
provides small supplemental awards for ethics activities in NSF-supported 
Research Experiences for Undergraduate sites projects. In general, SDEST 
does not consider proposals from individual academic institutions to 
support lectureships or conference activities. It does consider proposals 
where conferences or workshops are part of a research or education 
project plan, and proposals for workshops todevelop research agendas on 
topics important to program goals. It will consider proposals from 
national organizations such as professional societies, for small amounts 
of assistance for conference activities on ethical issues. Research 
focused primarily on ethical, value or policy issues for clinical 
research or practice or resource allocation in health care is not 
normally supported by the NSF or considered in SDEST. APPLICATION 
INFORMATION: The above are target dates for consideration of proposals; 
proposals may be submitted at any time. (NSF 97-28)
 
SUBJECTS: Education
          Educational Curriculum Studies
          Engineering Education
          Science Education
          Technology Education
          Values Education
          Engineering
          Science
          Science Ethics and Values
          Science Policy
          Sociology of Science
          Social Sciences
          Political Science
          Public Affairs
          Public Policy
          Technology
          Technology Policy