Science and Technology Studies

The National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Science and Technology Studies (STS) Program, solicitation NSF 22-629, supports interdisciplinary research focused on the conceptual foundations, historical evolution, and societal impacts of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), including the medical sciences. The STS program invites proposals from a wide spectrum of disciplines, encouraging research that employs historical, philosophical, and social scientific approaches to explore STEM topics. The research may address issues related to ethics, governance, equity, and the social organization of scientific work, aiming to understand how scientific knowledge is produced, validated, and evolves in social contexts.

The program is designed to fund projects that examine diverse aspects of STEM, ranging from the development and use of technologies to socio-cultural impacts and governance issues. Research may also focus on interdisciplinary collaboration to address broad societal concerns, such as environmental sustainability or ethical challenges in emerging technologies. Priority research areas include the societal dimensions of scientific and technological advances, such as machine learning, energy transitions, or public health innovations, and how these impact race, gender, equity, and inclusion within STEM fields. Proposals are expected to align with NSF's strategic goals for advancing diversity and inclusion within the STEM workforce and in STEM education.

The STS program plans to award an estimated $6.2 million in fiscal year 2023 to fund approximately 40 awards, contingent on the availability of funds. The grant types include Standard Research Grants, Collaborative Research Grants, Scholars Awards, Research Community Development Grants, Conference Support, and Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (DDRIGs). Specific funding caps are applied depending on the grant type, with typical awards ranging up to $750,000 for Standard Research and Collaborative Research Grants. DDRIGs are limited to $25,000, while Conference Support grants typically do not exceed $50,000.

Eligible applicants include U.S. institutions of higher education and U.S.-based non-profit, non-academic organizations. For certain grant types, the principal investigator (PI) eligibility may vary, and the solicitation advises applicants to refer to detailed eligibility criteria for each grant type. Collaborative proposals must be submitted via Research.gov, and proposals in general must adhere to the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG).

The STS program employs NSF’s two primary merit review criteria—intellectual merit and broader impacts. Proposals are evaluated on their potential to advance knowledge and benefit society, with reviewers considering originality, methodological rigor, and resource adequacy. Additionally, the STS program emphasizes broader impacts in terms of diversity, public engagement, and societal relevance. Proposers are encouraged to design projects with potential public engagement or educational components and to consider how their research may foster inclusivity in STEM.

Deadlines for submissions are annually on February 2 and August 3, with DDRIG proposals only accepted for the August deadline. Awardees will receive notification following NSF’s standard review procedures, and reporting requirements include annual project updates and a final report. For inquiries or assistance, program directors Wenda Bauchspies and Christine Leuenberger can be contacted directly, with support available through both Research.gov and Grants.gov. Further information on the program can be found on the NSF website or through the Grants.gov portal.