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Science, Technology, Society (STS) Program, Impacts of Biology on Society

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Dear Colleague:

The purpose of this Dear Colleague Letter is to call your attention to an opportunity to request support for research focused on Biology and Society that is part of the Science, Technology, and Society (STS) Program (see NSF 08-553; at http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5324). The STS Program considers proposals that examine questions arising from the interactions of engineering, science, technology, and society.

The Directorate for Biological Sciences is partnering with the Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences to foster research that specifically addresses the interactions of the Biological Sciences with Society. Biology and Society projects should address one or more components of the STS program in the context of biological questions. Specifically, the major STS topic areas include Ethics and Values in Science, Engineering and Technology (EVS); History and Philosophy of Science, Engineering and Technology (HPS); Social Studies of Science, Engineering and Technology (SSS); and Studies of Policy, Science, Engineering and Technology (SPS). Partnerships between biologists and social scientists or philosophers or historians to address current issues, trends and questions relevant to the impacts of Biology on Society, and vice versa, are particularly encouraged.

Prospective topics of interest in the general area of Biology and Society could include, but are not limited to the following:

  1. The Impact of Science and Technology on the Environment
  2. Biology and Science Policy
  3. Intellectual Property and Patent Issues
  4. Societal and Ethical Implications of Biotechnology
  5. History, Philosophy, and Social Studies of Biology
  6. Economic Impacts of Biological Knowledge and Biotechnology, i.e. BioEconomics

Proposers should review the STS Program Solicitation to ensure that eligibility requirements are met. Investigators are encouraged to contact SBE and BIO program officers to discuss potential proposal topics.

SBE Program Officer: Fred Kronz, fkronz@nsf.gov
BIO Program Officer: Nancy J. Huntly, nhuntly@nsf.gov