Funding Opportunity

The Science of Science: Discovery, Communication, and Impact (SoS:DCI) program is designed to increase the public value of scientific activity. The program pursues this goal by supporting basic research in three fundamental areas:

How to increase the rate of socially beneficial discovery;
How to improve science communication outcomes; and
How to expand the societal benefits of scientific activity.
The SoS:DCI program, which builds upon the former Science of Science & Innovation Policy (SciSIP) program, funds research that builds theoretical and empirical understandings of these three areas. With this goal in mind, proposals should:

Develop data, models, indicators, and associated analytical tools that constitute and enable transformative advances rather than incremental change.
Identify ethical challenges and mitigate potential risks to people and institutions.
Provide credible metrics and rigorous assessments of their proposed project’s impact.
Include robust data management plans with the goal to increase the usability, validity, and reliability of scientific materials. See PAPPG Chapter II.C.2.j and Data Management for NSF SBE Directorate Proposals and Awards for additional information (https://www.nsf.gov/sbe/DMP/SBE_DataMgmtPlanPolicy_RevisedApril2018.pdf).

The SoS:DCI program places a high priority on broadening participation. It encourages leadership from junior faculty, women, members of historically underrepresented groups, and proposals from Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), Research Undergraduate Institutions (RUIs), and EPSCoR states.

Of particular interest are proposals that have the highest potential to strengthen America’s global leadership in science and increase national competitiveness across a broad range of domains. These include proposals that analyze strategies for strengthening and diversifying the scientific workforce, as well as ways to more effectively cultivate high-impact discovery across sectors. The program strongly encourages convergent research and collaboration.