Notes from the Inside

Vol. 41, No. 1, January 2012
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NSF and the History of Science

Many of you are aware of the recent challenges facing the history and philosophy of science at the National Science Foundation. Last year we encouraged you to write NSF officials regarding proposed cuts and you responded magnificently — some would say in an unprecedented manner. Unfortunately, our fear of losing a program officer in the Science, Technology, and Society (STS) program materialized—which decreases the ability to create funding opportunities for STS proposals in other divisions and directorates at NSF (let alone other federal agencies such as the Department of Energy). Furthermore, the STS base budget was cut by more than 27% (from $8.5M to $6.2M). In last January's Notes from the Inside (PDF) I discussed these possible changes and asked for your help as we sought examples of how history of science enriches the discourse of science.

The good news is that NSF is still funding the history of science, and I encourage you to read carefully the new STS solicitation and a new STS Frequently Asked Questions set (PDF). As you put together a proposal, please keep the following points in mind.

Effective STS proposals go beyond simply describing the interaction between science, technology and society. They explain how the proposed research provides new and important scientific insights into the theory or practice of science (or engineering) or into the adoption, use, or diffusion of technology. They also explain how the proposed research would bring to light the underlying assumptions, practices, methods, values, or goals of science, engineering, or technology.
Successful proposals are transferrable (i.e. generate results that provide insights for other scientific contexts that are suitably similar).
At all points of the proposal writers should emphasize the "broader impacts" of their work, especially regarding the impacts of project results on societal issues at some interface between science (or technology) and society (not necessarily society at large, just some substantial societal subgroup that is other than the disciplinary groups involved in the project).
It is also recommended that you ask scholars outside of history to review your proposal. An interdisciplinary panel and set of reviewers will read the work and make a recommendation, so it's a good idea to have those audiences evaluate the work before it is submitted.

This is the new reality at the NSF but it is not an eternal reality and so I encourage you to read the solicitation and offer me your feedback. Let me know where the new solicitation falls short, and I will transmit your concerns to the NSF.

As always, thank you for your membership in the HSS.

- Jay Malone, HSS Executive Director

History of Science Society

Notes from the Inside

NSF and the History of Science

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