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Dear Colleagues,
At NSF we frequently use terms like "interdisciplinary," "transdisciplinary" and "convergent" when referring to certain research programs and initiatives. While perhaps overused, these terms nonetheless signify the increasingly urgent challenge for scientists and engineers to combine our diverse expertise across traditional disciplinary boundaries.
This great need is made apparent every day by the many difficult problems and tragedies facing so many in the U.S. Accordingly, a large portion of NSF’s budget is devoted to supporting ambitious cross-cutting work exploring areas that can yield big payoffs for society, our environment and the future.
Recent examples include NSF’s launch of the new Regional Innovation Engines, our partnership with the Social Science Research Council on public health guidance and a partnership with the Department of Energy on clean energy and decarbonization. The success of these opportunities relies in no small part on the participation and leadership of social, behavioral and economic scientists. Many more cross-cutting opportunities seeking your experience and skills can be found on our website.
We encourage you to think big and to think together. Every challenge we face is an opportunity to advance our understanding of humanity and to leverage those breakthroughs to empower people, enhance our safety and well-being, and to build the future we want to live in.
Kellina Craig-Henderson Acting NSF Assistant Director, SBE
Antoinette WinklerPrins Acting NSF Deputy Assistant Director, SBE
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