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Dear colleagues,
The U.S. National Science Foundation serves the American public as an engine of the nation's research enterprise. NSF's mission is the same today as it was at its founding in 1950: to advance the progress of science, promote the national health, prosperity and welfare, and secure the national defense.
NSF will continue to invest in bold research and innovation in the service of the American people. This includes transformational investments in areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum information science, and biotechnology.
To help keep America at the forefront of science, engineering, and technology, NSF is making changes designed to increase the agency's efficiency and effectiveness.
First, NSF has launched streamlined merit review processes as part of a comprehensive approach to making work more efficient and reducing administrative burden while maintaining the rigor of the merit review process. The goal is to reduce the workload of program staff and reduce demands on the research community.
Second, NSF is changing how the agency is structured to increase our efficiency and responsiveness. This restructuring was announced on December 15. As a result, the SBE Directorate reorganized from three divisions and the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) to five sections and NCSES. We will continue to support the SBE sciences on human systems with a focus on advancing NSF priorities.
In the coming months, we plan to post broad funding opportunities for SBE sciences that will accept proposals at any time. The new opportunities will provide flexibility for innovative ideas and encourage novel and interdisciplinary proposals.
America's science, technology, and innovation ecosystem is built on a remarkably successful partnership among government, academic, industry, and nonprofit sectors. SBE researchers provide unique and important contributions both as lead investigators on SBE Directorate awards and as contributors to other awards across the Foundation. Together, we will continue to foster discoveries, support the next generation of researchers, and deliver innovations that benefit all Americans.
No matter your professional sector or career background, we thank you for your interest in the SBE Directorate. We wish you a new year filled with scientific discovery and wonder.
Kaye Husbands Fealing, Ph.D. NSF Assistant Director Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences
Christina Freyman, Ph.D. NSF Directorate Head Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences
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