Title: Research on Mathematical and Physical Sciences and Society
Date: 08/15/08



 The Science, Technology and Society Program:
 Research at the Interface of the Mathematical and
 Physical Sciences and Society



 Date:  25 July 2008

 Dear Colleague:

 The purpose of this Dear Colleague Letter is to call
 your attention to an opportunity to request support for
 research focused on topics at the interface of the
 Mathematical and Physical Sciences and Society. This
 initiative is sponsored by the Directorate for Social,
 Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE) in partnership
 with the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical
 Sciences (MPS). Proposals are to be submitted to SBE's
 Science, Technology and Society Program (STS), which
 provides support for projects that examine questions
 arising from interactions of science, engineering,
 technology, and society.

 Proposals for Research at the Interface of the
 Mathematical and Physical Sciences and Society should
 address one or more of the four component areas of STS:
  Ethics and Values in Science, Engineering and
 Technology; Social Studies of Science, Engineering and
 Technology; Studies of Policy and Science, Engineering
 and Technology; History and Philosophy of Science,
 Engineering and Technology. For more information on
 STS, please see the Program Solicitation, NSF
 08-553:         
 http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf08553

 Collaborative research proposals are strongly
 encouraged. Such proposals are expected to involve
 researchers in the mathematical and physical sciences
 and STS researchers (including philosophers,
 historians, and sociologists of science, engineering
 and technology), and they are expected to address
 current issues, trends, and questions.

 Prospective topics of interest in the general area of
 Research at the Interface of the Mathematical and
 Physical Sciences and Society include but are not
 limited to the following:

   1. Societal aspects (such as ethical, social or
      policy aspects) of intellectual property, patent
      issues, or proprietary information in the
      mathematical and physical sciences
   2. Privacy issues or ethical issues in data mining,
      storage, or collection
   3. Societal pressures on the research direction,
      scale, or priorities in the mathematical and
      physical sciences
   4. Under-representation of gender, race, ethnicity,
      or persons with disabilities in the mathematical
      and physical sciences and its workforce
      implications
   5. Societal implications or perceptions of
      nanotechnology or chemical technology

 Investigators are encouraged to contact an STS program
 officer to discuss prospective proposal topics and to
 review the STS Solicitation to ensure that eligibility
 requirements are met. Proposals are to be submitted to
 and evaluated by STS. Awards will be co-funded by STS
 and the relevant MPS program upon the approval of the
 associated MPS Program Officer.

 Contacts:
 Rita Teutonico, SBE Advisor for Integrative Activities,
 rteutoni@nsf.gov, (703) 292-7118
 Fred Kronz, SBE/STS Program Officer, fkronz@nsf.gov,
 (703) 292-7283
 Celeste Rohlfing, Head, MPS Office of Multidisciplinary
 Activities, crohlfin@nsf.gov, (703) 292-4962
 Susan Hamm, MPS Staff Associate for Budget and
 Planning, shamm@nsf.gov, (703) 292-4342