Category Archives: NSF

National Science Foundation

Nature News Blog: NSF takes broad look at broader impacts

Posted on December 14, 2011 by Britt Holbrook

Well done, NSB! Legislation passed by Congress in 2010 confirmed the importance of broader impacts, and also tried to be more specific, listing some of the activities that would count as having societal benefit. But when the task force’s May … Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, Broader Impacts, Metrics, NSF, Peer Review, STEM Policy | 1 Comment

NSF – Changing the Conduct of Science in the Information Age

Posted on August 30, 2011 by Britt Holbrook

Just got wind of a new report that looks pretty interesting. NSF – OD – OISE – Changing the Conduct of Science in the Information Age

Posted in Future of the University, Libraries, Metrics, NSF, Open Access, STEM Policy, TechnoScience & Technoscientism | Leave a comment

NSF issues new merit review criteria

Posted on June 17, 2011 by Robert Frodeman

At http://nsf.gov/nsb/publications/2011/06_mrtf.jsp. We are writing a Science Progress post on it this weekend.

Posted in Interdisciplinarity, NSF, Peer Review | Leave a comment

Coburn puts NSF ‘under the microscope’

Posted on June 6, 2011 by Britt Holbrook

US Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) recently released a report that takes issue with some NSF practices — including funding the social sciences. David Bruggeman has an interesting discussion of the report here.

Posted in Accountability, Metrics, NSF, STEM Policy | 1 Comment

Peer Review: a personal history

Posted on March 5, 2011 by Robert Frodeman

I’ve been working on questions surrounding peer review for a number of years. But only recently have I started to figure out what I’ve gotten myself into. The story begins with the National Science Foundation. NSF changed its peer (or … Continue reading →

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Post-Enlightenment Science Policy or:

Posted on February 24, 2011 by Alexander Mosiak

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Unhealthy Skepticism. In the context of the federal budget debacle the Republican party is moving aggressively against the environmental regulation of commercial activities by intramurally debating how to legislatively restrict, defund, or … Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, Climate Change, Economics & STEM Research, Future of the University, Interdisciplinarity, NASA, NOAA, NSF, STEM Policy, Sustainability, Risk Management, & Long-Term Security, TechnoScience & Technoscientism, US Science Agencies | 2 Comments

SBE 2020

Posted on January 27, 2011 by Britt Holbrook

NSF’s Directorate for the Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE) has just made available the White Papers that it received in response to a call from SBE Assistant Director Myron Gutmann. Here is the announcement: I am pleased to let … Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, CSID Publications, Future of the University, NSF, STEM Policy | Leave a comment

Ordinary Experts

Posted on December 11, 2010 by Britt Holbrook

Here’s a post by Aneesh Chopra (US Chief Technology Officer) and Shelley Metzenbaum (Office of Management and Budget) that both describes and links to what they’re tentatively calling “ExpertNet” — an interesting name for something that is justified in terms … Continue reading →

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New NSF Director Hints at “Wriggle Room” for Broader Impacts?

Posted on December 1, 2010 by Britt Holbrook

In a recent Newsmaker Interview with Jeffrey Mervis of Science, new NSF Director Subra Suresh had some interesting comments on NSF’s Broader Impacts Criterion (BIC): “I think the spirit of the broader impacts criterion is good,” he explained. “But the … Continue reading →

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Frodeman Op/Ed in the STONE

Posted on November 24, 2010 by Keith Brown

“Experiments in Field Philosophy.” Prof. Robert Frodeman, CSID Director, contributes an op/ed to the Times’ philosophy blog, The Stone, for Tuesday, Nov 23, 2010.

Posted in Accountability, Interdisciplinarity, NSF, Peer Review | Leave a comment

Take our Peer Review Survey

Posted on November 23, 2010 by Keith Brown

We are asking for your participation in a study sponsored by the US National Science Foundation of the peer review of grant proposals. (Your input is important even if you do not have direct experience with peer review or grant … Continue reading →

Posted in Interdisciplinarity, NSF, Peer Review | Leave a comment