The Office of Research is conducting a campus-wide competition for the following limited submission opportunity: Ethical and Responsible Research (ER2). Please click on the links below to view more information.
- Internal LOI Submission Deadline: Friday, November 13, 2020
- Funding Organization’s Deadline: Monday, February 22, 2021
- Award Cycle: 2021
- Discipline/Subject Area: Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences; SBE Office of Multidisciplinary Activities; Office of International Science and Engineering; Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences; Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering; Directorate for Geosciences; Directorate for Engineering; Directorate for Biological Sciences; Directorate for Education and Human Resources
- Funding Available: $3,550,000
Description: Ethical and Responsible Research (ER2) funds research projects that identify (1) factors that are effective in the formation of ethical STEM researchers and (2) approaches to developing those factors in all STEM fields that NSF supports. ER2 solicits proposals for research that explores the following: What constitutes responsible conduct for research (RCR), and which cultural and institutional contexts promote ethical STEM research and practice and why? Do certain labs have a culture of academic integrity? What practices contribute to the establishment and maintenance of ethical cultures and how can these practices be transferred, extended to, and integrated into other research and learning settings? Factors one might consider include: honor codes, professional ethics codes and licensing requirements, an ethic of service and/or service learning, life-long learning requirements, curricula or memberships in organizations (e.g. Engineers without Borders) that stress responsible conduct for research, institutions that serve under-represented groups, institutions where academic and research integrity are cultivated at multiple levels, institutions that cultivate ethics across the curriculum, or programs that promote group work, or do not grade. Successful proposals typically have a comparative dimension, either between or within institutional settings that differ along these or among other factors, and they specify plans for developing interventions that promote the effectiveness of identified factors.
ER2 research projects will use basic research to produce knowledge about what constitutes or promotes responsible or irresponsible conduct of research, and how to best instill this knowledge into researchers and educators at all career stages. In some cases, projects will include the development of interventions to ensure ethical and responsible research conduct.
Proposals for awards from minority-serving institutions (e.g., Tribal Colleges and Universities, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions), women’s colleges, and organizations primarily serving persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged. Proposals including international collaborations are encouraged when those efforts enhance the merit of the proposed work by incorporating unique resources, expertise, facilities or sites of international partners. If possible, the U.S. team’s international counterparts should obtain funding through other sources.
Changes from Prior Solicitation
This solicitation has been revised in two major ways. The first is a name change from Cultivating Cultures for Ethical STEM (CCE STEM) to Ethical and Responsible Research (ER2). The second is two new funding categories:
- Conference proposals designed to bring together researchers and students to foster new ER2 research and the development of new ethical standards for STEM research.
- Project Incubation proposals designed to support the development of full proposals by two or more organizations.
For complete program details, including types of proposals and additional solicitation specific review criteria, please view the sponsor’s solicitation and the list of Active Awards.
Please submit an Expression of Interest (LOI) through ucsc.infoready4.com by the internal deadline. The LOI requires:
- Identifying information (PIs and Collaborators)
- Short description of the proposed project (One-Page Limit)
The purpose of the LOI is to identify campus interest. If more than one LOI is received by the internal deadline, those who have submitted LOIs will be asked for additional information (content will be specified) by November 20, 2020.
The Office of Research will then review all pre-application materials and work with university leadership to recommend to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Research the most competitive proposal to represent UC Santa Cruz, using the review criteria in the program announcement.