Arctic Social Sciences

The Arctic Social Sciences Program (ASSP) supports research on Arctic social, cultural, economic, and political systems, present and past, and research relevant to understanding these systems. ASSP welcomes research proposals in all social science disciplines that are funded by the NSF Directorate of Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences. Topics of particular interest are outlined in the final report for the Arctic Horizons process and the federal Arctic Research Plan 2022–2026. Research priorities include:

• Past and present drivers of socio-economic change in the Arctic
• Convergent research on socioecological systems
• Migration and demography
• Community health and well-being
• Food, water, and energy security
• Youth and gender studies
• Sustainable development
• Globalization
• International relations
• Data curation, management, and access

The Arctic Social Sciences Program encourages projects that are circumpolar and/or comparative; involve collaborations between researchers and those living in the Arctic; or form partnerships among disciplines, regions, researchers, communities, and/or students. Proposals for doctoral dissertation improvement grants are accepted. The program is interested in Indigenous scholarship and Indigenous knowledge systems, community-based participatory research, and knowledge co-production. 

Proposers are encouraged to include letters of collaboration from Indigenous organizations or communities where the work will take place, as appropriate. These letters should be submitted as supplementary documents.

Proposals that include archaeological excavation must discuss plans for the long-term curation of samples and artifacts in the Data Management Plan. A letter of collaboration from a museum or repository may be included to document such plans. Repository or curation fees may be included in the project budget.