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Cultivating Cultures for Ethical STEM (CCE STEM)

Status: Archived

Archived funding opportunity

This document has been archived. See NSF 24-604 for the latest version.

Important information about NSF’s implementation of the revised 2 CFR

NSF Financial Assistance awards (grants and cooperative agreements) made on or after October 1, 2024, will be subject to the applicable set of award conditions, dated October 1, 2024, available on the NSF website. These terms and conditions are consistent with the revised guidance specified in the OMB Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance published in the Federal Register on April 22, 2024.

Important information for proposers

All proposals must be submitted in accordance with the requirements specified in this funding opportunity and in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) that is in effect for the relevant due date to which the proposal is being submitted. It is the responsibility of the proposer to ensure that the proposal meets these requirements. Submitting a proposal prior to a specified deadline does not negate this requirement.

Synopsis

Cultivating Cultures for Ethical STEM (CCE STEM) 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 the fields of science and engineering that NSF supports. CCE STEM 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?'  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.  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?

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.

CCE STEM 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 students with this knowledge. In some cases, projects will include the development of interventions to ensure 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 institutions 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. The U.S. team's international counterparts generally should have support or obtain funding through other sources.

Program contacts

General inquiries regarding this program should be made to cce-stem-contacts@nsf.gov.

John Parker (SBE)
joparker@nsf.gov 703-292-5034
Frederick M. Kronz (SBE)
fkronz@nsf.gov (703) 292-7283
Cassandra M. Dudka (OISE)
cdudka@nsf.gov (703) 292-7250
Edda Thiels (BIO)
ethiels@nsf.gov (703) 292-8421 BIO/IOS
Julie Martin (ENG)
julmarti@nsf.gov 703-292-8657
Elizabeth L. Rom (GEO)
elrom@nsf.gov (703) 292-7709 GEO/RISE
Leonard Spinu (MPS)
lspinu@nsf.gov (703) 292-2665 GEO/EAR
Michael D. Steele (EHR)
Program Contact
msteele@nsf.gov (703) 292-4313 OD
Tonya Smith-Jackson (CISE)
tsmithja@nsf.gov 703-292-5179

Awards made through this program

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