The U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE) supports basic research on people and society.
This includes the study of human behavior and social organizations, as well as research on how social, economic, political, cultural and environmental forces affect the lives of people from birth to old age and how people in turn shape those forces.
SBE also supports research infrastructure in social and behavioral sciences, including surveys that provide data about American society and about the state of the U.S. science and engineering enterprise.
At every level, researchers supported by SBE are making transformative discoveries that empower America's industries and communities, provide opportunities for entrepreneurs and create the knowledge that fuels American economic leadership.
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Discovery Files Podcast: Mysteries of Mayan Civilization
Prior to European arrival, the Maya peoples built a civilization in the inhospitable lowland jungles of Middle America. David Lentz, professor of biological sciences and executive director at the University of Cincinnati Center for Field Studies, joins to discuss his archeological findings from ancient Mayan cities.
NCSES reports
The National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics is is tasked with providing objective data on the status of the science and engineering enterprise in the U.S. and other countries.
The State of U.S. Science and Engineering 2024
This report summarizes key indicators that assess the status of the science and engineering enterprise within the United States and illustrate the U.S. global position in multiple aspects of that enterprise.
Diversity and STEM: Women, Minorities and Persons with Disabilities 2023
This report provides high-level insights from multiple data sources into the diversity of the STEM workforce in the United States.