Science and Society Sparks (THIS CALL FOR PROPOSALS IS NOT OFFICIALLY OPEN)
Opens 28 Apr 2025 08:00 AM (PDT)
Deadline 27 Jun 2025 05:00 PM (PDT)
Description

The Science and Society program at The Kavli Foundation invites proposals that explore societal contexts and considerations of a basic scientific research question, or which identify, explore, or engage publics in the context of a research question or topic. 

Funding Overview

  • Awards of $5,000-$50,000 
  • Project duration: 0-18 months
  • Expected funding start time: Q4 2025 
  • Indirect rate: up to 15% of allowable direct costs  
  • Eligibility: projects must include a scientist with a connection to The Kavli Foundation (full criteria available in ‘Eligibility’ below)

Background

The Science and Society program at The Kavli Foundation provides support for projects that connect the people, processes, and products of science meaningfully to society. This includes funding projects that seek to understand the societal contexts of research and/or engage publics in the scientific discovery process. Recognizing interest from researchers to consider the societal context of their work, fields like public engagement with science, science and technology studies, and others provide insights such as: 

  • Understanding the societal context or public perception about scientific research better can inform future research directions or applications.
  • Cross-disciplinary collaborations between scientists and publics and/or social scientists are poised to effectively consider potential contexts of scientific discovery from different perspectives. 
  • Work to consider the societal context of basic science may be underfunded, or those interested in doing this work may not know where to start. 
  • Catalytic funding to design ideas, build relationships, and carry out projects can be useful in scoping and supporting progress toward larger projects.

Request for Proposals  

The Kavli Foundation invites proposals for projects that explore societal contexts and considerations of a basic scientific research question, or which identify, explore, or engage publics in the context of a research question or topic. 

Given that there is a wide variety of types of projects that fit into this call, projects that address one or more of the following are preferred:

  • Empower multidisciplinary collaboration among basic scientists, social scientists, humanities scholars, and/or civic engagement experts to explore and/or address societal contexts of basic science. 
  • Plan or implement a strategic science communication or engagement project. Strategic projects are goal-oriented, include a plan for progress that aligns with the overarching goal, and engage an audience that aligns with the project’s goal.
  • Study, collect, or listen to the opinions and views of the public related to a research project. 
  • Share insights about understanding societal context, considerations, or public opinion with research communities.

Recognizing the myriad ways to work at the interface of science and society, a few examples are listed below, but these do not span the breadth of all possibilities. If a project to explore societal contexts and/or engage publics aligns with the characteristics described above, proposals submissions are encouraged. For a given basic scientific research question, topic, or advancement, examples of proposed projects might include, but are not limited to: 

  • A colloquium series, symposium, or guest lecture (e.g., at an institution or a major scientific meeting).
  • Public opinion research on societal perspectives of a research question or topic.
  • Scope (e.g., planning grant) or execute a project engaging public groups.
  • Foster or design collaborations with scientists, social scientists, civic leaders, etc. This may include support for travel to attend conferences or workshops that are outside your disciplinary norms.
  • Evaluate the impact of engaging publics.

Proposals on the following topics are beyond the scope of this call and will not be considered: 

  • Basic scientific research projects.
  • Work focused on health, medical, or technology application that does not have a basic science component.
  • Projects on the ethical practice of doing science, including projects on ensuring ethical research conduct (e.g., treatment of animal subjects, replication, or navigating an Institutional Review Board).
  • Projects that do not include a scientist with a connection to The Kavli Foundation.

The foundation will consider requests between $5,000-$50,000 and is able to support up to 15% of indirect costs within this $50,000 limit. Project duration should be no more than 18 months. The foundation anticipates funding proposals with a range of costs and durations. 

Eligibility 

Requirements: 

  • Projects must include a scientist with a connection to The Kavli Foundation as a meaningful contributor (details below). 
  • Proposed projects must pertain to astrophysics, nanoscience, neuroscience, or theoretical physics. 

Qualifying Kavli connections include: scientists who are members of Kavli Institutes (including recipients of Kavli Institute Innovation Awards), current and former recipients of Kavli Foundation science grants (including FENS-Kavli Network Scholars and Kavli-Grass Fellows), and Kavli Professors. The individual does not need to be a Principal Investigator (PI). Graduate students or postdocs are eligible and must include a letter of support from their PI submitted with the application.

Scientists whose sole Kavli affiliation is having attended a Kavli-sponsored meeting (e.g., Kavli Frontiers of Science, SciPEP) are not eligible to fulfill this criterion. They may be included on proposals with individuals who do meet all eligibility criteria. 

Social scientists and engagement experts are eligible and encouraged to submit proposals for this call.

Collaborators can be from a range of departments or institutions, including outside of academia. PIs may be included on up to two proposals.  

Applicants for funding must be at a US or international institution of higher education, non-profit research organization, or affiliated with such an entity. For international awards, status equivalent to a US public charity or nonprofit educational institution may be required. The Kavli Foundation is unable to accept applications from individuals at organizations located in certain sanctioned territories. 

Only fully completed applications submitted through The Kavli Foundation’s application portal will be considered.

How to Apply 

Please click the APPLY button to access and submit your application. Be prepared to provide: 

  • PI(s) information (2 maximum). If the scientist with a connection to The Kavli Foundation is not a PI, indicate who brings this connection and their role in the project (150 words).
  • Project title.
  • Amount requested ($5,000 – $50,000).
  • Duration of project (0-18 months).
  • Description of the goal of the proposed work, why the work is needed, and the proposed approach (1000 words).
  • List other individuals playing key roles (if any) and describe what experience you/your group has to do this work (500 words).
  • Budget justification: List and briefly describe major line items (100 words or optional upload).
  • References (Optional, 300 words).

No additional materials or appendices will be considered. Word counts reflect an up to limit. It is not required to utilize the full allotted word count.

Submissions will close Thursday, June 26th, 2025, at 5PM PDT. Applicants will be notified of the foundation’s decision by August 28th, 2025.  

More information on The Kavli Institutes as well as The Kavli Foundation’s grantees and current programs are available at the links below.

For any other questions about this request for proposals, please contact The Kavli Foundation at science.and.society@kavlifoundation.org.
Apply

Science and Society Sparks (THIS CALL FOR PROPOSALS IS NOT OFFICIALLY OPEN)


The Science and Society program at The Kavli Foundation invites proposals that explore societal contexts and considerations of a basic scientific research question, or which identify, explore, or engage publics in the context of a research question or topic. 

Funding Overview

  • Awards of $5,000-$50,000 
  • Project duration: 0-18 months
  • Expected funding start time: Q4 2025 
  • Indirect rate: up to 15% of allowable direct costs  
  • Eligibility: projects must include a scientist with a connection to The Kavli Foundation (full criteria available in ‘Eligibility’ below)

Background

The Science and Society program at The Kavli Foundation provides support for projects that connect the people, processes, and products of science meaningfully to society. This includes funding projects that seek to understand the societal contexts of research and/or engage publics in the scientific discovery process. Recognizing interest from researchers to consider the societal context of their work, fields like public engagement with science, science and technology studies, and others provide insights such as: 

  • Understanding the societal context or public perception about scientific research better can inform future research directions or applications.
  • Cross-disciplinary collaborations between scientists and publics and/or social scientists are poised to effectively consider potential contexts of scientific discovery from different perspectives. 
  • Work to consider the societal context of basic science may be underfunded, or those interested in doing this work may not know where to start. 
  • Catalytic funding to design ideas, build relationships, and carry out projects can be useful in scoping and supporting progress toward larger projects.

Request for Proposals  

The Kavli Foundation invites proposals for projects that explore societal contexts and considerations of a basic scientific research question, or which identify, explore, or engage publics in the context of a research question or topic. 

Given that there is a wide variety of types of projects that fit into this call, projects that address one or more of the following are preferred:

  • Empower multidisciplinary collaboration among basic scientists, social scientists, humanities scholars, and/or civic engagement experts to explore and/or address societal contexts of basic science. 
  • Plan or implement a strategic science communication or engagement project. Strategic projects are goal-oriented, include a plan for progress that aligns with the overarching goal, and engage an audience that aligns with the project’s goal.
  • Study, collect, or listen to the opinions and views of the public related to a research project. 
  • Share insights about understanding societal context, considerations, or public opinion with research communities.

Recognizing the myriad ways to work at the interface of science and society, a few examples are listed below, but these do not span the breadth of all possibilities. If a project to explore societal contexts and/or engage publics aligns with the characteristics described above, proposals submissions are encouraged. For a given basic scientific research question, topic, or advancement, examples of proposed projects might include, but are not limited to: 

  • A colloquium series, symposium, or guest lecture (e.g., at an institution or a major scientific meeting).
  • Public opinion research on societal perspectives of a research question or topic.
  • Scope (e.g., planning grant) or execute a project engaging public groups.
  • Foster or design collaborations with scientists, social scientists, civic leaders, etc. This may include support for travel to attend conferences or workshops that are outside your disciplinary norms.
  • Evaluate the impact of engaging publics.

Proposals on the following topics are beyond the scope of this call and will not be considered: 

  • Basic scientific research projects.
  • Work focused on health, medical, or technology application that does not have a basic science component.
  • Projects on the ethical practice of doing science, including projects on ensuring ethical research conduct (e.g., treatment of animal subjects, replication, or navigating an Institutional Review Board).
  • Projects that do not include a scientist with a connection to The Kavli Foundation.

The foundation will consider requests between $5,000-$50,000 and is able to support up to 15% of indirect costs within this $50,000 limit. Project duration should be no more than 18 months. The foundation anticipates funding proposals with a range of costs and durations. 

Eligibility 

Requirements: 

  • Projects must include a scientist with a connection to The Kavli Foundation as a meaningful contributor (details below). 
  • Proposed projects must pertain to astrophysics, nanoscience, neuroscience, or theoretical physics. 

Qualifying Kavli connections include: scientists who are members of Kavli Institutes (including recipients of Kavli Institute Innovation Awards), current and former recipients of Kavli Foundation science grants (including FENS-Kavli Network Scholars and Kavli-Grass Fellows), and Kavli Professors. The individual does not need to be a Principal Investigator (PI). Graduate students or postdocs are eligible and must include a letter of support from their PI submitted with the application.

Scientists whose sole Kavli affiliation is having attended a Kavli-sponsored meeting (e.g., Kavli Frontiers of Science, SciPEP) are not eligible to fulfill this criterion. They may be included on proposals with individuals who do meet all eligibility criteria. 

Social scientists and engagement experts are eligible and encouraged to submit proposals for this call.

Collaborators can be from a range of departments or institutions, including outside of academia. PIs may be included on up to two proposals.  

Applicants for funding must be at a US or international institution of higher education, non-profit research organization, or affiliated with such an entity. For international awards, status equivalent to a US public charity or nonprofit educational institution may be required. The Kavli Foundation is unable to accept applications from individuals at organizations located in certain sanctioned territories. 

Only fully completed applications submitted through The Kavli Foundation’s application portal will be considered.

How to Apply 

Please click the APPLY button to access and submit your application. Be prepared to provide: 

  • PI(s) information (2 maximum). If the scientist with a connection to The Kavli Foundation is not a PI, indicate who brings this connection and their role in the project (150 words).
  • Project title.
  • Amount requested ($5,000 – $50,000).
  • Duration of project (0-18 months).
  • Description of the goal of the proposed work, why the work is needed, and the proposed approach (1000 words).
  • List other individuals playing key roles (if any) and describe what experience you/your group has to do this work (500 words).
  • Budget justification: List and briefly describe major line items (100 words or optional upload).
  • References (Optional, 300 words).

No additional materials or appendices will be considered. Word counts reflect an up to limit. It is not required to utilize the full allotted word count.

Submissions will close Thursday, June 26th, 2025, at 5PM PDT. Applicants will be notified of the foundation’s decision by August 28th, 2025.  

More information on The Kavli Institutes as well as The Kavli Foundation’s grantees and current programs are available at the links below.

For any other questions about this request for proposals, please contact The Kavli Foundation at science.and.society@kavlifoundation.org.

Apply
Opens
28 Apr 2025 08:00 AM (PDT)
Deadline
27 Jun 2025 05:00 PM (PDT)
Categories
Science and Society