Advance Research That Strengthens a Free and Open Society
IHS supports independent research on digital governance, nuclear energy, and deliberative democracy to advance understanding of free and open societies.
Funder: Institute for Humane Studies
Due Dates: July 1, 2026 (Digital Governance as Liberal Experimentation, Nuclear Energy and the Challenge of a Growing Grid) | July 10, 2026 (Deliberative Democracy and the Effects of Deliberation)
Funding Amounts: Most awards up to $5,000 (Digital Governance RFP); other RFPs based on project need; typically single-year support.
Summary: Supports independent academic research on digital governance, nuclear energy, deliberative democracy, and related themes advancing a free and open society.
Description
The Institute for Humane Studies (IHS) offers targeted research funding opportunities for faculty and scholars to advance rigorous, independent scholarship on the institutional, economic, constitutional, and cultural foundations of a free society. Through a set of annual Requests for Proposals (RFPs), IHS supports projects in areas such as digital governance, nuclear energy policy, and deliberative democracy. Awarded scholars retain full independence over their research design, analysis, and publication. The program aims to foster impactful research that informs policy, strengthens liberal-democratic institutions, and explores innovative solutions to contemporary societal challenges.
