Law & Science
The Law & Science Program funds interdisciplinary studies exploring connections between human behavior, laws, science, and technology in diverse fields.
Funder: U.S. National Science Foundation
Due Dates: Proposals accepted anytime
Funding Amounts: Estimated total program funding: $5,500,000; typical award size and duration vary by project type.
Summary: Supports interdisciplinary, social scientific research on law, law-like systems, and the application of science and technology in legal contexts.
Description
The program supports research that advances scientific understanding of the connections between human behavior and law, legal institutions, or legal processes, as well as the interactions of law with basic sciences (including biology, computer and information sciences, STEM education, engineering, geosciences, and physical sciences). The initiative is inherently interdisciplinary and multi-methodological, encouraging studies that treat law as a dynamic system interacting with various societal domains.
Research topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Crime, violence, and policing
- Cyberspace and information technology
- Economic and environmental issues
- Forensic science and evidentiary matters
- Governance, courts, and litigation
- Human rights and comparative law
- Legal and ethical issues related to science and emerging technologies (e.g., biotechnology, gene editing)
- Legal decision-making, mobilization, and conceptions of justice
- Punishment, corrections, and regulation
Supported proposal types include standard research grants, collaborative research, and conference awards. The program also participates in NSF-wide activities such as CAREER, REU, RUI, RAPID, and EAGER.
