The next target date for applications to the NSF societal dimensions program
is August 1, 2004. Investigators who are interested in studying ethical and
value aspects in the interactions of engineering, science, technology and
society and investigators examining policy, and engineering, science,
technology and society should contact Sheila Slaughter to discuss their
ideas; her e-mail is [log in to unmask] Before they do, they should read the
information on the program's home page, at www.nsf.gov/sbe/ses/sdest.

This year's deadline for CAREER applications from investigators who qualify,
and who wish to study ethics, values, or policy aspects of engineering,
science, technology and society, is July 22, 2004.

Here are some special information about the CAREER funding opportunity:

1. This is the third year of a three-year CAREER Program Solicitation (NSF
02-111; http://www.nsf.gov/pubsys/ods/getpub.cfm?nsf02111). A few
need-to-know items are:
The eligibility criteria. Applicants must:
Hold a doctoral degree as of submission date
Be untenured as of submission date
Be employed in a tenure-track (or equivalent) position as of October 1
following submission
Be employed as an assistant professor (or equivalent as of October 1
following submission
Have not competed more than 2 times previously in the CAREER program
Have not previously received an NSF CAREER or PECASE award

Applicants will self-certify their eligibility for the CAREER program and,
if applicable, the PECASE program. Unless applicants properly complete the
certifications, they will not be able to submit a CAREER proposal through
FastLane. Please note that, unlike in previous solicitations, no
eligibility exemptions will be granted. Please refer any eligibility
questions to your Directorate Representative
(http://www.nsf.gov/home/crssprgm/career/contacts.htm).

The minimum award size is $400,000 for 5 years, except in BIO, where the
minimum award size is $500,000 for 5 years.

The departmental endorsement letter needs to contain three components:
A three sentence departmental endorsement statement (wording is given in the
solicitation)
A description of the support that the department/institution will provide
Verification of the CAREER eligibility information that the applicant
self-certified in the application process.

2. The deadline dates for FY 2005 are:

July 20, 2004 for BIO, CISE, and EHR
July 21, 2004 for ENG
July 22, 2004 for GEO, MPS, SBE and OPP

As indicated in the current solicitation: "Any CAREER proposal received
after the Directorate/Office deadline will not be reviewed or considered for
funding. Please note that NSF program officers are not authorized to grant
extensions to the deadline for the CAREER program."

3. To help you and your PIs, there is an updated FAQ
(http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2003/nsf03031/nsf03031.htm) and a Submission
Requirements Checklist
(http://www.nsf.gov/home/crssprgm/career/fastlane_checklist_2004.pdf)
available on the external CAREER Web site (http://www.nsf.gov/career). You
can also refer any questions to your Directorate representatives and
Division Contacts, a full list of which can be found at:
http://www.nsf.gov/home/crssprgm/career/contacts.htm.

Rachelle D. Hollander
Senior Science Advisor
Division of Social and Economic Sciences (SES)
Societal Dimensions Program (SDEST)
   Ethics and Values Studies (EVS)
   Research on Science and Technology (RST)
www.nsf.gov/sbe/ses/sdest
NSF 4201 Wilson Blvd. Rm. 995
Arlington, VA 22230
703-292-7272, fax-9068; [log in to unmask]
Proposal project summaries must address, separately, intellectual merit and
broader impacts.