Since our Biosecurity program began in 2000, the Foundation has provided $44.1 million in support. Our original focus was on preparedness, both for individual citizens and for organizations. We have supported a number of important projects, including the development of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Ready.gov initiative. Since 2000, we have underwritten the influential Center for Biosecurity of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, whose mission is to strengthen national security by reducing the risks posed by biological attacks, epidemics, and other destabilizing events, and to improve the nation’s preparedness and response in the face of such events. Our Biosecurity program has also addressed issues surrounding dangerous research and the potential misuse of scientific knowledge, methods and materials in the life sciences. In this arena, we funded a number of significant projects, including the landmark Fink committee report: “Biotechnology Research in an Age of Terrorism,” the U.S. National Academies’ International Biosecurity Project and the World Health Organization’s program to raise awareness of the potential for misuse of biotechnology research. Sloan’s Biosecurity Program has been very successful in bringing attention to the issues and challenges posed by biological threats. When our program began in 2000, the US government funding for strictly biodefense was approximately $50 million. The FY2010 budget is $1.09 billion. Grantmaking in the Biosecurity program concluded in 2010. Program Director: Paula Olsiewski Bio Grants Apply Headlines VIDEO: What You Need to Know About Infectious Disease The National Academies Links Center for Biosecurity Charting the Future of Biosecurity: Ten Years After the Anthrax Attacks REPORT: A Framework for Voluntary Preparedness What is Your Readiness Quotient? Ready.gov Biotechnology Research in an Age of Terrorism (The Fink Report)
Since its founding in 1934, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation has been proud to call New York City home. With its Civic Initiatives Program, the Foundation responds to unique opportunities to benefit the New York City metro area with an eye toward advancing the Foundation's other interests in science, technology and economic performance. Ongoing initiatives in the Civic Program include the Sloan Public Service Awards , which recognize outstanding public service to New York City, and the Sloan Awards for Excellence in Teaching Science and Mathematics , which recognize remarkable science and math teaching in New York City's public high schools. Program Director: Paula Olsiewski Bio Grants Apply Links Sloan Public Service Awards Sloan Awards for Excellence in Teaching Science and Mathematics
In this program, the Foundation makes grants to preserve the raw material of history. Foundation efforts support archival projects that will make available to scholars complete collections of the papers, letters, and notes of Charles Darwin, Thomas A. Edison, and Kurt Gödel. Through grants to George Mason University’s Center for History and New Media , the Internet Archive and others, the Foundation has also supported efforts to deploy new technologies to create, access and preserve the historical record of recent major technical and scientific events using the World Wide Web, including recording the ongoing development of the Web itself. The History of Science and Technology program is currently undergoing evaluation to identify possible new directions and funding priorities. Program Director: Doron Weber Bio Apply Links The Center for History and New Media The Wayback Machine at the Internet Archive
Grantmaking in this small interdisciplinary program looks for unique opportunities to expand our understanding of the economic, technological, organizational, regulatory, national security, and environmental consequences of energy production and consumption. Past grantmaking in this program has led to the publication of the influential MIT reports, The Future of Nuclear Power (2003), and The Future of Coal (2007) and the Foundation is currently supporting a similar project which focuses on economic, technological, and institutional issues associated with the use of solar energy. Other recent Foundation grants in this area support the exploration of strategies for the safe, responsible expansion of nuclear power around the world, a project to examine the feasibility of extending the life of existing nuclear plants, a project to disseminate safety guidelines for the responsible use of radioactive materials at academic, industrial and medical institutions, a project examining a variety of questions related to energy security, and three projects on natural gas: one examining the economics of state-of-the-art natural gas extraction based on detailed analyses of the geological and economic attributes of five important U.S. shale gas deposits; one examining environmental and regulatory issues surrounding shale gas exploration and extraction; and one examining the politics associated with the development of public policies toward shale gas exploration and development. The Foundations most recent large grant in the energy area provides start-up funds to create a research center to study the impacts of government and utility programs to promote energy efficiency. Due to the significant funding available from both public and private sources for energy and environmental research, the Foundation is very selective in the grants it makes in this area, supporting only projects for which non-partisan funding is not readily available, projects related to other Foundation programs or priorities, or projects where Foundation support could be leveraged to significantly raise the chances of the project’s success. Program Director: Gail Pesyna Bio
Americans are working later in life, delaying retirement for a variety of reasons. While some continue working by choice, others needto remain in the workforce for financial reasons. Regardless of their motivation, the result is that people in the United States are working beyond what conventionally is thought of as retirement age. While most studies related to this issue have focused on how individually based factors such as health status, pension plans, and financial incentives influence the decision to retire, relatively little is known about employment patterns, obstacles to employment, or the ensuing economic impact. The Foundation’s Working Longer program began grant making in 2010 to expand and deepen our understanding of aging Americans’ work patterns. The goal is to understand a) employer practices by industry and sector; b) obstacles to continued employment of older Americans; and c) the economic consequences for both individuals and for the federal budget. Program Director: Kathleen Christensen Bio Apply Headlines Health Woes Hurt Workers Two Ways MSNBC For Older Workers, Here is Where the Jobs Will Be Wall Street Journal Boston University School of Medicine wins ACE Award for Faculty Retention Program Boston University The Silver Collar Economy Christian Science Monitor
This program supports research on the structure, behavior, and performance of the U.S. economy with the goal of providing objective and nonpartisan insights that can inform and strengthen critical decisions facing leaders, policymakers, and the public. Grantmaking is divided into four thematic sub-programs. Economic Implications of the Great Recession Projects in this sub-program study markets and governments, specifically with regard to lessons we can draw from the recent financial crisis and Great Recession. Appropriate research topics include systemic stability; international regulatory coordination; risk measurement, capital requirements, and credit ratings; labor market recovery rates and liquidity; dataset and model development concerning labor trends Behavioral Economics and Household Finance Projects in this sub-program study individuals and households, specifically with regard to the quality of their economic decision-making. Appropriate research topics include the annuity paradox; the energy efficiency paradox; insurance markets; risk-taking, savings, and personal bankruptcy; cognitive biases; public understanding of economics and markets for financial advice. Economic Analysis of Science and Technology Projects in this sub-program study universities and groundbreaking industries, specifically regarding human capital development and applications of information technology. Appropriate research topics include labor markets for scientists and engineers; high-skilled immigration; patterns of scientific publication, collaboration, and intellectual property protection; the economics of digitization; and the international distribution of returns on high-tech investments. Empirical Economic Research Enablers Projects in this sub-program study economic researchers, specifically with regard to their needs, opportunities, incentives, and professional practices. Appropriate research topics include legal entity identifiers; data citation standards; identification and tracking systems for scholars; federal statistics; smart disclosure platforms for obfuscated markets; data and metadata management protocols; the replicability of empirical research; and the economics of knowledge contribution and distribution. Click the "APPLY" button, below, for more information about how to submit a Letter of Inquriy for an appropriate research project. Program Director: Daniel Goroff Bio Gail Pesyna Bio Apply Headlines New "Voter Atlas" Shows Where the True Electoral Battlegrounds Are The Seeds that Federal Money Can Plant New York Times Links The Macro Financial Modeling Workgroup
The Foundation supports a range of radio programs that deal with science and technology and seeks to increase both the quantity and the quality of science and technology coverage. Previous Sloan grants started the science and technology desk on National Public Radio and on Public Radio International’s The World , while current grants include support for Radiolab, Studio 360, Science Friday, Planet Money, PRX, and BURN: An Energy Journal . The Foundation also supports LA Theatre Works in recording full-length science plays as part of a series called Relativity , broadcast on public radio. The recordings include numerous plays originally commissioned by the Foundation’s theater program. Sloan has supported limited radio series, such as the Peabody-Award winning The DNA Files and has also sponsored science coverage on commercial radio, such as The Osgood File . Program Director: Doron Weber Bio Apply Spotlight Listen to Alex Chadwick host BURN: An Energy Journal. Check out feature episodes on Nuclear Power after Fukushima, America's hunt for oil, and America's energy policy. more Headlines Radiolab's "Apocalyptic" Tour Hits NY's Beacon Theatre in October Broadway World Links PRX STEM Story Project Explore the Science and Creativity Series on Studio 360 Visit Science Friday for the latest podcast Check out Radiolab Let Planet Money explain economics Listen to BURN: An Energy Journal on Marketplace Program Updates March 2013 June 2013 Public Understanding Sub Programs Books Film Television Theater New Media
The goal of the Film program is to influence the next generation of filmmakers to tackle science and technology themes and characters, to increase visibility for feature films that depict this subject matter, and to produce new scripts about science and technology and about scientists, engineers and mathematicians. This program works primarily through initiatives with film schools, film festivals, and independent and Hollywood film producers. Film Schools Film Festivals Film Development Program Director: Doron Weber Bio Apply Headlines Kate Mickere Wins $20K Screenwriting Prize for "Diamond in the Sky" About Pioneering Astronomer Times-Tribune Film Independent Fast Track 2013 Selections Include Projects From Nikyatu Jusua, A. Sayeeda Clark, Others indieWire James Cameron Honored by National Geographic for Deepsea Challenger Expedition National Geographic Computer Chess is a New Yorker Summer Movie Pick New Yorker Links VIDEO: Sloan at Sundance Sloan Science and Film at Museum of the Moving Image Sloan events at the Tribeca Film Festival, April 17-28 Program Updates March 2013 June 2013 Public Understanding Sub Programs Books Radio Television Theater New Media
The Foundation supports a wide range of books aimed at public understanding of science and technology. Popular categories include books that elucidate the scientific basis of issues that are often confusing or controversial or unnecessarily obscure. The Foundation also supports books that profile scientific and technological figures from varying angles, but with an emphasis on the human story. Books about the relevance of technology to daily life and about the relationship between women and technology also find occasional support. Inventing America: A History of the United States , a popular college textbook supported by the Foundation, explores the central role of science, technology and business in the nation’s development. The Foundation’s Book program aims to reach a wide, lay audience. Program Director: Doron Weber Bio Supported Books Apply Spotlight The Fractalist is Benoit Mandelbrot's fascinating memoir about the man who changed the way we look at both the natural and financial world. more Spotlight Tesla: Inventor of the Electrical Age, by W. Bernard Carlson, is a major new biography about the inventor Nikola Tesla, one of the major contributors to the electrical revolution. more Program Updates March 2013 June 2013 Public Understanding Sub Programs Film Radio Television Theater New Media
The Foundation occasionally sponsors innovative efforts to reach a broad, cross-cultural audience or to target specific segments of the public. These efforts may take the form of, but are not limited to, Internet projects, conferences, multimedia events, performances, and science and arts festivals. Program Director: Doron Weber Bio Apply Spotlight The Foundation supports innovative efforts like the annual World Science Festival in New York City. more Links New Funding for the Science Festival Alliance Headlines Brain Scans and the Law: Watch World Science Festival Event Scientific American The Puzzle of Consciousness: Watch Full Video of World Science Festival Panel Scientific American Playwright Nell Benjamin and Explorer Sylvia Earle Set for Talk After MTC's The Explorer's Club Broadway World 30 Years in the Fight Against AIDS Huffington Post Best Things To Do At The World Science Festival Time Out New York Program Updates March 2013 June 2013 Public Understanding Sub Programs Books Film Radio Television Theater
