July 21, 2020
Social Science Research Council: Just Tech COVID-19 Rapid Response Grants
Application Deadline: August 31, 2020 (first period of application review)
The Social Science Research Council (SSRC), as part of its Just Tech program, seeks proposals from across the social sciences and related fields that address the risks, opportunities, and challenges posed by public health surveillance stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic. We specifically encourage proposals that interrogate the role the public and private sectors may play in mitigating or exacerbating the health crisis, the effects of which are already unevenly distributed.
The Just Tech Rapid-Response Grants will support innovative research projects that deploy remote research methods to shed light on both the short- and potential long-term implications of public health interventions for a range of rights, liberties, and public goods. Subjects may include, but are not limited to:
- Contact tracing and public health surveillance
- Voting access and rights amid “lockdowns” and widespread social distancing
- Disparities in the collection, representation, and use of health data
- The digital divide in remote work and learning, education, and public health
- Precarity of labor and work in the tech industry or gig economy
- Remote organizing, campaigning, and social movements
- The impact of predictive algorithms on the provision of social welfare and policing
These topics are illustrative. Applicants are welcome to propose others. Projects illuminating the experiences of historically marginalized people are especially encouraged, as are those that can constructively inform policy responses across communities and institutions. Awards will range from USD $5,000 to $10,000, with larger amounts directed to projects committed to research partnerships grounded in principles of ethical collaboration and equity, composed of partners who might not otherwise work together.
Eligibility
The Just Tech program invites proposals for Rapid-Response Grants from researchers—based at both academic and nonacademic institutions—who hold a PhD in any social science discipline or related interdisciplinary field. The grants offer up to six months of support toward research-related expenses. These include, but are not limited to, access to datasets, archives, and relevant publications; costs related to conducting online research of various kinds; and research assistance. Applications are welcome from any country around the world.
For more information about this opportunity, including how to apply, click here.