Photo credit: Mathew Schwartz
Dear Friends of the National Institute —
As many of you are aware, the National Institute revised and relaunched its historically popular Seed Grant Program this year, in the form of the 2020 Dissertation Grants. In consultation with the Board of Trustees, the Grants Committee significantly upgraded the rigor, reach, and scope of the program, which is designed to support outstanding Ph.D. students who need additional resources to complete doctoral work that promises to significantly advance their fields of study in the social sciences.
For 2020, NISS solicited nominations from 27 leading universities in the fields of anthropology, economics, and history. We received a number of very high quality proposals in return.
Grants Committee Chairman Jonathan Piel stated that the winning and runner-up projects promise “profound change in the way politicians and diplomats as well as scholars and the general public view the action in these critical arenas.” The Grants Committee is in the final stages of making a decision on the awardee(s).
Direct support of scholars in the social sciences is a key pillar of our institutional mission, and one which the Members and Trustees of the National Institute have very generously and enthusiastically supported in the past. If you would like to support this program, please feel free to make a donation at the following link. Please make sure to indicate “Dissertation Grants” in the comments box:
Social science research and scholarship is never more important than in times like these, when society is unsettled and undergoing tremendous strains and transformations. Your generous support for these talented emerging scholars will help them contribute valuable knowledge and perspective to the ongoing understanding of our society.
Thank you for your support!
Fred Larsen
President, Board of Trustees