Cross-cutting collaborative programs awarded S3 grants

Nine cross-cutting research collaborations between MSU units were recently awarded grants by the Science and Society at State, or S3, program, which is directed by Sean Valles, an associate professor of history, philosophy and sociology at Lyman Briggs College.

The S3 internal grant program enables faculty members in different disciplines to study a topic and to work together on research or education, laying the groundwork for potential external grant applications.

Specifically, the program funds interdisciplinary research and education projects which use methods, approaches and scholarship from STEM or health sciences, along with looking at science through the lens of the humanities or social sciences.

Valles noted that this year’s collaborations show an inclination to improve society in some way, by making it more inclusive, equitable, healthy and knowledgeable.

“Social justice was not in the grant application criteria,” Valles said. “Yet, this program shows the enduring land-grant spirit of MSU—ambitious academic and interdisciplinary work serving the people of Michigan and beyond.”

The S3 program stems from the college’s commitment to exploring science and math in a broad context.

“Interdisciplinary research is critical to solving today’s most pressing scientific problems,” said Michele Jackson, dean of Lyman Briggs College. “Starting these projects, though, can be difficult. Briggs is proud to sponsor programs like S3, which provide the support needed to launch productive research partnerships and to chart new directions in science scholarship.”

The nine collaborations are:

• The Capacity Necessary to Designate a Surrogate
• We Are Not Strangers Here: Cross-cultural Engagements and Responsibilities of Self-same Land
• Exploring the Resilience of Lansing’s Urban Agriculture Systems with the Community
• Creating Inclusive Environments in Long-term Care for LGBT Older Adults
• A qualitative exploration of media and information/communication technology use among older adults with and without cognitive impairment and dementia
• Community Cultural STEM: Gaming and Computing Activities to Support “Community Cultural Wealth” in Informal STEM Learning Environments
• Integrating Natural, Social and Behavioral Science Methods to Understand Barriers to Integrated Pest Management in Rwandan Coffee
• Technostress and the Health of Working Older Adults
• It’s Elementary! Exploring Backyard Moth Ecology to Learn About Science Practices

The application process for 2019-2020 projects will open in the fall.

For a look at previous S3 collaborative programs, click here.