Social Science Research Council (SSRC)

History

Founded in 1923, the Social Science Research Council (SSRC) is an independent, nongovernmental, not-for-profit, international association devoted to the advancement of interdisciplinary research in the social sciences. It does this through a wide variety of interdisciplinary workshops and conferences, fellowships and grants, summer training institutes, scholarly exchanges, and publications.

These pages are designed as a communication tool for eligible scholars interested in applying for an SSRC grant through one of the programs that may be relevant to their studies. In addition, these pages include articles and listings of literature produced by the SSRC. Follow one of the links below for more information on the SSRC. 1)

Mission 1997 edition

In seeking to advance the quality, value, and effectiveness of social science research, the SSRC encourages scholars in separate disciplines - anthropologists, economists, historians, political scientists, psychologists, sociologists, statisticians, and others - to work together on important topical, conceptual, and methodological issues that can benefit from interdisciplinary collaboration. Natural scientists, geographers, linguists, and scholars in the humanities also participate in many of the Council's activities. The Council's work is carried out through a wide variety of workshops and conferences, fellowships and grants, summer training institutes, research consortia, scholarly exchanges, and publications.

Throughout its program, the SSRC mobilizes eminent social scientists from the U.S. and abroad to identify and explore new intellectual paths and to test their knowledge, theories, and methods against the challenges of contemporary and historical problems. A central emphasis of the Council is to expand the empirical, theoretical, and methodological bases upon which social science research rests.

Fellowship and grant programs recruit promising pre- and postdoctoral scholars, and provide support for training and development. Other programs seek to improve the resources available to senior researchers, and provide opportunities for advanced training. Because it is an independent organization, free from the constraints of policies imposed by government or other institutions, the Council is free to promote training, attention to research opportunities, and application of promising methodological innovations that may not receive adequate attention in university, disciplinary, area studies, or policy analysis institutions.

The roster of social scientists who have contributed their voluntary efforts to the SSRC's undertakings, or who have received what has often been for them crucial intellectual or financial support, contains an impressive number of the world's leading scholars, including Nobel Prize winners. 2)

A Research Agenda for Media Policy in 2007

More than 200 scholars, activists and policy-makers gathered in Memphis for the Media Policy Research Pre-conference on January 11th, 2007. The Pre-Conference, a joint effort of the Social Science Research Council and Free Press, had two primary goals: (1) to facilitate academic research engagement with policy processes, advocacy needs, and other aspects of media reform and media justice; (2) to spur the coordination of research efforts around policy opportunities in 2007. Both are integral to the SSRC’s program on research/advocacy collaboration: ‘Necessary Knowledge for a Democratic Public Sphere.’ 3)

Update 2022

Mercury Project - A new $20 million partnership with the National Science Foundation will advance the scientific frontier of building Covid-19 vaccination demand and a healthier information environment.

The SSRC is thrilled to announce the 2022-2024 cohort of Just Tech Fellows, six visionaries working to imagine more equitable and representative technological futures: Kim Gallon, Chris Gilliard, Christine Miranda, Clarence Okoh, Meme Styles, and Rua Williams.

Supporting healthier online environments

The Digital Platforms Initiative supports the development and testing of interventions designed to improve the quality of interactions on digital platforms, and to lead to new welfare-enhancing policy and regulatory frameworks.

Mobilizing social science for the public good.

The Social Science Research Council, an independent, international nonprofit, mobilizes necessary knowledge for the public good by supporting scholars worldwide, generating new research across disciplines, and linking researchers with policymakers and citizens.

100 years of social and behavioral science in the public interest

The Social Science Research Council (SSRC) was founded in 1923 by visionary representatives from the American Economic Association, the American Sociological Association, the American Political Science Association, and the American Statistical Association. By 1925, representatives from the American Anthropological Association, the American Historical Association, and the American Psychological Association had joined the organization. Since its inception, the SSRC has generated new insights into the most pressing societal issues of the past century.

Building an inclusive and global research community

By awarding more than 18,000 fellowships and grants since our founding, the Social Science Research Council has identified, cultivated, and advanced innovative research that expands our collective understanding. We support a diverse and representative research community that brings a range of perspectives and approaches to understanding the human condition.

Explore Fellowships & Opportunities 4)

Carnegie Foundation Funding

Summary - Social Science Research Council: $3,652,000: Peacebuilding in Africa: 2019: Social Science Research Council: $4,400,000: Peacebuilding in Africa: 2019: Social Science Research Council: $138,000: International Peace and Security: 2019: Social Science Research Council: $65,000: Democracy: 2017: Social Science Research Council: $2,460,000: Peacebuilding in Africa: 2017 5)

  • 2019 Social Science Research Council $138,000 International Peace and Security
  • 2019 Social Science Research Council $65,000 Democracy
  • 2017 Social Science Research Council $2,460,000 Peacebuilding in Africa
  • 2017 Social Science Research Council $400,000 International Peace and Security
  • 2017 Social Science Research Council $200,000 Special Projects
  • 2017 Social Science Research Council $2,200,000 Peacebuilding in Africa
  • 2015 Social Science Research Council $2,460,000 Peacebuilding in Africa
  • 2015 Social Science Research Council $400,000 International Peace and Security
  • 2015 Social Science Research Council $2,133,700 Peacebuilding in Africa
  • 2015 Social Science Research Council $250,000 Special Projects
  • 2013 Social Science Research Council $2,023,700 International Peace and Security
  • 2013 Social Science Research Council $300,000 International Peace and Security
  • 2013 Social Science Research Council $2,035,200 Higher Education and Research in Africa
  • 2011 Social Science Research Council $300,000 International Peace and Security
  • 2011 Social Science Research Council $1,649,000 International Peace and Security
  • 2011 Social Science Research Council $2,150,000 Higher Education and Research in Africa
  • 2010 Social Science Research Council $50,000 Legacy
  • 2010 Social Science Research Council $49,000 Education
  • 2009 Social Science Research Council $50,000 Higher Education and Research in Africa
  • 2009 Social Science Research Council $3,000,000 Legacy
  • 2009 Social Science Research Council $33,000 International Peace and Security
  • 2009 Social Science Research Council $295,000 International Peace and Security
  • 2008 Social Science Research Council $300,000 Education
  • 2008 Social Science Research Council $150,000 Legacy
  • 2008 Social Science Research Council $50,000 Legacy
  • 2007 Social Science Research Council $2,000,000 Legacy
  • 2007 Social Science Research Council $225,000 International Peace and Security
  • 2007 Social Science Research Council $50,000 Education
  • 2005 Social Science Research Council $225,000 International Peace and Security
Back to top