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nsf-public-access-repository-par"> <a href="https://par.nsf.gov/"> <span>NSF Public Access Repository (PAR)</span> </a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item our-directorates--offices"> <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/about/directorates-offices"> <span>Our Directorates & Offices</span> </a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item search-funded-projects-awards"> <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/"> <span>Search Funded Projects (Awards)</span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="usa-nav__primary-item focus-areas"> <button type="button" class="usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link usa-current" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="basic-mega-nav-section-3"> <span>Focus Areas</span> </button> <div id="basic-mega-nav-section-3" class="usa-nav__submenu usa-megamenu" hidden=""> <div class="grid-row grid-gap-3"> <div class="usa-col "> <div class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <span class="usa-nav__submenu-item-dupe-parent">Areas We Fund</span> </div> <ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item arctic--antarctic"> <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/focus-areas/arctic-antarctic"> <span>Arctic & Antarctic</span> </a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item astronomy--space"> <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/focus-areas/astronomy-space"> <span>Astronomy & Space</span> </a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item biology"> <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/focus-areas/biology"> <span>Biology</span> </a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item chemistry"> <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/focus-areas/chemistry"> <span>Chemistry</span> </a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item computing"> <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/focus-areas/computing"> <span>Computing</span> </a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item earth--environment"> <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/focus-areas/earth-environment"> <span>Earth & Environment</span> </a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item education--training"> <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/focus-areas/education"> 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dynamic-image-overlay hero__wrapper--dynamic-image-overlay " data-is-footer-caption-credit data-media-id="9959" data-footer-caption-credit-src="https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/styles/image_credit_caption_block_130x78_/s3/2023-04/PF6016_press_h.jpg?VersionId=cWF4avY0BgSgnFMOGx5I9sJnhLy2I8NK&itok=Ww-aSf3t" data-caption="The fossilized skull of Australopithecus sediba specimen MH1 and a finite element model of its cranium depicting strains experienced during a simulated bite on its premolars. "Warm" colors indicate regions of high strain, "cool" colors indicate regions of low strain. A recent study found that A. sediba did not have the jaw and tooth structure necessary to exist on a steady diet of hard foods. More about this image A National Science Foundation (NSF)-supported study by an international team of researchers has found that Australopithecus sediba, a tiny prehuman species that lived about 2 million years ago in southern Africa, did not have the jaw and tooth structure necessary to exist on a steady diet of hard foods. Researcher David Strait, a professor of anthropology at Washington University in St. Louis and leader of the research team, says most australopiths had adaptations in their jaws, teeth and faces that allowed them to process foods that were difficult to chew or crack open; for example, they were able to efficiently bite down on foods with very high force. Justin Ledogar, a former graduate student of Straits and now a researcher at the University of New England in Australia, says "Australopithecus sediba is thought by some researchers to lie near the ancestry of Homo, the group to which our species belongs. Then we find that A. sediba had an important limitation on its ability to bite powerfully; if it had bitten as hard as possible on its molar teeth using the full force of its chewing muscles, it would have dislocated its jaw." Published in the journal Nature Communications, the study describes biomechanical testing of a computer-based model of an A. sediba skull, recovered in 2008 from Malapa, a cave near Johannesburg, South Africa. The biomechanical methods used in the study are similar to those used by engineers to test whether planes, cars, machine parts or other mechanical devices are strong enough to avoid breaking during use. A. sediba has been thought to be a possible ancestor or close relative of Homo. Australopiths appear in the fossil record about 4 million years ago. While they have some human traits, like the ability to walk upright on two legs, most of them lack other characteristically human features like a large brain, flat face with small jaw and teeth, and advanced tool use. While the study does not directly address whether A. sediba is actually a close evolutionary relative of early Homo, it does provide further evidence that dietary changes were shaping the evolutionary paths of early humans. [Research supported by grants from the National Science Foundation (BCS 07-25219, BCS 07-25183, BCS 07-25147, BCS 07-25141, BCS 07-25136, BCS 07-25126, BCS 07-25122, BCS 07-25078 and NSF DBI 07-43460.] To learn more, see NSF press release 16-015, Early human ancestor lacked jaws of a nutcracker, study finds." data-credit="MH1 by Brett Eloff, courtesy Lee Berger and University of the Witwatersrand" data-component-id="nsf_theme:hero"> <picture class="hero__media hero__image"> <source srcset="https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/styles/hero/s3/2023-04/PF6016_press_h.jpg.webp?VersionId=MHmig9qfzMIPrL.ORvSibDcnLSwlR_zx&itok=1a2GemDj" media="(min-width: 1204px)" type="image/webp" /> <source srcset="https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/styles/hero_medium/s3/2023-04/PF6016_press_h.jpg.webp?VersionId=oTD.KKLQt9FUQeN4SEk2BIl6TQHT0L3P&itok=8MlXfUt4" media="(min-width: 580px)" type="image/webp" /> <img class="hero__image-image" src="https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/styles/hero_small/s3/2023-04/PF6016_press_h.jpg.webp?VersionId=GNWFBVDdnEwD0Jm3z9gcNI8gm_6SdEw1&itok=k_IV1l8S" alt="Fossilized skull speciment and finite element model of cranium" /> </picture> <span class="hero__overlay"></span> <div class="hero hero--default hero--style-dynamic-image-overlay hero--media-type-image"> <div class="hero__content hero__content--default "> <div class="hero__content-inner"> <div class="hero__meta"> </div> <h1 class="hero__title hero-heading">People and Society</h1> <div class="hero__tagline"> Illuminating what makes us human. </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="hero-credit-caption__wrapper"> <div class="hero-credit-caption"> <div class="hero-credit-caption__content"> <span aria-hidden="true"> <div class="icon__camera"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" width="24"><path d="M0 0h24v24H0z" fill="none"/><circle cx="12" cy="12" r="3.2" fill="#005EA2" /><path d="M9 2L7.17 4H4c-1.1 0-2 .9-2 2v12c0 1.1.9 2 2 2h16c1.1 0 2-.9 2-2V6c0-1.1-.9-2-2-2h-3.17L15 2H9zm3 15c-2.76 0-5-2.24-5-5s2.24-5 5-5 5 2.24 5 5-2.24 5-5 5z" fill="#005EA2"/></svg> </div> </span> <div class="hero-credit-caption__text"> <a class="credit__link" href="#image-caption-credit-block" > View image credit & caption</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> <section class="usa-section uswds-middle-section"> <div class="grid-container"> <div class="grid-row grid-gap-lg"> <div class="mobile-lg:grid-col-fill"> <div class="region region-breadcrumb"> <div id="block-nsf-theme-breadcrumbs" class="block block-system block-system-breadcrumb-block block-nsf-theme-breadcrumbs"> <nav id="system-breadcrumb" aria-label="Breadcrumb" class="breadcrumbs"> <ol class="breadcrumbs__list"> <li class="breadcrumbs__item"> <a href="/" class="breadcrumbs__item--url">Home</a> </li> <li class="breadcrumbs__item"> <a href="/focus-areas" class="breadcrumbs__item--url">Our Focus Areas</a> </li> <li class="breadcrumbs__item"> <span class="breadcrumbs__item--current" aria-current="page">People and Society</span> </li> </ol> </nav> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <main class="uswds-main-content-wrapper grid-container not-search-page three-col-layout"> <div class="grid-row"> </div> <div class="grid-row grid-gap-6"> <div class="region-content full-width-container tablet:grid-col-12"> <div id="content-article-wrap"> <div class="region region-content"> <div data-drupal-messages-fallback class="hidden"></div> <div id="block-nsf-theme-content" class="block block-system block-system-main-block block-nsf-theme-content"> <article class="node node--type-layout-builder-page node--promoted node--view-mode-full"> <div class="node__content"> <article class="node text__container node--type-layout-builder-page node--promoted node--view-mode-pre-layout-fields"> <div class="node_view"></div> </article> <div class="layout-container--wrapper nsf-layout nsf-layout--twocol-60-40 constrained-width"> <div class="nsf-layout--outer"> <div class="nsf-layout--inner"> </div> <div class="nsf-layout--inner"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--first"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blockcomponent-text nsf-component"> <section class="text__container"> <div class="body-1"><p>We support research on human behavior and social organizations and how social, economic, political, cultural and environmental forces affect people's lives.</p></div> <div class="text__content text-formatted"><p>We aim to:</p> <ul> <li>Deepen our understanding of the human experience — how we think, learn and interact.</li> <li>Determine how fresh insights into human behavior can fuel innovations in technology.</li> <li>Explore patterns of stability and change to make society more secure and prosperous.</li> </ul> <p>Studying the fundamental principles of human behavior has far-reaching implications, from identifying critical periods in child development to safeguarding the nation's troops, from exploring the origins of humankind to securing cyberspace, from understanding how the brain forms memories to how to get home with GPS.</p></div> </section> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region layout__region--second"> <section data-component-id="nsf_theme:related-links" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blockrelated-links-with-files nsf-component"> <div class="related-links nsf-component related-links--chevron"> <ul class="link-list"> <li class="link-list__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--attachment paragraph--view-mode--ief-table"> <div class="grid-col-fill"> <div class="field field-para-attachment-link"><a href="/funding/opportunities?f%5B0%5D=directorate%3A11">Find funding for social, behavioral and economic research</a></div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="link-list__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--attachment paragraph--view-mode--ief-table"> <div class="grid-col-fill"> <div class="field field-para-attachment-link"><a href="/sbe">Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences</a></div> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </section> </div> </div> <div class="nsf-layout--inner"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="palette palette--light-gray layout-container--wrapper nsf-layout nsf-layout--threecol full-browser-width"> <div class="nsf-layout--outer"> <div class="nsf-layout--inner"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--headline"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blockcomponent-text nsf-component"> <section class="text__container"> <div class="body-1"><p> </p> <h2 id="what-we-support-305">What we support</h2></div> </section> </div> </div> </div> <div class="nsf-layout--inner"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--first"> <div class="cta block block-layout-builder block-inline-blockcomponent-cta nsf-component" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blockcomponent-cta nsf-component" data-media-id="7435" data-is-footer-caption-credit data-src="https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/2023-04/brainn.jpg?VersionId=Tz1QHahp4mzvXktH45zETT3LCJ2IUH0C" data-footer-caption-credit-src="https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/styles/image_credit_caption_block_130x78_/s3/2023-04/brainn.jpg?VersionId=XopfNa7hkdZ7OOZhrOMUwxIMwbM9rSZS&amp;itok=T5XgYV3S" data-caption="Researchers detail how the brain responds to music and words during sleep." data-credit="D. Gazzaley, R. Anguera Singla, R. Jain, T. Mullen, C. Kothe, J. Fesenko, O. Konings, M. Omernick, UCSF" data-component-id="nsf_theme:cta"> <div class="cta__image"> <img class="cta__img--full" src="https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/styles/cta_image/s3/2023-04/brainn.jpg?VersionId=DWXB3zifRGyhPmI3RIdupZbhpA639EZD&itok=NpPqlZWp" alt="" /> </div> <div class="cta__content"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field-block-cta-body"><h3>Research on the brain and behavior</h3> <p>We support research in psychology, linguistics, anthropology and geography, including where humans came from, how the brain develops and learns, and how societies of the past lived.</p> </div> <div class="cta__link"> <a href="/sbe/bcs" > Visit the Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region layout__region--second"> <div class="cta block block-layout-builder block-inline-blockcomponent-cta nsf-component" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blockcomponent-cta nsf-component" data-media-id="9501" data-is-footer-caption-credit data-src="https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/2023-08/AI_Connectivity_1.png?VersionId=HZPfM9prO5hsFkPE7iPJF_xzfvob3e0f" data-footer-caption-credit-src="https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/styles/image_credit_caption_block_130x78_/s3/2023-08/AI_Connectivity_1.png?VersionId=e.vYZRyquJ2WkIMOx2pblmaZJF1tr1iC&amp;itok=9VR_Pw6r" data-caption="Global connectivity due in part to AI." data-credit="National Science Foundation/A. Kitterman" data-component-id="nsf_theme:cta"> <div class="cta__image"> <img class="cta__img--full" src="https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/styles/cta_image/s3/2023-08/AI_Connectivity_1.png?VersionId=iOdweqy9BAtqYGzpDFW8kl8L36DaX5SH&itok=LPwFKYHQ" alt="" /> </div> <div class="cta__content"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field-block-cta-body"><h3>Research on society and economics</h3> <p>We invest in the study of how societies, organizations and economies function, including how decisions are made and how scientific and technological progress are pursued.</p> </div> <div class="cta__link"> <a href="/sbe/ses" > Visit the Division of Social and Economic Sciences</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region layout__region--third"> <div class="cta block block-layout-builder block-inline-blockcomponent-cta nsf-component" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blockcomponent-cta nsf-component" data-media-id="7553" data-is-footer-caption-credit data-src="https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/2023-04/cmat-lab_132572.jpg?VersionId=LdQ_Pb57IMwJfEh.BbPpj4urLE3WUM.y" data-footer-caption-credit-src="https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/styles/image_credit_caption_block_130x78_/s3/2023-04/cmat-lab_132572.jpg?VersionId=Rs2dUigH.vSWJjFw9oY3u2KLjX7NPR16&amp;itok=r1CXc_J6" data-caption="Krish Roy lab, Researchers work in the cell manufacturing laboratory of Krishnendu Roy at Georgia Tech. Shown, left to right, are NSF Graduate Research Fellow Joscelyn Mejias, Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program student Angela Jimenez, (background) postdoctoral fellow Randall Toy, Georgia Tech Research Institute TAG-Ed High School Intern Gita Balakirsky, and project ENGAGES high school intern Ayanna Prather." data-credit="Rob Felt, Georgia Tech" data-component-id="nsf_theme:cta"> <div class="cta__image"> <img class="cta__img--full" src="https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/styles/cta_image/s3/2023-04/cmat-lab_132572.jpg?VersionId=6Awc1zWO.idSQj1MkEqFj1VplmGFhnbq&itok=mOaR0JOz" alt="" /> </div> <div class="cta__content"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field-block-cta-body"><h3>Understanding the state of U.S. science and engineering</h3> <p>We collect and report data on the science and engineering workforce, U.S. competitiveness in science and technology and the progress of STEM education.</p> </div> <div class="cta__link"> <a href="https://ncses.nsf.gov/" > Visit the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="nsf-layout--inner"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="palette palette--light-gray layout-container--wrapper nsf-layout nsf-layout--threecol full-browser-width"> <div class="nsf-layout--outer"> <div class="nsf-layout--inner"> </div> <div class="nsf-layout--inner"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--first"> <div class="cta block block-layout-builder block-inline-blockcomponent-cta nsf-component" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blockcomponent-cta nsf-component" data-media-id="9964" data-is-footer-caption-credit data-src="https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/2023-04/INFO-NCyTE-08-Woman%20plays%20with%20switches%20on%20computer.jpg?VersionId=qTbNexcoZfzc1ZAnolMYRz6eUpVx5j15" data-footer-caption-credit-src="https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/styles/image_credit_caption_block_130x78_/s3/2023-04/INFO-NCyTE-08-Woman%20plays%20with%20switches%20on%20computer.jpg?VersionId=2Mk_DbWN8.RIaQLuOEQn.DhGQQ6RXlCL&amp;itok=OHDUtIAy" data-caption="ATE Impacts 2022-2023 Flipbook Images" data-credit="Photos from ATE Impacts 2022-2023 (http://ateimpacts.net/flipbook)" data-component-id="nsf_theme:cta"> <div class="cta__image"> <img class="cta__img--full" src="https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/styles/cta_image/s3/2023-04/INFO-NCyTE-08-Woman%20plays%20with%20switches%20on%20computer.jpg?VersionId=wR0g0qhwHEv9B2HvoYoNTaf65GLkwrX1&itok=FtywhWM_" alt="" /> </div> <div class="cta__content"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field-block-cta-body"><h3>Broadening participation in the social sciences</h3> <p>We support research, training and infrastructure at minority-serving institutions and research on broadening participation in STEM education and the workforce.</p> </div> <div class="cta__link"> <a href="/sbe/sma" > Visit the Office of Multidisciplinary Activities</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region layout__region--second"> <div class="cta block block-layout-builder block-inline-blockcomponent-cta nsf-component" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blockcomponent-cta nsf-component" data-media-id="10117" data-is-footer-caption-credit data-src="https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/2023-04/Learner%20with%20Duolingo%20App%201.jpg?VersionId=KOM9hKyRsBas8WZVLJI7Nev5vSz7T2YS" data-footer-caption-credit-src="https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/styles/image_credit_caption_block_130x78_/s3/2023-04/Learner%20with%20Duolingo%20App%201.jpg?VersionId=JrN6USEyc5G0ECS9Dbylw4lkiWcxUmWX&amp;itok=dSrFvtQQ" data-caption="The internet has opened up new possibilities for education. 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