Researchers and faculty sue NSF over axing of its social science unit [Higher Ed Dive] - 壹号娱乐官网

A group of academic researchers, scientists, educators, graduate students, and university departments filed a lawsuit on Monday against the National Science Foundation, challenging its move to eliminate the social science division.

The lawsuit, submitted in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, argues that NSF’s decision to dismantle the Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences violates federal law and undermines the foundation’s mission to support a broad spectrum of scientific inquiry.

Plaintiffs include individuals from institutions such as the University of Michigan, Northwestern University, and the University of California, Berkeley, along with several professional associations. They contend that the elimination of the unit, which funds research in areas like sociology, economics, and political science, will harm critical studies on societal issues.

“The NSF’s action is not just an administrative change; it is a direct attack on the scientific process and the public’s right to understand the social world,” said Dr. Emily Smith, a sociologist at the University of Michigan and one of the lead plaintiffs.

The lawsuit seeks to reverse the closure and restore funding to the social science directorate, which was announced in a memo last month. NSF officials have not yet commented on the litigation.

The case is being closely watched by the academic community, as it could set a precedent for how federal agencies manage interdisciplinary research programs.

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