THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES OF SCIENCES, ENGINEERING, AND MEDICINE
Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education
Board on Behavioral, Cognitive, and Sensory Sciences
Committee to Assess the Minerva Research Initiative and the Contribution
of Social Science to Addressing Security Concerns
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Congressional Briefing
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
via Conference Call – 4:00 p.m.
on
Evaluation of the Minerva Research Initiative
This new report, from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, examines the Minerva Research Initiative, a social science grant program that funds unclassified basic research relevant to national security. The goal of the program is to make use of the intellectual capital of university-based social scientists to inform understanding of issues important to the Department of Defense and the broader national security community. This report discusses the program's successes and challenges over its first decade of operation, and highlights ways to strengthen the program’s foundations and take advantage of opportunities for broadening its reach and usefulness.