About the Social Science Research Council (SSRC)
Our mission
Necessary knowledge for important public problems.
The Social Science Research Council fosters innovative research, nurtures new generations of social scientists, deepens how inquiry is practiced within and across disciplines, and mobilizes necessary knowledge on important public issues.
We are guided by the belief that justice, prosperity, and democracy all require better understanding of complex social, cultural, economic, and political processes. We work with practitioners, policymakers, and academic researchers across the social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences, building interdisciplinary and international networks that link research to practice and policy.
Founded in 1923 by seven disciplinary associations, the Council was the first national organization devoted to social science research. A century later we remain independent, nonpartisan, and international in scope.
What we stand for
Five basic commitments
Fostering innovation
We work on problems that need new approaches; we act as a catalyst for new thinking. We seek to mobilize the most creative and knowledgeable researchers and to help research institutions be more dynamic. Renewing existing expertise, putting knowledge to work on new problems, and generating novel data and theories are all crucial to advancing social science for the public good.
See it in practice: The Mercury ProjectInvesting in the future
We ensure the future of knowledge production through nurturing new generations of researchers, enabling practitioners to act on scientific knowledge, enhancing collaboration across intellectual fields, building capacity where it is lacking, and facilitating the internationalization of social science.
See it in practice: Dissertation fellowshipsWorking internationally and democratically
Better understanding of social processes is a resource for improving the lives of all and should be available to all. Participation in the production of scientific knowledge should also be as broad as possible. We support the internationalization of social science and opportunities for under-represented groups both as matters of equity and as requirements for ensuring that the production of knowledge is informed by different contexts and perspectives.
Combining urgency and patience
We bring researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and broader publics together to focus on topics of pressing public importance from health to human rights. But since even the most urgent problems are seldom solved overnight, we must learn even as we act, and we must continually reexamine existing knowledge.
Keeping standards high
Practical action, policy, and debate on major public issues all need to be informed by the best possible knowledge. Rigorous knowledge production is enabled by emphasizing scientific quality, engaging important public questions, and ensuring openness to critique and correction.
How we work
From Research to Impact
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Convening innovation networks
Events and programs that bridge silos and connect researchers, practitioners, and stakeholders.
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Administering fellowships & grants
Competitive, peer-reviewed awards that launch careers and fund research on problems that matter.
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Building knowledge platforms
Items, MediaWell, The Immanent Frame, and Measure of America bring research to public audiences.
Our people
Leadership
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- Board of Directors Meet the board