Recent Grants

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation makes grants in support of original research and education in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and economic performance. The eight program areas include the following:

STEM Higher Education

• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in STEM Higher Education - Increase the diversity of higher education institutions and the work force in STEM fields through college and university initiatives that support the education and professional advancement of high-achieving individuals from underrepresented groups.
• Data & Computational Research - Accelerate scientific discovery by helping researchers fully exploit the opportunities created by recent advances in our ability to collect, transmit, analyze, store, and manipulate data.
• Scholarly Communication - Empower researchers by supporting the development and adoption of new resources for managing the increasingly diverse array of digital communication channels, enabling scientists to more effectively locate relevant research, network with other researchers, and disseminate their work to the scientific community and the public.
• Universal Access to Knowledge - Harness advances in digital information technology to facilitate the openness and accessibility of all knowledge in the digital age for the widest public benefit under fair and secure conditions.

Public Understanding of Science, Technology & Economics

• Books - Support authors in the research and writing of a wide range of books aimed at public understanding of science and technology.
• Film - Influence the next generation of filmmakers to tackle science and technology themes and characters, increase visibility for feature films that depict this subject matter, and develop new work that can be produced and released theatrically.
• New Media - Advance public understanding and engagement with science through the support of innovative projects that use a range of media to reach a broad, cross-cultural audience.
• Radio - Support original high-quality programming on a range of radio programs that tackle science, technology, and economics to increase both the quantity and quality of coverage for the general public.
• Television - Develop television projects that tell stories, both historical and contemporary, about science and technology, and that portray the lives of the men and women engaged in scientific and technological pursuits.
• Theater - Encourage leading playwrights to explore scientific or technological themes and write plays featuring scientists, mathematicians, and engineers as characters; support theaters that commission, develop, and produce plays with dramatically engaging high-quality science content.

Research

• Chemistry of Indoor Environments - Grow a new field of scientific inquiry focused on understanding the fundamental chemistry taking place in indoor environments and how that chemistry is shaped by building attributes and human occupancy.
• Economic Institutions, Behavior, & Performance - Support rigorous and objective research projects on U.S. economic structure, behavior, and performance whose findings inform and strengthen decision-making by regulators, policymakers, and the public.
• Energy & Environment - Advance understanding about the economic, environmental, security, and policy trade-offs associated with the increased deployment of low- and no-carbon resources and technologies across the energy system and the resulting impacts on the quality of American life.
• Tabletop Particle Physics - Discover new fundamental physics

New York City Program

• Support New York City–based projects that advance the Foundation's mission to support research and education in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and economics.