minerva.defense.govMinerva Research Initiative

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Toggle navigation Minerva Research Initiative Supporting social science for a safer world Minerva Research Initiative Search Search Minerva Research Initiative: Search Search Minerva Research Initiative: Search About Programs University Research Grants DECUR Partnership US Institute of Peace Collaboration Bilateral Academic Research Initiative (BARI) Social Science Program Research Research Priorities Awarded Projects Owl In the Olive Tree Minerva News FAQ Contact Minerva Research Initiative The Minerva Research Initiative supports social science research aimed at improving our basic understanding of security, broadly defined. All supported projects are university-based and unclassified, with the intention that all work be shared widely to support thriving stable and safe communities. The goal is to improve DoD’s basic understanding of the social, cultural, behavioral, and political forces that shape regions of the world of strategic importance to the U.S. Program & History Launched by the Secretary of Defense in 2008, the Minerva Research Initiative is a DoD-sponsored, university-based social science research initiative that focuses on areas of strategic importance to the U.S. national security policy. Administration The Minerva Research Initiative has a unique relationship between Research and Policy within the DoD, being jointly administered by the Office of Basic Research and the Office of Policy at the US Department of Defense. As such, leadership across the department collaborate to identify and support basic social science research issues in need of attention and to integrate those research insights into the policy-making environment. In doing this, the leadership team closely works with the program managers within the Military Service Branches. Grants and Fellowships The Defense Education and Civilian University Research (DECUR) Partnership competition is NO W CLOSED . For more information, click here . The Bilateral Academic Research Initiative (BARI) Social Science Program competition is NOW CLOSED . For more information, click here . Minerva’s FY23 University Research Funding Opportunity is NOW OPEN! Full proposals are due on May 7, 2024 For more information, click here . Learn about our Programs University Research Grants The Minerva Research Initiative primarily funds social science basic research by university-led research teams. Research teams range from single investigators to large multi-university consortia, and all awarded projects are expected to be funded for at least three years (and in some casespending availability of fundingeligible for an extension up to five years). DECUR Partnership The Defense Education Institution and Civilian University Research (DECUR) Partnership mission is to increase DoD social science expertise by investing in the defense experts who teach our future military and national security leaders at professional military education (PME) institutions and military service academies. DECUR awards offer existing PME teaching faculty the resources and time to conduct scholarly research in collaboration with civilian university faculty on Minerva topics of interest . U.S. Institute of Peace Collaboration Security is an implicit aspect of peace. Recognizing an overlap of topical interests, Minerva has joined the United States Institute of Peace to offer non-residential fellowships to doctoral candidates enrolled in U.S. universities conducting research for or writing up their doctoral dissertations, and an early career scholar award for alumnae/alumni on topics related to peace, conflict, security, and stability. These awards compliment the success of USIP’s Jennings Randolph Program for International Peace to expand support for advanced graduate students and create opportunities for ongoing support and engagement. The Owl in the Olive Tree is Minerva’s blog, aimed at sharing social scientific contributions that advance our understanding of the social, cultural, political, economic, and environmental dynamics of security. Each post highlights a key insight from a Minerva-funded researcher’s published work. Minerva News Department of Defense Awards $2.8 Million for Collaborative University Social Science Research Under the Minerva Research Initiative By Toni DeVille | May 8, 2024 The Department of Defense today announced the selection of seven DoD–university faculty teams to pursue fundamental social science research through the FY 2023 Defense Education and Civilian University Research (DECUR) Partnership, a program under the department’s Minerva Research Initiative. MORE Venue announced for the 2024 Minerva Meeting & Program Review By Toni DeVille | April 3, 2024 Hosted annually, the Minerva Meeting and Program review is an opportunity for Minerva grant awardees to share research findings with defense policy makers, military operations personnel, and other academics interested in national security. MORE Minerva Social Media Web Privacy & Security Link Disclaimer FOIA Web Policy No FEAR Act Office of Privacy & Civil Liberties Accessibility/Section 508 Defense.gov USA.gov Content Disclaimer Content appearing from Minerva-funded researchersbe it the sharing of their scientific findings or the Owl in the Olive Tree blog postsdoes not constitute Department of Defense policy or endorsement by the Department of Defense. Hosted by Defense Media Activity...