Public Scholar Program | 20170201 FZ

Opportunity Information: Apply for 20170201 FZ

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Public Scholar Program is a discretionary grant opportunity designed to support the writing of well-researched humanities books that are meant for a broad, general readership rather than a narrowly academic audience. The central idea is that, while humanities research can be specialized, it also has a public-facing mission: helping wider audiences explore topics of general interest, deepen understanding of the human condition, and make sense of contemporary issues through historical, cultural, literary, philosophical, or related humanities perspectives. NEH uses this program to encourage books that can reach beyond the classroom or scholarly journal and have a lasting public impact.

Projects funded through the program must be firmly grounded in humanities scholarship and research, drawing on primary sources and/or relevant secondary literature, but they also must be written in an accessible style that invites non-specialists in. NEH is looking for proposals that tackle significant humanities themes likely to resonate with general readers and that translate serious research into clear, engaging narrative or analysis. Examples of the kinds of books that fit include narrative histories, accounts centered on notable individuals, analyses of influential texts, big-picture syntheses of ideas, works that revive attention to overlooked subjects, or books that explain and evaluate emerging thinking on a topic. The key expectation is that the author will interpret and present a substantial subject in a way that is appealing and understandable to a wide audience, not primarily to other scholars.

The opportunity is explicitly not intended for books directed mainly at academic specialists, so projects framed primarily as contributions to a scholarly debate, written in highly technical language, or designed chiefly for an academic press audience without broader public engagement would generally be a poor match. Instead, the program emphasizes the craft of public scholarship: careful research paired with storytelling, explanation, and structure that help general readers grasp why a topic matters and how the evidence supports the author’s claims.

Eligibility is geared toward individuals, and the program is open both to scholars affiliated with colleges, universities, or other scholarly institutions and to independent scholars or researchers without institutional affiliation. NEH also indicates flexibility in project readiness, noting that projects may be at any stage of development, which allows applicants to seek support whether they are in earlier research phases, drafting, or working toward completion.

For the specific opportunity details provided, the funding opportunity title is Public Scholar Program (Funding Opportunity Number 20170201 FZ), administered by NEH under CFDA 45.160 in the Humanities activity category. The instrument is a grant, the listed award ceiling is $50,400, and the original closing date for that cycle was February 1, 2017 (created November 28, 2016).

• The National Endowment for the Humanities in the humanities sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Public Scholar Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 45.160.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2016-11-28.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-02-01. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $50,400.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Individuals.

Apply for 20170201 FZ

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