New initiative promotes research on societal issues

UW-Madison’s new Contemporary Social Problems Initiative was granted over $1 million for research on social, economic and health problems among middle-class families by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduation Education.

The two-year grants are intended for research on societal issues such as improving health care, economic conditions and psychological states. The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation is supporting the Contemporary Social Problems Initiative and is working to improve society’s middle class in these categories.

The initiative aligns with the Alliance for the American Dream: DreamUp Wisconsin Initiative, a program that promotes shared prosperity.

Through the initiative, researchers could analyze the use of technology to benefit healthy lifestyles, which types of education improve psychological or social conditions or factors that result in economic well-being.

The group urges UW-Madison researchers to apply by submitting ideas on health, economic and social topics either as individuals or as a team. According to an article by UW News, abstracts are due Nov. 16, 2018, and final proposals are due Jan. 18, 2019.