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Science of Purpose Funding Initiative

Sponsors:
John Templeton Foundation
Opportunity Information:

The Foundation has allocated over $20 million to the Science of Purpose funding priority over the next five years. In this initiative, we seek to identify and fund the development of novel theoretical, philosophical, or scientific concepts useful for advancing the study of goal-directed, goal-seeking, or goal-suited phenomena in nature.

The Foundation is interested in a range of topics and disciplinary fields from chemistry to the biological sciences. Potential applicants are encouraged to explore nine strands of research below. Each link opens a unique set of questions that are illustrative of the kinds of concepts or phenomena this funding priority seeks to support.

AGENCY

COMMONALITIES

DEVELOPMENT

LIFE

MACROEVOLUTION

MATTER

MECHANISMS

MODELS

ORGANIZATION

Can’t find a research topic that fits your interest as it relates to goal-directed outcomes in nature? Submit your proposed project here.

Submission

The Science of Purpose Funding Initiative has a two-stage funding process, the first stage of which is submitting a preliminary application. Each link above contains an application form with specific instructions for submission. We encourage applicants to submit as many project ideas as are of interest. Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of referees comprised of scientists and philosophers and Foundation staff. All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their initial application by November 30th using the email address provided in the application. Successful applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal to the Foundation no later than February 1, 2021. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their full proposal review and decisioning by June 21, 2021.

Eligibility

This funding competition is open to researchers worldwide who hold a doctoral-level degree or equivalent at the time of application. We are giving special emphasis to young scholars at this stage of our funding. This funding competition is unique from the Templeton Ideas Challenge, and previous entrants to the Ideas Challenge may apply for funding of their project idea through this initiative.

For questions, please contact purpose@templeton.org.

ASU Information:

Submissions to this sponsor/donor are managed by the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations. Please contact your unit-assigned ASUF Director of Development or Research Advancement Specialist at your earliest convenience to ensure ASU's strategic coordination and management of funding applications.

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