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      Research & Development
      
                
  
          Research & Development


      
        Research & Development
    
    
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Science and Technology
  Research & Development
  Social Sciences

     Research & Development
                
      Advanced Sensing
                
                    
      
      Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Systems
                
                    
      
      Biotechnology
                
                    
      
      Border Security
                
                    
      
      Chemical, Biological and Explosive Defense R&D
                
                    
      
      Communications and Cyber Resiliency
                
                    
      
      Community and Infrastructure Resilience
                
                    
      
      Counter Terrorist
                
                    
      
      Cybersecurity/Information Analysis R&D
                
                    
      
      Data, Modeling, and Simulation Sciences
                
                    
      
      Digital Identity and Trust
                
                    
      
      Earth Systems Sciences
                
                    
      
      Emerging Computing Paradigms
                
                    
      
      First Responder Capability
                
                    
      
      Food and Agriculture Defense
                
                    
      
      Novel Materials and Secure Manufacturing
                
                    
      
      Physical Security and Critical Infrastructure Resilience
                
                    
                    
      Social Sciences
                
                    
      
      Wildfire TechnologyExpertise
                
                    
      
      Partnerships
                
                    
      
      Work with S&T
                
                    
      
      News & Events
                
                    
      
      About S&TSocial Sciences
Image
              crowd of peopleDeveloping a scientific understanding of how individuals, small groups, and organizations affect threats, prevention, resilience, security, and recovery activities related to the homeland security mission is a vitally important undertaking. Social sciences focus on the root causes of behavior at individual, organizational, and institutional levels and represent numerous fields of study, including sociology, economics, psychology, criminology, and political science, among others.

Some of the challenges faced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are not easily or appropriately solved by technology. Social sciences are key to helping understand the nature of threats and risks, as well as how the Department’s responses to these threats and risks can be most effective. In this area, combatting terrorism, human trafficking, child exploitation, and targeted violence, and helping to build a fair, orderly, and humane immigration system, are among the Department’s priority missions and an integral part of the Science and Technology Directorate’s (S&T) research in social sciences.

S&T’s focus areas in social sciences are:

**Motivations and Drivers**- We seek to increase our understanding of the underlying motivations and drivers of specific human-centric DHS missions and produce the knowledge, fundamental understanding, and tools necessary to manage risk, find remedies for ills, and prepare for change.
	**Changing Behavioral and Social Implications** - We aim to improve our awareness and understanding of how changes in the technology landscape impact social interactions, behaviors, and threat vectors.
	**Technology Acceptance and Limitations** - We endeavor to advance the acceptance of new technologies into DHS missions.Resources

Social Sciences Technology Center
	S&T Technology Centers Division Research Agenda
	Public Safety and Violence PreventionNews

Technologically Speaking Podcast: People Are Still Sort of Where It's AtContact

TCD.Comms@hq.dhs.gov

Learn more about us and discover how your organization can partner with S&T to make the homeland more secure.
      
      
  
    
    TopicsScience and TechnologyKeywordsScience and Technology
              Public Safety

    Last Updated: 03/15/2024
  
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           Research & Development
      
    
                  Expertise
      
    
                  Partnerships
      
    
                  Work with S&T
      
    
                  News & Events
      
    
                  About S&T
                            
        Science and Technology
      
    https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology
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