We are pleased to announce a major new investment in humanities research at Brown, marking a significant step in advancing our institution's commitment to excellence in the humanities, and continuing in our commitment to double the impact of research at Brown University. In response to thoughtful and consistent input from humanities faculty and department leaders, the Office of the President and the Office of the Provost have worked together to double support for the Humanities Research Fund (HRF) and increase funding for the Salomon Research Awards over the next three years. 

Expanded Support for the Humanities Research Fund 

With the doubling of HRF resources, which help support faculty research in the arts, humanities and humanistic social sciences, we are increasing direct support for individual researchers. That means, in addition to the many institutional-level internal funding streams managed by the Division of Research, departments will now have an even more robust capacity to meet faculty research needs. 

We recognize the ongoing concern about maintaining strong support for individual disciplinary scholarship in the arts, humanities and humanistic social sciences alongside interdisciplinary initiatives. This enhanced funding is a clear signal that the University remains steadfast in its support for the arts and humanities, and that Brown values the essential role of this research in our broader academic mission. In addition to the increase in funds, the allowable expenses for the HRF have been expanded to include funds for research workshops and conferences. 

Increased Salomon Funding for Humanities Research

Alongside the HRF expansion, increased funding for the Salomon Research Awards will enable Brown to support an even greater number of impactful projects. While Salomon Research Awards funds are available to all fields, additional support for larger grants (up to $30k) will be made available exclusively for faculty in the arts, humanities and humanistic social sciences. We have also adapted the guidelines to encourage proposals from all Brown faculty ranks, without preference to junior faculty. The Salomon proposal deadline for the current cycle has been extended to December 2, 2024 to accommodate these changes.

These efforts underscore our dedication to advancing knowledge and reinforcing the vital role of the arts, humanities and humanistic social sciences in society.

Commitment to Continuous Improvement in Humanities Support

These measures are part of an ongoing process to expand and refine humanities support. Over the past two years, feedback from department chairs as well as institute directors has informed our approach. Recent changes reflect our responsiveness to faculty needs and our commitment to fostering a thriving community of scholars across disciplines, and we will continue to explore ways to enhance the impact of the HRF and Salomon funds for research in the humanities. 

We look forward to supporting our faculty as they advance groundbreaking ideas and share the powerful work that exemplifies Brown’s growing impact through world-class research. 

Sincerely,

Francis J. Doyle III
Provost