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Markkula Center for Applied Ethics

Faculty Research Grants

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Professor David Popalisky

Professor David Popalisky received a Hackworth Grant to support his dance project about the wrongfully convicted, "Barred From Life."

Faculty (of all ranks) and staff at Santa Clara University are invited to apply for grants to support research in applied ethics funded by an endowment from Michael and Joan Hackworth to the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics.

Grants will be made to support research that results in the publication of an article, part of a book, or specific piece of teaching material such as a case, or which results in a new module or course in applied ethics. Projects must have substantial ethical content. Applications are encouraged by scholars in all fields.

Applications should make explicit the ethical aspect of the project. For example, within philosophy, a study may clarify key ethical values or theories at stake in an important ethical debate. Within sociology, a study may categorize assumptions about ethical values that are influential in understanding a particular social problem. Or, a teaching project may integrate ethical concepts into a course. 

Applications should also, where relevant, include documentation of sources.

Grants will be made to support research assistance by students or others, purchase of materials or access to databases, travel expenses, or other legitimate expenses that make the research possible. Grants may also be requested for summer support that will free the faculty member from other obligations, though these may be considered a lower priority for funding.

Grants may not exceed $5000.

Grant recipients are asked to wait 12 months before applying for another Hackworth Grant.

An email request for applications will be sent out early in the Fall and Spring Quarters. Fall Quarter applications will be due in early December; Spring Quarter applications will be due in late May. Specific due dates for applications will be announced in the email requests for applications.

Grants awards will be made by the end of the Fall and Spring Quarters.

Grants will be considered by a committee of faculty affiliated with the Ethics Center.

Apply for a Hackworth Faculty Grant Previous Grant Winners

Spring 2024 Grantees

Melissa Brown, Assistant Professor, Communication,  "An Intervention Against Digital Violence Through Black Feminist Ethics."

Meilin Chinn, Associate Professor, Philosophy, "Fengshui and Ahupuaʻa: The Winds and Waters of Native Hawaiian and Chinese Environmental Practices." 

Tim Myers, Senior Lecturer, English,  "Kasia and the Snowdrops – A Musical." 

Julia Scott, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Bioengineering, "Developing a Code of Conduct for Research Involving Human Subjects in Immersive Technologies." 

Fall 2023 Grantees

Brita Bookser, Assistant Professor, Child Studies,  "Field Trip to Field Study: Ethical Experiential Education at Museums and Historic Sites." 

Brian Buckley, Senior Lecturer, Philosophy, "Creating Four Philosophy Courses to Fulfill Three University Core Requirements." 

John Greanias, Lecturer-in-Law, School of Law,  "U. S. Legal History: Evolution of Moral and Ethical Principles."

Haibing Lu, Professor, Information Systems and Analytics, "Identifying and mitigating algorithmic bias in opioid risk score for fair prescription drug access."