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Yellow and purple wildflower bloom amid tall grass on a slope
Photo by LiPo Ching/Stanford University
Illustration of an iceberg half above and under the ocean. The top of the iceberg says "Applied Research" while the bottom says "Foundational Research."

Foundational research creates the new knowledge necessary to 
advance society and find solutions that benefit all humankind.

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Word art that says "Make a difference. Start here. The social sciences at Stanford

The social sciences in H&S offer an exciting environment for you to bring together technical and human-centered approaches; work side by side with world-class faculty mentors; and engage with some of the biggest challenges facing society today.

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In the moment

A photo of first year student Serena Young as she sits inside the White Plaza pavilion, observing people

First-year student Serena Young conducts sociological observations in Stanford’s White Plaza to see how the plaza and pavilion are used by community members. Her observations and interviews, and those of other volunteers, will go toward a larger assessment of Stanford’s public spaces.

Photo by Harrison Truong for Stanford University.

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