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Representative Dan Lipinski Answers “Why Social Science?”

This week’s Why Social Science? guest post comes from Representative Dan Lipinski, Ranking Member of the Research and Technology Subcommittee of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, who writes how the social and behavioral sciences are advancing knowledge within individual disciplines and through their contributions to interdisciplinary research. Read it here and subscribe. And on March 29, Representative Lipinski spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives to recognize the participants in COSSA’s Annual Social Science Advocacy Day and celebrate the many benefits of social science research. Lipinski highlighted the applications of social science research to strengthening…

COSSA Presents 2017 Distinguished Service Award to Senators Gardner and Peters

On March 29, as part of the 2017 COSSA Science Policy Conference and Celebration of Social Science Capitol Hill Reception, COSSA presented the 2017 Distinguished Service Award to Senators Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Gary Peters (D-MI). The COSSA Distinguished Service award recognizes leaders who have gone above and beyond to promote, protect, and advance the social and behavioral science research enterprise. Awardees are chosen by the COSSA Board of Directors, which represents COSSA’s governing member associations. Senators Gardner and Peters were recognized for their bipartisan work on the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act (AICA), legislation that reauthorizes activities at the…

70 Social Science Advocates Take to Capitol Hill

On March 30, about 70 social and behavioral science researchers, stakeholders, and advocates met with their Members of Congress and staff to advocate in support of funding for federal agencies and programs that support social and behavioral science research. Advocates from 23 states converged on Capitol Hill, completing 80 individual meetings. Materials used to help articulate the value of social science research are available on the COSSA website, including fact sheets on COSSA’s FY 2018 funding requests. Back to this issue’s table of contents.

COSSA to Host Why Social Science? Briefing Featuring Nobel Laureate Alvin Roth

On April 18, COSSA will host a congressional briefing featuring a conversation with Dr. Alvin Roth, winner of the 2012 Nobel Prize in Economics. The briefing, Why Social Science? Because Understanding Markets Can Save Lives, will focus on Dr. Roth’s fundamental research in market design, which revolutionized kidney exchanges, allowing incompatible patient-donor pairs to find compatible kidneys for transplantation, and demonstrates how social science can have real, significant impacts on our everyday lives, often in unexpected ways. A reception will follow the briefing. The event is made possible with support from Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson and SAGE Publishing. More information…

NAS President Marcia McNutt Answers “Why Social Science?”

This week’s Why Social Science guest post comes from Marcia McNutt, President of the National Academy of Sciences, who writes about how social science has helped us learn how to respond to natural disasters. Read it here and subscribe. Back to this issue’s table of contents.

Last Chance to Attend the 2017 COSSA Science Policy Conference

With the COSSA 2017 Science Policy Conference & Social Science Advocacy Day just over a week away, now is your last chance to register. Don’t miss this important opportunity to learn about social science in the Trump Administration, engage with colleagues from across the science and higher education community, and take action in support social and behavioral science! Check the Conference website for the most up-to-date information on Conference speakers, sessions, and logistics. Back to this issue’s table of contents.

COSSA Testimony Calls for Funding for NIH, AHRQ, CDC, Education Programs

On March 8, COSSA submitted testimony to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies for fiscal year (FY) 2018. The testimony calls for increased funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Institute for Education Sciences (IES), and International Education and Foreign Language Programs (Title VI and Fulbright-Hays). Back to this issue’s table of contents.

COSSA Endorses March for Science

COSSA has announced that it that it will be partnering with the March for Science, joining more than 25 scientific societies and professional associations who have officially endorsed the March. We are excited to participate in the event in solidarity with other scientists and science enthusiasts as we showcase the important contributions that science, especially the social and behavioral sciences, make to our country and global community. The Washington, DC March is scheduled for April 22 and more than 300 satellite marches are planned in cities around the world. Like science more generally, the March for Science is nonpartisan. It…

The Society for Personality and Social Psychology Answers “Why Social Science?”

This week’s Why Social Science? guest post comes from Lisa Sage, contributing writer for the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, with a profile of David Neal, a behavioral psychologist who has been working to improve health outcomes in the developing world. Read it here and subscribe. Back to this issue’s table of contents.

RSVP for COSSA’s Celebration of Social Science Congressional Reception: March 29

COSSA will be hosting a Celebration of Social Science reception on March 29 in conjunction with its 2017 Science Policy Conference. The reception will feature the presentation of the 2017 COSSA Distinguished Service Award to Senators Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Gary Peters (D-MI). The event will take place in the Room 485 of the Russell Senate Office Building, from 6:00-8:00 pm. Please RSVP by March 23. Back to this issue’s table of contents.

COSSA Calls for Congress to Complete FY 2017 Appropriations Process

In a letter to House and Senate appropriators on the Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Subcommittees, COSSA called for speedy completion of the FY 2017 appropriations process. The letter also urges strong appropriations for the National Science Foundation, National Institute of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, and Census Bureau. The letter is available on the COSSA website. Back to this issue’s table of contents.

Archived Webinar Now Available: “Social Science in the Age of Trump: What We’d Like to See”

The archived video of a February 9 webinar, “Social Science in the Age of Trump: What We’d Like to See,” hosted by SAGE Publishing is now available. The webinar featured COSSA Executive Director Wendy Naus in a conversation with Michael Todd, editor of Social Science Space, and touched on the current state of affairs related to the social and behavioral sciences, areas of concern under the Trump Administration, and how researchers and academics can get involved in advocating on behalf of the social sciences. The complete webinar is available to watch here. Back to this issue’s table of contents.

COSSA Conference Agenda Released; Hotel Block Rate Expires Feb. 28

The preliminary agenda for the 2017 COSSA Science Policy Conference & Social Science Advocacy Day on March 29-30 is now available. Featured speakers include University of California, Berkeley sociologist Arlie R. Hochschild and John Sides of the Washington Post’s Monkey Cage blog. Other sessions will highlight topics including Mobilizing Students as Ambassadors for Social Science, Promoting Your Expertise with National Media Outlets, Social Science in Government Service, and Advocating from Home. Register today! Don’t forget: participants from COSSA member organizations and universities are eligible to receive a discount on registration. Email jmilton@cossa.org for details. For those planning to travel to…

The American Anthropological Association Answers “Why Social Science?”

This week’s Why Social Science? guest post comes from Anne Kelsey, marketing and communications manager for the American Anthropological Association, who, in honor of Anthropology Day, writes about anthropology’s contributions to helping solve some of this century’s most pressing challenges. Read it here and subscribe. Back to this issue’s table of contents.

COSSA 2016 Annual Report Now Available

COSSA has released its 2016 Annual Report, which highlights some of COSSA’s activities and successes over the past year. Click here to read the report and learn how your organization can become a member of COSSA. Annual reports from previous years are available on the COSSA website. Back to this issue’s table of contents.

COSSA Joins Scientific Community in Urging Approval of NIH FY 2017 Budget

On February 7, COSSA joined 260 patient, medical, scientific, academic, and research organizations of the Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research in sending a joint letter and fact sheet to the President and the House and Senate leadership. The letter urges the enactment of a final FY 2017 spending package that includes $34.1 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Federal agencies and programs are currently operating under a continuing resolution that expires on April 28. Back to this issue’s table of contents.

NIH’s Bill Riley Answers “Why Social Science?”

The latest Why Social Science? guest post comes from Bill Riley, Director of NIH’s Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, who writes about the importance of research into the social determinants of health and illness. Read it here and subscribe! Back to this issue’s table of contents.

COSSA Joins Scientific Community in Call for End to Travel Ban

On January 31, COSSA joined over 170 other leading scientific organizations on a letter to the Trump Administration calling for it to rescind its January 27 executive order that placed a hold on legal travel to the for citizens of seven countries. The letter states that the undersigned organizations “are deeply concerned that this Executive Order will have a negative impact on the ability of scientists and engineers in industry and academia to enter, or leave from and return to, the. This will reduce U.S. science and engineering output to the detriment of America and Americans.” The letter is available…

Introducing Why Social Science

We are excited to launch a new blog series we are calling Why Social Science? Through it, we will tell stories showcasing the impact the social sciences have on our lives. We will feature diverse voices, all with important perspectives on why social science is important. You will hear from researchers, government officials, industry, and a variety of stakeholders who depend on reliable social science research findings. Check out our first issue, and subscribe here. Back to this issue’s table of contents.

Early Bird Registration Extended for COSSA Science Policy Conference

COSSA has extended early bird registration for the 2017 Science Policy Conference & Social Science Advocacy Day until January 31! Take advantage of this discount AND your member discount code (below) to get the lowest available registration rate. Register before rates increase on February 1! Confirmed speakers include John Sides of the Washington Post’s popular Monkey Cage blog, who will speak about how to bring social science findings to the masses. Planned sessions also include panels on advocating for social science from home, tips for communicating with the media, and social science student organizing on campus, among other topics. Stay…

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