New from COSSA

Dr. Mark Chan and Dr. Dennis P. Stolle from APA Answer “Why Social Science?”

This month’s Why Social Science? post comes from Dr. Mark Chan and Dr. Dennis P. Stolle from the American Psychological Association who write about the importance of a psychologically healthy workplace.  Read on for more.

Researchers from York St John University Answer “Why Social Science?”

The most recent Why Social Science? post comes from The Conversation, where Dr. Clare Cunningham, Dr. Catherine Heinemeyer, and Dr. Jude Parks write about how social and behavioral science can help students find their place in fighting climate change. Read on for more.

NEW ACTION ALERT: Tell Congress to Support the Highest Possible Funding Levels for Social Science!

Congressional appropriators are currently considering fiscal year (FY) 2024 appropriations bills that would decimate funding for federal science and statistical agencies. It is critical that we raise our voices in support of robust investment in social and behavioral science research. In response, COSSA has issued an action alert urging members to write to their Members of Congress to urge their support for social science research funding in FY 2024! Visit COSSA’s TAKE ACTION page to send a quick message to your Senators and Representatives and tell them why they must support the highest possible funding levels for federal science and statistical agencies…

Save the Date! Social Science Advocacy Day is April 8-9

We are excited to invite social science advocates to COSSA’s tenth annual Social Science Advocacy Day on April 8-9, 2024! Our signature, members-only event will bring together social and behavioral science researchers, faculty, students, association professionals, and other advocates from across the country to meet with their elected officials in Congress to discuss the value of our sciences and the importance of federal funding. Stay tuned for additional details over the coming months, including how to register and available sponsorship opportunities. We hope to see you in Washington, DC in April 2024!

Dr. Amy Burke and Julia Milton from the NCSES Answer “Why Social Science?”

The most recent Why Social Science? post comes from Dr. Amy Burke and Julia Milton from the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) at the National Science Foundation (NSF) who write about representation in the STEM workforce. Read on for more.

Shaping NSF’s TIP Directorate

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is seeking public input into the development of a roadmap for the newly created Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP). The roadmap will guide the TIP Directorate’s activities and directions for the next three years, and COSSA needs your input to help ensure that insights from social and behavioral science research are included—if not prioritized—in efforts to shape the future of U.S. technology development and deployment. COSSA will be submitting comments to NSF on behalf of the research community before the deadline. We want to hear from you. Comments and ideas for the roadmap should be sent…

Social Science Advocates Answers “Why Social Science?”

The most recent Why Social Science? post comes from three participants from this year’s Social Science Advocacy Day who reflected upon their experiences and the importance of advocating for the social sciences. Read on for more.

Social Scientists Take to Capitol Hill for Social Science Advocacy Day

On April 24-25, COSSA held its annual Social Science Advocacy Day events in Washington, DC. Over 50 social and behavioral science researchers, students, and advocates from 11 different states descended on Capitol Hill to discuss with Congress the importance of funding for federal agencies and programs that support social and behavioral science research. This was COSSA’s first in-person Social Science Advocacy Day since 2019. Materials used to help articulate the value of social and behavioral science research are available on the COSSA website, including FY 2024 Appropriations Requests and new topical one-pagers. To participate in social science advocacy from home, visit…

Take Action to Support Social Science Funding!

Social science is here to help! During COSSA’s 2023 Social Science Advocacy Day, advocates shared stories about ways social science is informing policy and improving lives. They did their part to secure robust funding for the federal agencies and programs critical to our sciences. Now it’s your turn.  Congressional appropriators are preparing legislation that will determine funding for federal science and data agencies for the next year. With some lawmakers discussing a return to FY 2022 funding levels (see related article), it is essential to fight for robust investments in social and behavioral science research and federal statistical agencies. Now…

Social Science Advocacy Day is Tuesday, April 25!

Next Tuesday, April 25, is Social Science Advocacy Day. More than 50 advocates from across the country will be on Capitol Hill to urge increased funding support for social and behavioral science research. Watch your inbox and COSSA’s Action Center to learn how you can engage from home on April 25. Follow all the Advocacy Day coverage on Twitter @cossadc and using the hashtags #cossa2023 and #whysocialscience.

COSSA Speaks with University of Michigan Student Press on Top Ranking for Social Science Funding

Recently, Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA) Executive Director Wendy Naus spoke with Nadia Taeckens of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor’s independent student paper, The Michigan Daily, for an article on COSSA’s 2023 College & University Rankings for Federal Social & Behavioral Science R&D. For the second year in a row, the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor topped COSSA’s rankings, beating out universities such as the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (see previous coverage). In the article, Naus states, “(COSSA has) been using federally collected data to develop the rankings since 2016, because we were…

COSSA Releases Analysis of President’s Budget Request for FY 2024 for Social Science

On March 9, the Biden Administration began releasing details of its fiscal year (FY) 2024 budget request to Congress, with additional information rolling out over subsequent days.  In total, the Biden Administration is requesting $209.7 billion for research and development activities across the federal government in FY 2024, an increase of $8.9 billion. Within that amount, $101.2 billion is sought for basic and applied research activities, an increase of $3.5 billion. The budget identifies several cross-government priorities for the President, including:  As you will read throughout this report, the FY 2024 budget request prioritizes investment in these and other areas…

March Headlines to Feature Discussion on the FY 2024 Funding Outlook for Social & Behavioral Science Research

COSSA’s regular webinar series, COSSA Headlines, is back for 2023 and will kick off March 16 with a discussion on President Biden’s FY 2024 budget request for science and outlook for research funding in the new Congress. The COSSA team will also highlight ways social and behavioral science researchers can weigh on with their elected officials to support federal research funding.  Register for the webinar here.

Gun Violence Researchers Answer “Why Social Science?”

This week’s Why Social Science? post comes from researchers at the University of Connecticut and Johns Hopkins University to touch on the many ways social science offers insights into preventing and reducing the prevalence of gun-related violence. Read on for more.

COSSA Releases 2023 College & University Rankings for Social & Behavioral Science R&D Funding

On February 8, COSSA released its annual College and University Rankings for Federal Social and Behavioral Science R&D, which highlight the top university recipients of research dollars in the social and behavioral sciences. COSSA’s website also features a rankings dashboard with an interactive map of recipients of social and behavioral science R&D funding so you can see how your university stacks up among 533 U.S. institutions. Based on federally collected data, the COSSA rankings use an inclusive selection of fields representing the breadth of the social and behavioral sciences to calculate the total federal R&D funding received by universities in…

Early Bird Registration for Social Science Advocacy Day Ends March 3!

Join us in Washington, DC on April 24-25 for Social Science Advocacy Day and make your voice heard in support of social and behavioral science! Register before March 3 to receive the Early Bird rate of $95. After March 3, the registration rate increases to $125. Students are always eligible to register for $50. Registration fees are nonrefundable but may be transferred to another person if you are unable to participate. More information is available here.

Registration Open for In-Person Social Science Advocacy Day on April 24-25

You will be teamed up with advocates from your home state and participate in a day of in-person meetings (Tuesday, April 25) with House and Senate offices on Capitol Hill. Through these meetings, you will share reasons why federal government support for social and behavioral science research is so critical and discuss how you and your institution can be helpful to your elected officials. Advocates will be given all the resources they need to have successful meetings. This fun, informative event is a must for anyone within the social and behavioral science community who cares about sustainable funding for our…

COSSA Featured in AmStat News

On February 1, the American Statistical Association (ASA) interviewed Wendy Naus of the Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA) in a Q&A article of AmStat News, the membership magazine of ASA. The Q&A centered around the advocacy work of COSSA, the benefits of COSSA membership, and the various tools COSSA uses to advocate for the social and behavioral sciences. You can read the full article on the ASA website.

Civil Engineers & Applied Behavioral Scientists Answer “Why Social Science” Can Make Workplaces Safer

Danielle Staudt Elected COSSA Board Chair

The COSSA Board of Directors has elected Danielle Staudt, Executive Director of the Population Association of America (PAA), as its next chair. Her two-year term began January 1. Danielle is an association executive with over 20 years of experience and has served as the Executive Director for PAA—a COSSA Governing Member—since 2014.  PAA is the home for population researchers and demographers, and its mission is to support and promote high-quality population research. “I am excited and honored to serve as COSSA’s chair,” says Staudt. “COSSA has been an invaluable resource to me and PAA; I’m grateful for the opportunity to…

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