Science Community News
AAPSS and Niskanen Center Hosts Webinar on Preventing Gun Violence in America
On June 10, the American Academy of Political and Social Science (AAPSS) hosted a webinar to discuss a collection of reports on Preventing Gun Violence in America: What Works and What is Possible. The collection, published in the AAPSS’s journal The ANNALS, consists of fourteen reports focusing on different issues and solutions of gun violence in America, including mass shootings, community gun violence, and intimate partner violence with guns. The Niskanen Center co-hosted the webinar with a panel that included one of the report’s special editors, Dr. Kerri M. Raissan, and two authors of the report, Dr. Jaclyn Schildkraut and Dr. Jennifer Paruk. The discussion focused…
Applications Open for the Third Cohort of New Voices Program
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) announced applications for the third cohort of their New Voices program are now open. The program invites applications from emerging U.S.-based leaders across all disciplines of the sciences, engineering, and medicine. Ideal candidates will have an established record of professional excellence and a demonstrated commitment to service beyond their immediate discipline and institution. Launched in 2018, the New Voices program aims to bring diverse and innovative perspectives from early- and mid-career leaders into crucial dialogues on how science, engineering, and medicine are shaping our global future. Membership in the New Voices program offers…
RSVP: The Census Project’s Virtual Briefing on the Latest ACS Report
The Census Project will be hosting a virtual briefing on Monday, July 24 to discuss its newest report: “America’s Essential Economic and Social Data at Risk: A Vision to Preserve and Enhance the American Community Survey”. Dr. Linda Jacobsen, Senior Fellow at the Population Reference Bureau, will summarize findings from the report and present new sections that spotlight how the ACS informs policies and programs serving veterans and the nation’s health care industry. The briefing will also feature former Census Bureau Director Dr. John Thompson. Dr. Thompson will highlight how the ACS fits into broader data collection modernization and dissemination initiatives…
CNSF/CEF to Host Virtual Briefing on Investing in the Development of STEM Talent
The Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF) and the Committee for Education Funding (CEF) are co-hosting a virtual briefing titled “The National Imperative to Develop STEM Talent: Why the Investment in Education Matters.” The briefing will feature an expert panel focused on how the Department of Education and the National Science Foundation can support the STEM pipeline. Panelists include Dr. André M. Green, Chair of the Department of Leadership and Teacher Education at the University of South Alabama, and Mr. Billy Mawhiney, Executive Director of the South Dakota Afterschool Network. The virtual briefing will take place on June 21 at 1:00 pm ET. Participants can…
AAAS: 2024 Philip Hauge Abelson Prize
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is inviting nominations for the 2024 Philip Hauge Abelson Prize, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the U.S. scientific community through research, policy, and/or civil service. The recipient will receive a monetary prize of $5,000, a commemorative plaque, complimentary registration to the AAAS Annual Meeting, a complimentary one-year AAAS membership, and reimbursement for reasonable travel expenses to attend the AAAS Annual Meeting to receive the prize. The Prize will be presented at the 2023 AAAS Annual Meeting. The Abelson Prize has been given to Anthony Fauci, Margaret Hamburg, and Sekazi Mtingwa, among others….
PAA and APC In-Person Briefing: Challenges and Opportunities of an Aging Baby Boom Generation
On July 20, the Population Association of America (PAA) and the Association of Population Center (APC), will host a Birthday Bash and in-person discussion for the final cohort of the Baby Boom generation, who turn 65 this year. The event will hold an enlightening talk over cake and ice cream addressing this significant demographic shift, and its resulting nationwide implications in policy and health debates. The panel of distinguished experts will include Dr. Emily Agree of Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Linda Jacobsen from the Population Reference Bureau, Dr. Lisa Berkman of Harvard University, and Dr. I-Fen Lin from Bowling Green…
DBASSE Announces New Advisory Committee Members
The Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education (DBASSE) within the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has announced the appointment of Dianne Chong, Leah H. Jamieson, and Mary C. Waters to its their advisory committee. DBASSE works to advance the social and behavioral sciences by providing “independent, evidence-based advice to decision-makers on key questions of national importance.” Chong previously served as vice president at The Boeing Co.’s Engineering, Operations & Technology organization; Jamieson is the John Edwardson Dean Emerita of Engineering at Purdue University; and Waters is the John L. Loeb Professor of Sociology and the PVK…
NASEM Call for Nominations: PreK-12 STEM Education Innovations
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) is seeking experts to participate in the new consensus study on promising PreK-12 STEM education innovations in response to the Congressional mandate in the CHIPS and Science Act. The study will (1) review the literature and identify research gaps regarding the factors that foster and hinder successful implementation of promising PreK-12 STEM innovations at all levels; (2) present evidence-based PreK-12 STEM education practices, models, programs, and technologies; (3) identify barriers to widespread and sustained implementation of innovations; and (4) make recommendations to relevant stakeholders on measures to address the identified barriers….
Remembering Dr. Kellina Craig-Henderson
The social, behavioral, and economic sciences lost one of their own on April 21 with the passing of Dr. Kellina (Kelli) Craig-Henderson. Dr. Craig-Henderson most recently served as Assistant Director for the Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences Directorate at the National Science Foundation (NSF), a post to which she was named in June 2022. Prior to that she served as Acting Assistant Director and Deputy Assistant Director in SBE, as well as various other roles during her 17 years at the agency. “Kelli will be remembered for her passionate promotion of the social and behavioral sciences and as a scholar and champion…
NASEM releases Behavioral Economics: Policy Impact and Future Directions Report
The Board on Behavioral, Cognitive, and Sensory Sciences (BBCSS) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) has released a new report titled Behavioral Economics: Policy Impact and Future Directions. As a field developing strongly since the mid-20th century, behavioral economics has produced influential research from its findings between economists and psychologists. In this report, the contributions and impacts of the field are assessed across seven public policy fields: health, retirement benefits, climate change, social safety net benefits, climate change, education, and criminal justice. In addition to discussing the application of behavioral economics into governmental outputs, the report addresses ways to…
NASEM Announces Climate Crossroads Initiative to Address Climate Change
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) have announced the new Climate Crossroads, an initiative intended to expand their climate change research to provide diverse solutions to climate change issues. NASEM is currently seeking experts in the following fields to serve on the initiative’s Advisory Committee: climate research, policy, communications, community engagement, fundraising, and strategic development. Submissions are due May 1. NASEM will host the Climate Crossroads 2023 Summer Partner’s Meeting on July 11-12 at the National Academy of Sciences Building in Washington, D.C.
NASEM Releases Interactive Webpage for ADEI in STEMM Report, Announces Workshop
As previously reported, the National Academies of Science Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) released their report on Advancing Antiracism, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ADEI) in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and Medicine (STEMM) Organizations in February of this year. The report identified structural barriers to minoritized groups’ access to STEMM fields and outlined several recommendations as to how the scientific community can combat those barriers and better implement ADEI principles. To further the reach and understanding of the report, NASEM has now produced an interactive webpage which explores the report’s findings and provides exploratory functions for learning more about each subject. The…
SEAN Report Addresses COVID-19 Related Challenges for Individuals with Precarious Employment
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s (NASEM) Societal Experts Action Network (SEAN) has released it’s latest rapid expert consultation, Addressing COVID-19 Related Challenges Facing Individuals Engaged in Precarious Employment. SEAN provides social, behavioral, and economic science researchers with resources to produce rapid-fire reports and recommendations to influence policy decisions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic (see previous COSSA coverage). In this latest report, SEAN considers the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on employees in jobs that are considered to have low security, such as jobs with low wages and low benefits. The report found that employees in these positions had…
CNSTAT Releases Second Data Infrastructure Report in Series Intended to Modernize Data Collection
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) Committee on National Statistics (CNSTAT) has released its second in an ongoing series of data infrastructure reports intended to modernize and enhance data collection (previous COSSA coverage). This latest report, Toward a 21st Century National Data Infrastructure: Enhancing Survey Programs by Using Multiple Data Sources, builds off the first by discussing how using multiple data sources beyond sample surveys could improve the data collection for statistics and social and economic research, as well as data equity. The report acknowledges several data sources that could improve data collection, including probability samples, administrative…
NASEM President Marcia McNutt Speaks on History of Research Funding at AAAS Meeting
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) held it’s 2023 Annual Meeting on March 2-5 in Washington DC. During the conference, Marcia McNutt, President of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) provided a keynote address, The Past, Present, and Future of our Research Enterprise. McNutt discussed the evolution of science funding through the years, particularly referencing the decline of funding after the Cold War. McNutt noted that the research enterprise in the United States does not have the capacity to meet demand for scientific insights, and oftentimes, funding falls short. McNutt recommended improving funding and access to education,…
Science is US Report Shows Impact of STEM on U.S. Workforce
On March 1, Science is US released the People of Science report, an analysis of the impact of the STEM workforce on the U.S. economy. According to the report, 34.3 percent of the U.S. workforce engaged with STEM in some capacity in 2021, accounting for $9.45 trillion – or 40.5 percent – of U.S. GDP. The report defines the STEM workforce broadly as people who spend the vast majority of their job tasks engaging in science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine and includes a list of qualifying occupations that contributed to the STEM workforce. Among the listed occupations are social…
National Academies Release Report on Antiracism in Science Organizations
On February 14, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) held a webinar marking the release of a report on Advancing Antiracism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in STEMM Organizations. The report aims to identify structural barriers to participation in science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine (STEMM) by minoritized individuals and provides recommendations on how the scientific community can instigate meaningful changes to remove these barriers and instill principles of antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI). The report offers the following recommendations to the scientific community: The report can be read in full on the NASEM website.
Research!America Releases Survey Results of Public Opinion of Science
Ahead of President Biden’s State of the Union address, Research!America released the results from a January 2023 national survey displaying findings concerning the perceived status of R&D funding this year, with notable differences from years past. Among the hopeful signs for science is noticeably strong bipartisan support among Americans for investing in research. Some highlights from the survey suggest science and technology have become more of a priority for the country: Additionally, the survey findings show that Americans strongly support federal investment in research which advances the frontiers of knowledge (92% of Democrats, 78% of Republicans, 76% of independents) and…
National Academies Seeking Members for Board on Environmental Change and Society
A call for nominations has been released for new members to serve on the Board on Environmental Change and Society (BECS) at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM). Prospective new members are preferred to have expertise in social and behavioral sciences, including decision-making research, sociology, anthropology, psychology, economics, environmental policy, and human-environment science. A full list of desired disciplines is available here. BECS advances the integration of social and behavioral science research into environmental science and policy through programs which explore human interactions with the biophysical environment. BECS is also focused on developing a coherent field of…
William T. Grant Foundation Seeking Applicants for Scholars Program
The William T. Grant Foundation has opened their online application for the 2023 Scholars Program. The William T. Grant Foundation supports social, behavioral, and health science researchers through encouraging researchers to expand their focus areas. The program provides $350,000 over a five-year period to develop a research plan to provide solutions for inequity and/or build strategies for improving the use of research evidence. Applicants require a nomination from their university to be eligible for the grant. The 2023 Scholars Program Application Guide has been released to aid potential applicants. The deadline to apply is July 5, 2023.