Issue 04 (March 13)

COSSA in Action

• COSSA Annual Meeting and Advocacy Day Attracts Over 100
• COSSA Resources Illustrate Value of Social Science Research

Congressional News

• Science Subcommittee Discusses FY 2016 NSF Budget, Social Science Funding

Federal Agency & Administration News

• Nominations Sought for National Medal of Science and National Medal of Technology and Innovation
• FDA, OHRP Seek Comment on Proposed Guidance on Electronic Consent

Events Calendar

Next COSSA Washington Update: March 24

View the archived email.

More than 100 social and behavioral scientists from across the country attended the 2015 COSSA Annual Meeting and related events on March 9-10. This week’s meeting featured a new format for the annual event, which included moving of the meeting from the fall when it had historically been held, to the spring in order to align with Congressional calendar. As part of the meeting on March 10, more than 60 COSSA members descended on Capitol Hill for the first-ever Social and Behavioral Science Advocacy Day. Advocates met with 84 different offices in the House and Senate to discuss the value of social science research and the critical role the federal government plays in supporting this research. Check out the next issue of the COSSA Washington Update for summaries of the meeting’s sessions.

A big thanks our Annual Meeting sponsors: American Educational Research Association, American Evaluation Association, American Sociological Association, Midwest Political Science Association, Princeton University, SAGE, and West Virginia University.

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COSSA has developed a series of resources to help its members articulate the value of social and behavioral science research to policy makers and the public. These resources include:

• State-by-state funding fact sheets
• Contributions of Social and Behavioral Science to Issues of National Significance
• FY 2016 Funding Request One-Pagers for NSF, NIH, DOJ and Federal Statistical Agencies
• FY 2016 Funding Request Talking Points
• Analysis of the President’s FY 2016 Budget Request for Social and Behavioral Science Research
• COSSA Handbook for Social and Behavioral Science Advocacy
• COSSA’s TAKE ACTION page

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On February 26, the House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Research Technology held an oversight hearing to discuss the fiscal year (FY) 2016 budget request for the National Science Foundation (NSF). The hearing featured testimony from NSF Director France Córdova and Daniel Arvizu, Chairman of the National Science Board. (more…)

Nominations are currently being accepted for the National Medal of Science and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. The National Medal of Science is awarded by the President to individuals deserving of special recognition by reason of their outstanding cumulative contributions to knowledge in the physical, biological, mathematical, engineering, or behavioral or social sciences, in service to the nation. The National Medal of Technology and Innovation is awarded to individuals, teams, companies, or divisions of companies for contributions to America’s economic, environmental, and social well-being.

Nominations for the National Medal of Science are due on April 27, 2015. More information on the nomination process is available here. Nominations for the National Medal of Technology and Innovation must be received by June 1, 2015. More information is available here.

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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released draft guidance on using electronic media and processes to obtain informed consent in FDA-regulated clinical investigations. The guidance covers how and when electronic informed consent information should be presented, how to ensure subjects’ understanding of the information, how to maintain confidentiality and security, and how to keep appropriate documentation of the consent process.

FDA is seeking public comment on the draft guidance by May 8, 2015. Instructions and more information are in in the Federal Register notice.

The Office of Human Research Protections (OHRP) is soliciting comments on whether the FDA’s draft guidance is appropriate for research under the Office’s purview (regulated under 45 CFR 46). As part of an effort to harmonize agencies’ regulations and guidance for human subjects research, OHRP is considering issuing the final guidance as a joint FDA-OHRP document. The Office will consider comments received from the public in its decision making.

Comments to OHRP are also due on May 8, 2015. More information and instructions are available in a separate Federal Register notice.

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American Psychosomatic Society Annual Scientific Meeting, Savannah, GA, March 18-21, 2015

Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, March 19-21, 2015

Southern Sociological Society Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, March 25-29, 2015

Association for Asian Studies Annual Conference, Chicago, IL, March 26-29, 2015

Midwest Sociological Society Annual Meeting, Kansas City, MO, March 26-29, 2015

Southwestern Social Science Association Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, April 8-11, 2015

American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, April 16-20, 2015

Midwest Political Science Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL, April 16-19, 2015

Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, April 21-25, 2015

Society of Behavioral Medicine Annual Meeting & Scientific Sessions, San Antonio, TX, April 22-25, 2015

Population Association of America Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, April 30-May 2, 2015

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