Volume 36 (2017)
National Academies to Launch Study on the Future of Food and Agriculture Research; Nominations Sought for Executive Committee
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine announced a new study, Science Breakthroughs 2030: A Strategy for Food and Agriculture Research. The year-long study hopes to âidentify ambitious scientific directions in food and agriculture made possible by incorporating knowledge and tools from across the science and engineering spectrum.â The study is sponsored by the Supporters of Agriculture Research (SoAR) Foundation, Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR), and the Department of Agricultureâs National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Nominations are currently being sought for the studyâs executive committee, which will author the projectâs final consensus report, after seeking…
DBASSE Seeks Deputy Executive Director
The Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education (DBASSE) of the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine is seeking a new Deputy Executive Director. More information on the position and application instructions are available here. Back to this issueâs table of contents.
National Academies Releases Report on Dual Language and English Learners
On February 28, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released Promoting the Educational Success of Children and Youth Learning English: Promising Futures, a report by the Committee on Fostering School Success for English Learners. The report assesses the current state of English language education in the United States and offers recommendations on how to improve learning outcomes for dual language learners (DLLs) and English learners (ELs). Under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), states have a responsibility to address disparities in the educational outcomes of DLLs/ELs. The report contains 14 recommendations designed to inform policy and offers a…
Academies Board on Environmental Change and Society Seeking New Members
The Board on Environmental Change and Society (BECS) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is accepting nominations for new members. BECS focuses on research on interactions between humans and their environment. While members represent disciplines across the social and natural sciences, the Board is particularly interested in candidates with expertise on human-environment interactions, adaptive management, transformative change, and methods for integration of social and natural sciences. More information and instructions on submitting nominations are available on the National Academies website. Nominations are due by March 21. Back to this issueâs table of contents.
LSA Releases Annual Report on Linguistics in Higher Education
The Linguistic Society of America (LSA), a COSSA Governing Member, has issued its fourth Annual Report on the State of Linguistics in Higher Education. The report shows a growing popularity of the linguistics major at four-year colleges and universities, as well as a number of other interesting highlights such as career trends, demographics, and specializations. Back to this issueâs table of contents.
Bracing for a Tough Budget Cycle
The fiscal year (FY) 2017 appropriations process has yet to conclude, but interest is already turning to FY 2018. The Trump Administration has begun releasing limited details on what the Presidentâs FY 2018 budget request could contain when released later this spring. A so-called âskinny budget,â or top-line, department-level outline, is expected to be released next week with full details provided in May. The President has stated his intent to propose an additional $54 billion in defense spending. Such an increase coupled with promises of middle class tax cuts, corporate tax cuts, a $1 trillion infrastructure plan, and keeping Medicare…
AAA&S Report Makes Recommendations for Improved U.S. Language Education
On February 28, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAA&S), a COSSA member, released, Americaâs Languages: Investing in Language Education for the 21st Century, the final report of the Commission on Language Learning. A bipartisan group of U.S. Members of Congress requested that AAA&S establish the Commission in order âto examine the current state of U.S. language education, to project what the nationâs education needs will be in the future, and to offer recommendations for ways to meet those needs.â The Commission found that only 10 percent of the U.S. population speaks a second language proficiently, a number insufficient…
Funding Opportunity Announcements
DOD: Minerva Research Initiative (WHS-AD-FOA-17-01) NIFA: Behavioral and Experimental Economic Applications for Agri-Environmental Policy Design NIFA: Children, Youth, and Families At Risk (CYFAR) Sustainable Community Projects (USDA-NIFA-SLBCD-006244) NIH Opportunities: NCI: Research Answers to NCI’s Provocative Questions (R01) (RFA-CA-17-017), (R21) (RFA-CA-17-018) NIA: The Health and Retirement Study (U01) (RFA-AG-18-005) NIAAA: Alcohol Research Resource Awards (R24) (PAR-17-170) NICHD: NICHD Research Education Programs (R25) (PAR-17-183) NIDA: Advancing Exceptional Research on HIV/AIDS and Substance Abuse (R01) (RFA-DA-18-002) NIDDK: Evaluating Natural Experiments in Healthcare to Improve Diabetes Prevention and Treatment (R18) (PAR-17-178) NIDDK: Planning Grants for Pragmatic Research in Healthcare Settings to Improve Diabetes and…
Events Calendar
American Psychosomatic Society Annual Scientific Meeting, March 15-18, 2017, Seville, Spain Association for Asian Studies Annual Conference, March 16-19, 2017, Toronto, Canada Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Annual Meeting, March 21-25, 2017, Kansas City, MO AERA Centennial Lecture: Charles Payne –Â The Limits of Schooling, the Power of Poverty, March 23, 2017, Detroit, MI COSSA 2017 Science Policy Conference & Social Science Advocacy Day, March 29-30, 2017, Washington, DC Society of Behavioral Medicine Annual Meeting, March 29-April 1, 2017, San Diego, CA Southern Sociological Society Annual Meeting, March 29-April 1, 2017, Greenville, SC Midwest Sociological Society Annual Meeting, March 30-April 2,…
COSSA Washington Update, Volume 36 Issue 4
Featured News COSSA Conference Agenda Released; Hotel Block Rate Expires Feb. 28 COSSA in Action The American Anthropological Association Answers âWhy Social Science?â COSSA 2016 Annual Report Now Available COSSA Joins Scientific Community in Urging Approval of NIH FY 2017 Budget Congressional News Congressional Committees Organize, Begin Hearings Federal Agency & Administration News Tom Price Confirmed as Secretary of Department of Health and Human Services NSF Directorâs Monthly Message Outlines Big Ideas, Highlights Antarctic Program Date Change: 10th Matilda White Riley Behavioral and Social Sciences Honors Publications & Community Events National Academiesâ Global Change Research Advisory Committee Accepting Nominations Funding…
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! Donât 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…
COSSA 2016 Annual Report Now Available
COSSA has released its 2016 Annual Report, which highlights some of COSSAâs 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.
Congressional Committees Organize, Begin Hearings
Several committee and subcommittee rosters have been announced in the recent weeks, including for committees overseeing federal funding and policy issues important to social and behavioral science research. Notable committee rosters include House and Senate Appropriations; House Science, Space, and Technology Democrats and Republicans; and Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The House Energy and Commerce Committee, which is responsible for health policy, and the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee have also announced their committee membership. New committee leadership of note for social and behavioral science research funding include new House Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Jose…
Tom Price Confirmed as Secretary of Department of Health and Human Services
Rep. Tom Price (R-GA), an orthopedic surgeon and a six-term member of the House of Representatives, was confirmed as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) by a party-line vote of 52 to 47 in the late hours of February 10. Price, who most recently served as chair of the House Budget Committee, is fiscally conservative and is considered a stern foe of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and abortion rights. However, he has been mostly supportive of increasing funding for federal research agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, which is one of the agencies under HHSâ jurisdiction. Rep….
NSF Directorâs Monthly Message Outlines Big Ideas, Highlights Antarctic Program
In her January Monthly Message, Dr. France Cordova, Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), shared a video outlining the Six Big Ideas for Future NSF Investment and an update on the status of research in these areas. The six âBig Ideasâ serve as bold and broad questions to help direct NSFâs long-term research agenda and ensure that future generations will reap the benefits of fundamental scientific research. Back to this issue’s table of contents.
Date Change: 10th Matilda White Riley Behavioral and Social Sciences Honors
The date for the National Institutes of Healthâs (NIH) 10th Matilda White Riley Behavioral and Social Sciences Honors has been changed to April 25 on the NIH campus. The Honors program pays tribute to the âresearch trajectory and continuing influence of Dr. Matilda White Riley in the behavioral and social sciences across and beyondâ the NIH. For more information about the program see the NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Researchâs website. Back to this issue’s table of contents.
National Academiesâ Global Change Research Advisory Committee Accepting Nominations
The National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicineâs Committee to Advise the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) is soliciting nominations for new members. The Committee, whose expertise spans the physical, ecological, and social science of global change, advises the USGCRP and supports climate communication activities across the Academies. Members serve three-year terms, with an option to reappoint after the first term. The Academies are particularly interested in candidates with expertise in extreme event risk and human dimensions of global change, among other fields. Nominations are due on March 15, 2017 and can be submitted by filling out this form….
Funding Opportunity Announcements
NICHD/NINR: Research to Address Sleep Disorders in the Context of Medical Rehabilitation (R01) (PAR-17-163) NIMH: Formative and Pilot Intervention Research for Prevention and Treatment of HIV/AIDS (R34) (PA-17-166) NIMH: Research to Support the Reduction and Elimination of Mental Health Disparities (Admin Supp) (PA-17-165) NIH Concept Clearances: NIDCR: Interdisciplinary Collaborations to Promote Research in Oral Health and Aging: This initiative is designed accelerate âresearch that will improve the oral health of older adults by addressing knowledge gaps in the etiology and management of dental, oral, and craniofacial disease associated with aging.â NIGMS: NIGMS-Specific Predoctoral T32 Training Program: The new FOA is…