Headlines Webinar
Understanding NSF’s Merit Review Updates with Wanda Ward
On April 9, COSSA hosted the April Headlines Webinar, “Understanding NSF’s Merit Review Updates with Wanda Ward”. The webinar focused on changes to NSF’s Merit Review Process, the recently published “Merit Review for a Changing Landscape” Report, and what that means for social and behavioral science research. The webinar featured specal guest Wanda Ward, Chair of the National Science Board’s Commission on Merit Review. View the Slides Wanda Ward, Ph.D. Since 2021, Wanda E. Ward has served as executive associate chancellor for the Office of the Chancellor – Public Engagement at the University of Illinois Urbana – Champaign. She provides…
Making Your Voice Heard in Washington: Day of Action
Ahead of COSSA’s annual Social Science Advocacy Day, the COSSA staff hosted the March Headlines webinar, “Making Your Voice Heard in Washington: Day of Action”. The webinar covered recent policy developments, shared tips on how to advocate from home, and provided ways for you to get involved during Social Science Advocacy Day 2026! View the Slides Not a COSSA member? Learn more about how your association or university can join here.
Advocacy in 2026 and Beyond
Tomorrow, join COSSA for the first Headlines webinar of the year. The COSSA Staff will cover the details of recently released science bills and what the future holds for advocacy in 2026. View the Slides Not a COSSA member? Learn more about how your association or university can join here.
Reviewing 2025 & What’s Next
On December 10, COSSA hosted the final Headlines webinar of the year. COSSA covered key policy developments and Congressional activity that affected the social and behavioral sciences in 2025 and preview what’s ahead for 2026. View the Slides Not a COSSA member? Learn more about how your association or university can join here.
Understanding the Shake Up at the BLS and Other Topics
On October 30, COSSA hosted the next installment in the 2025 Headlines Webinar series. The COSSA team was joined by special guest Dr. Erica Groshen to discuss the ongoing challenges facing the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the broader federal statistical system. View the Slides Not a COSSA member? Learn more about how your association or university can join here.
Crunch Time for Science Funding: Latest Policy Updates from COSSA
On September 23, COSSA hosted the recent installment in the 2025 Headlines Webinar series. The COSSA team provided updates on recent policy and funding developments impacting the social and behavioral science community, discussed Congress’ plans for averting a government shutdown (or not), and analyzed the latest actions taking by the Trump Administration. See the conversation below. View the Slides Not a COSSA member? Learn more about how your association or university can join here.
Latest Research Policy Updates with COSSA & COGR
On July 28, COSSA hosted the recent installment in the Headlines Webinar series. This month’s meeting featured a discussion with research policy experts from COGR on topics like indirect costs, research compliance, and other timely developments impacting the social and behavioral science community. View the Slides Featured speakers: Krystal Toups is the Director for Contracts & Grants Administration at COGR. She leads COGR’s research policy efforts related to the administration of sponsored research from proposal preparation and submission to terms and conditions of awards, monitoring the regulatory landscape. Prior to joining COGR, Krystal served as the Assistant Vice Provost for Sponsored…
Diving into the President’s FY 2026 Budget: Implications for Social and Behavioral Science
On June 26, COSSA hosted the recent installment in the Headlines Webinar series. June’s meeting focused on the release of the President’s fiscal year (FY) 2026 budget and what it means for the social and behavioral sciences. Featured speakers: View the Slides Not a COSSA member? Learn more about how your association or university can join here.
Policy Issues Confronting Higher Education w/ Tobin Smith
On May 21, COSSA hosted the recent installment in the Headlines Webinar series. May’s meeting focused on the many challenges confronting higher education in this new political reality and featured guest speaker Tobin Smith, Senior Vice President for Government Relations & Public Policy at the Association of American Universities (AAU). View the Slides Not a COSSA member? Learn more about how your association or university can join here.
Latest Policy Updates from COSSA: April
On April 29, COSSA hosted the recent installment in the Headlines Webinar series. Updates were provided on Budgets, NSF Developments, NIH Priorities, and other new developments of the last few weeks, including what COSSA members can do in response. See the recording and slides below. View the Slides Not a COSSA member? Learn more about how your association or university can join here.
Latest Policy Updates from COSSA: March
On March 31, COSSA hosted the latest Headlines Webinar in the series. COSSA provided updates on Congressional actions, recent Trump Administration efforts, updates on the budget, and other new developments over the last few weeks, including what COSSA members can do in response. View the Slides Not a COSSA member? Learn more about how your association or university can join here.
Understanding the Latest White House and Congressional Actions
On February 27, COSSA hosted the most recent Headlines Webinar focused on providing updates on Congressional actions, recent Trump Administration efforts, and other new developments of the last few weeks, including what COSSA members can do in response. View the Slides Not a COSSA member? Learn more about how your association or university can join here.
119th Congress & Trump 2.0: What Does it Mean for Us?
Earlier this month, the 119th Congress was sworn in at the Capitol and President Trump took his second oath of office (read COSSA’s coverage). Things are moving quickly as the new Republican leadership seeks to make sweeping policy changes and cut the federal budget. On January 30, COSSA hosted a discussion on what these new political dynamics mean for the social and behavioral sciences community. View the Slides Not a COSSA member? Learn more about how your association or university can join here.
The Future of Social and Behavioral Science in Evidence-Based Policymaking
Last Spring, the White House released a seminal report detailing the important contributions the social and behavioral sciences make to addressing some of the nation’s most pressing challenges and promoting better use of social and behavioral science research in evidence-based policymaking across the federal government. The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) released the Blueprint for the Use of Social and Behavioral Science to Advance Evidence-Based Policymaking in May following two years of work by social and behavioral science experts from across federal agencies and departments. On December 17, COSSA hosted a webinar with Kei Koizumi, OSTP Principal Deputy…
Election 2024: Implications for Social and Behavioral Science Research
On December 5, COSSA Staff hosted a webinar focused on the results of the 2024 national elections and their implications for the social and behavioral sciences. View the Slides Presenters Wendy Naus Executive Director, COSSA
COSSA Town Hall: NIH Reform Proposals
In early June, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), in partnership with the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS) Chair Robert Aderholt (R-AL), released a framework outlining potential reforms for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (see previous COSSA coverage). Since this framework was released, there has been a lot of conversation about the future of NIH and what this framework would look like in action. On September 12, COSSA Staff hosted an informal conversation about recent developments and the frameworks proposed for the NIH. View the Slides Guest Presenters Wendy Naus…
May 2024 Headlines: Recent Developments at the U.S. Census Bureau
The 2024 Headlines series continues with a discussion about recent developments and research activities within the U.S. Census Bureau. Presenter Director Robert L. Santos, the U.S. Census Bureau. Robert L. Santos is the 26th director of the U.S. Census Bureau. He was sworn in on January 5, 2022. His career spans more than 40 years in survey research, statistical design and analysis and executive-level management. Before coming to the Census Bureau, he spent 15 years as vice president and chief methodologist at the Urban Institute and directed its Statistical Methods Group – and served as executive vice president and partner…
April 2024 COSSA Headlines: Behavioral and Social Science Priorities and Programs at the National Institutes of Health
The 2024 Headlines series continues with a discussion about the research and data activities within the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research at the National Institutes of Health. Presenter Dr. Jane M. Simoni, Ph.D. Associate Director for Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, NIH & Director, Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR) Jane M. Simoni, Ph.D., is the Associate Director for Behavioral and Social Sciences Research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Director of the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR). Dr. Simoni joined NIH on July 30, 2023, to lead OBSSR’s efforts…
March 2024 Headlines: Research and Education Programs and Priorities of the STEM Education Directorate at the National Science Foundation
The 2024 Headlines series continues with a discussion about the research and education programs and priorities within the STEM Education Directorate at the National Science Foundation. View the Slides Presenter Dr. James L. Moore III, Assistant Director for the Directorate for STEM Education at the National Science Foundation As a member of the executive leadership team at the National Science Foundation (NSF), Dr. James L. Moore III is the Assistant Director for the Directorate for STEM Education (EDU). With an annual budget of over $1 Billion and personnel oversight for nearly 200 employees, he serves as the senior leader for…
February 2024 COSSA Headlines: Research Programs and Priorities of the National Institute of Justice and Bureau of Justice Statistics
The 2024 Headlines series kicks off with a discussion about the research and data activities within the National Institute of Justice and Bureau of Justice Statistics. Presenters Dr. Nancy La Vigne, Director, National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, DOJ Nancy La Vigne was appointed by President Biden as Director of the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) in March 2022. Dr. La Vigne’s research expertise ranges from policing and corrections reform to reentry from prison, criminal justice technologies and evidence-based criminal justice practices. Prior to joining NIJ, she served as executive director of the Council on Criminal Justice’s Task…