Search Results: AI
Funding Deal Struck: House and Senate Leaders Take First Step Towards Avoiding Government Shutdown
On Sunday, House and Senate leaders took the first step to avoiding a government shutdown by reaching an agreement to fund the federal government for the rest of fiscal year (FY) 2024. This agreement includes a total of $1.66 trillion for discretionary spending in FY 2024. The spending is divided into $886.3 billion for defense and $772.7 billion for domestic discretionary spending. This allocation adheres to the previous deal between President Biden and then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, which included a $69 billion side deal for non-defense discretionary funding to keep those accounts whole. Under the agreement, the defense budget will receive a 3…
Lawmakers Author a Congressional Letter Addressing Foreign Influence in U.S. Research
In a notable move addressing concerns over foreign influence in federally funded research, U.S. lawmakers, including Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) and Ranking Member Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-08), have urged the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to scrutinize the impartiality of current investigations. This request, highlighted in a detailed letter, emphasizes the need for adopting a bias-free and nondiscriminatory attitude towards investment from foreign institutions. The spotlight falls on agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which have been actively investigating researchers with alleged foreign ties. The lawmakers’ request to the GAO includes critical questions about due…
Census Bureau Seeks Nominations for Scientific Advisory Committee
The Census Bureau is seeking nominations for their Scientific Advisory Committee. The Census Bureauâs Scientific Advisory Committee advises the director of the Census Bureau on programs and activities, policies, research, surveys, and other items as needed. Committee members will be expected to serve a three-year term and to have experience in one of the following fields: communications, demographic, economic, field operations, geography, information technology, and statistics. The Bureau is especially interested in people with experience in survey methodology, information technology, computer science and engineering, geography, psychology, business/finance, sociology, and marketing. Nominations are due February 2 and should be emailed to census.scientific.advisory.committee@census.gov with the subject…
NCSES Releases Knowledge Base to Improve Understanding of Data
The National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) in the National Science Foundation (NSF) has released a Knowledge Base, a new user resource on NCSES tools and data. The website provides robust information on how to understand and use NCSES data as well as answers to frequently asked questions and a glossary for commonly used terms. The Knowledge Base is intended to help people navigate NCSES data while simultaneously providing support in an easy and accessible way. This resource comes as NCSES works towards making their data more available for public use. Questions can be sent to ncsesdata@nsf.gov.
NSF Unveils First-Ever Accelerating Research Translation Awards to Boost Economic Growth Through Academic Research
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced its first-ever investment in the Accelerating Research Translation (ART) initiative. More than $100 million will be dedicated to 18 teams at academic institutions nationwide to accelerate the pace and scale of translational research aimed to foster economic growth across the nation. The ART program is set to award up to $6 million over four years to each selected institution. These funds will be used to identify and develop academic research with potential for technology transfer, ensure the availability of staff with technology transfer expertise, and support the education and training of entrepreneurial faculty…
NCSES Opens Applications for Two New Postdoctoral Fellowship Opportunities
The National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) has announced two new postdoctoral fellowships. These fellowships are designed to support recent doctoral graduates interested in the study of ethical and responsible research. Each program offers one slot for a dedicated and passionate fellow: Applications are due January 24 and can be submitted here.
Advocacy Day Spotlight: Early Bird Registration is OPEN!
Early bird registration for COSSAâs tenth annual Social Science Advocacy Day is officially OPEN! The event will be taking place April 8-9, 2024 in Washington, DC. Register here. Donât miss this opportunity to have an impact on funding and policy important to the social science community. âI will come back every year if my university allows,â said a past Social Science Advocacy Day participant. âIt’s one of the highlights of my academic career. Makes me think differently about my work and want to get into politics.â Social Science Advocacy Day is open to anyone affiliated with a COSSA member organization or university. Not a member?…
Dr. Rayvon FouchĂ© from Northwestern University Answers âWhy Social Science?â
The recent Why Social Science? post comes from Dr. Rayvon Fouché from Northwestern University who writes about how social science can provide valuable history, context, and interpretive perspectives to help inform our societies moving forward. Read on for more.
OSTP Investigates the Costs of Open Access Publishing
On November 22, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) published a report exploring the impact for covering the cost of openly publishing federally-funded research. The report outlines multiple challenges endured by federal grantees and intramural researchers, but estimates that in 2021 the cost was roughly $378 million. Congress requested the report through its appropriations legislation for fiscal year (FY) 2023, citing concerns that some open access publishing financing mechanisms, particularly total article processing fees (APCs) and transformative agreements, may âpresent growing barriers to knowledge generation and sharing.â Congress asked OSTP to estimate how much of the costs of both APCs and transformative agreements…
CALL FOR EXPERTS: Communications Advisory Group for the National Academy of Medicine
The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) announced that they will be appointing a Communications Advisory Group to inform the direction of its communications and engagement activities. The group will be comprised of 15 volunteers to serve 2-year terms, beginning in January 2024. NAM is looking for a mix of experts with a particular interest in the following: Learn more about the group and submit nominations for members by December 15 here.
Editor’s Note: Update Returning on January 9
This is our final issue of the COSSA Washington Update for 2023. Late-breaking news and analysis will be shared with members subscribed to our members-only emails. We will resume our ongoing coverage of policy developments affecting the social and behavioral sciences on January 9. The COSSA team wishes all our readers a happy and healthy holiday season.
Analysis of the FY 2024 House Appropriations Bills for Federal Science Agencies
In late October, details of the U.S. House of Representativesâ fiscal year (FY) 2024 appropriations bills were made public. Before leaving town for the Thanksgiving break, the Houseâunder the leadership of newly-elected House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA)âtook initial steps toward passing the bills. However, despite two days of debate, the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education (LHHS) appropriations billâthe measure that funds the National Institutes of Health, Department of Education, and several other agencies of interest to the science communityâdid not receive a final vote and consideration was punted until after the holiday. The other bill of interestâthe Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS)…
Advocacy Day Spotlight: Early Bird Registration Coming Soon
Early bird registration for COSSAâs tenth annual Social Science Advocacy Day will be opening soon! The event will be taking place April 8-9, 2024 in Washington, DC. Be sure to save the date, share with your colleagues, and keep an eye on your inbox for the latest details. If your organization is interested in becoming a sponsor of Social Science Advocacy Day, learn more here. Visit the COSSA website for the latest information on Social Science Advocacy Day.
NSF Signs Memorandum of Understanding with the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
On November 14, Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan, Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). The agreement is intended to foster a collaborative research partnership between the United States and Canada on various subjects including artificial intelligence (AI), healthcare, climate change, and more, through building on current projects and developing new opportunities. Some of these current projects include the NSF-led Global Centers, the NSERC-NSF AI/Quantum Lead Agency Opportunity, and the Canadian-led New Frontiers in Research Fund. Stay tuned to COSSA for continued coverage.
Biden Administration Appoints New NCI Director
On November 17, the Biden Administration announced intent to appoint Dr. W. Kimryn Rathmell as Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The position was previously held by Dr. Monica Bertagnolli, the recently confirmed Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (see previous COSSA coverage). Dr. Rathmell currently serves as the Physician-in-Chief and Chair of the Department of Medicine at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She received her PhD in biophysics and her M.D. from Stanford University following a Bachelor of Science in biology and chemistry from the University of Iowa. Dr. Rathmell also served as an internal medicine resident, fellow…
White House Announces Initiative on Womenâs Health Research
On November 13, the White House and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden announced a new initiative to advance womenâs health research, recognizing gaps in funding for this research as a barrier to accessible healthcare for women. The Initiative on Womenâs Health Research will be led by Dr. Biden and newly appointed Chair Dr. Carolyn Mazure, a previous National Institutes of Health (NIH) fellow and researcher at Yale University. Dr. Biden highlighted the importance of the new initiative, stating that âthereâs just not enough research yet on how to best manage and treat even common womenâs health conditionsâŠOur new White House Initiative on…
NEW ACTION ALERT: Tell Congress to Reject Cuts to Science Funding in FY 2024!
The U.S. House of Representatives is voting this week on fiscal year (FY) 2024 appropriations bills that fund social and behavioral science research. The bills in the House propose massive cuts to discretionary spending, including for research. Write to your members of Congress TODAY and urge them to reject these proposals. For more details, follow COSSAâs FY 2024 coverage here. Visit COSSA’s TAKE ACTION page to send a quick message to your Senators and Representatives and tell them why they must reject cuts to science funding in FY 2024.
SAVE THE DATE: COSSA’s 2024 Social Science Advocacy Day is April 8-9
COSSAâs tenth annual Social Science Advocacy Day will be taking place on April 8-9, 2024 in Washington, DC! 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. ï»żStay tuned for additional details, early bird registration will be opening in a few weeks! Until then, save the date and share this exciting opportunity with your colleagues. We hope to see you in Washington, DC in April 2024!
House Unveils Potential Stopgap Measure and Continues Appropriations Process
On November 11, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) unveiled a potential stopgap funding deal that would extend the current continuing resolution (CR) beyond the current November 17 deadline. The Speakerâs proposal includes âtiered deadlines;â some bills would be extended to mid-January and others to early February (see previous COSSA coverage). Under the draft bill, agencies within the Military Construction-VA, Agriculture, Energy-Water and Transportation-HUD bills would receive an extension to January 19 while all remaining bills â including those that fund the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health â would be extended to February 2. The bill would also include a…
Monica Bertagnolli Confirmed as NIH Director
On November 7, Dr. Monica Bertagnolli was confirmed by the Senate as the new National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director in a bipartisan 62-36 vote after having been nominated by the Biden Administration in May and experiencing several deterrents from Senators, including Chair of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP), Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT), who requested Bertagnolli address pharmaceutical drug prices (see previous COSSA coverage). Despite her challenging confirmation process, Bertagnolli will be the 17th Director of the NIH following a two-year gap in leadership with Dr. Lawrence Tabak as Acting Director (see previous COSSA coverage). Following her confirmation, Bertagnolli stated, âAs…