New from COSSA

COSSA Featured in AmStat News

On February 1, the American Statistical Association (ASA) interviewed Wendy Naus of the Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA) in a Q&A article of AmStat News, the membership magazine of ASA. The Q&A centered around the advocacy work of COSSA, the benefits of COSSA membership, and the various tools COSSA uses to advocate for the social and behavioral sciences. You can read the full article on the ASA website.

Civil Engineers & Applied Behavioral Scientists Answer “Why Social Science” Can Make Workplaces Safer

Danielle Staudt Elected COSSA Board Chair

The COSSA Board of Directors has elected Danielle Staudt, Executive Director of the Population Association of America (PAA), as its next chair. Her two-year term began January 1. Danielle is an association executive with over 20 years of experience and has served as the Executive Director for PAA—a COSSA Governing Member—since 2014.  PAA is the home for population researchers and demographers, and its mission is to support and promote high-quality population research. “I am excited and honored to serve as COSSA’s chair,” says Staudt. “COSSA has been an invaluable resource to me and PAA; I’m grateful for the opportunity to…

Save the Date! Social Science Advocacy Day is on April 25

“Why Social Science” Discusses the Science Behind Elections and Polling

This week’s Why Social Science? post comes from Kathy Frankovic, former Director of Surveys at CBS News and former President of the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR), who writes about the science behind public opinion polling and its role in predicting the outcome of elections.

COSSA Seeks Undergraduate Intern for Spring 2023

COSSA is now searching for candidates for a Spring intern. This internship would be of interest to undergraduate students wishing to learn about advocacy/government relations, federal science policy, and/or non-profit organizations. We are accepting applications on a rolling basis and preference will go towards applicants who are available to work hybrid to prepare for in-person activities for 2023 Social Science Advocacy Day. If you know an undergraduate student who may be interested in a COSSA internship for Spring semester, please email Ben Goodrich ([email protected]). More information about the internship is available in the description.

Big Changes Coming in 118th Congress; Watch COSSA’s Post-Election Webinar

While some races still need to be called, notably, the Senate race in Georgia, there are some things we can be certain about now that we are past the November midterm elections. For example, come January 3 and the swearing-in of the 118th Congress: COSSA discussed some of these changes and possible committee and leadership shakeups during the November 17 post-election Headlines webinar. A recording is available here. COSSA will be closely monitoring the activities and appointments of the 118th Congress and will be calling on members to engage with elected officials early in 2023.

COSSA Featured in Practical Significance Podcast

COSSA Executive Director Wendy Naus was featured in the latest episode of the American Statistical Association (ASA) podcast, Practical Significance (the ASA is a COSSA governing member). Naus discusses COSSA’s efforts to promote the social, behavioral, and statistical sciences to policymakers and ways that researchers can engage in the advocacy process. Check out the episode on the ASA website or wherever you get your podcasts.

DATE CHANGE: COSSA Headlines on 2022 Election to be Held November 17

Justice Research and Statistics Agency Leaders Answer “Why Social Science”

This month’s Why Social Science post comes from National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Director Nancy La Vigne and Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) Director Alexis Piquero, who discuss what we know about ensuring school safety and what we can do to prevent mass shootings in schools. Read it here and subscribe.

COSSA Seeking Nominations for At-Large Seat on Board of Directors

The Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA) is soliciting nominations to fill one (1) at-large director seat on the COSSA Board of Directors for the 2023-2025 term. For this year’s cycle, COSSA is specifically interested in nominations that would (1) enhance racial/ethnic diversity and representation on the Board, and (2) represent sectors or communities that would bring new perspectives and opportunities to COSSA, such as philanthropy, industry, or other sectors. The COSSA Board serves as the governing body of the organization and is responsible for setting policy and providing guidance and oversight for COSSA’s strategic directions. The Board of Directors…

COSSA Releases 2021 Annual Report

“Why Social Science” Examines the Necessary Conditions for Passing Bipartisan Gun Legislation

This month’s Why Social Science Post comes from The Conversation, where Monica L. McDermott and David R. Jones examine how and why the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act passed now after three decades of unsuccessful attempts to pass gun reform legislation. Read it here and subscribe. This month’s Why Social Science Post comes from The Conversation, where Monica L. McDermott and David R. Jones examine how and why the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act passed now after three decades of unsuccessful attempts to pass gun reform legislation. Read it here and subscribe.

COSSA Releases Analysis of Senate Draft FY 2023 Appropriations Bills

In late July, the Senate Appropriations Committee released drafts of its fiscal year (FY) 2023 appropriations bills. As previously reported, the House introduced its bills in June and passed half of them in July. While the Senate Appropriations Committee is not planning to take up the bills individually through the regular committee process, the release of its bills allows House and Senate appropriators to begin talks and, hopefully, work toward an agreement on final FY 2023 spending in the fall. Across many of the accounts, the Senate bills seek sizable increases for federal science agencies and programs, in many cases,…

COSSA Analyzes Recently Passed CHIPS and Science Act

As previously reported, Congress passed sweeping innovation legislation in late July that promises to make major new investments in the U.S. scientific enterprise and bolster American leadership in cutting-edge research and technology. The Chips and Science Act of 2022 was signed into law by President Biden on August 9 in a ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House that included Members of Congress, heads of federal science agencies, technology industry CEOs, and representatives of the scientific community. COSSA Executive Director Wendy Naus had the honor of attending the signing on behalf of the social and behavioral science community….

August Headlines to Feature Deep Dive on NSF’s Technology, Innovation and Partnerships Directorate

Join COSSA for our August 11 Headlines webinar to catch up on the most important social and behavioral science news from the past quarter and answer your questions. Stick around for a deep dive discussion on the National Science Foundation’s new Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP) Directorate featuring TIP Director Erwin Gianchandani. Register for the webinar here.

Harel Shapira & American Sociological Association Answer “Why Social Science” Can Shed Light on How People Perceive Guns

This month, as part of COSSA’s ongoing Why Social Science? series on gun violence, we share a video produced by the American Sociological Association, a COSSA governing member.  Are guns weapons or tools? It depends who you ask. Dr. Harel Shapira of the University of Texas at Austin explains how gun owners are socialized to view guns as tools for self-defense.  

COSSA Running “Why Social Science” Series Spotlighting Research on Gun Violence

Friends, The statistics surrounding gun violence in America are staggering and the policy solutions varied. Recent tragedies in Uvalde, TX and at a grocery store in my hometown of Buffalo, NY—not to mention the countless other shootings that have occurred since then—underscore just how pervasive this crisis is, regardless of where you live. The institutions long-considered “safe spaces”—schools, hospitals, houses of worship—are no longer safe from the scourge of gun violence. Mass shooting events are just one piece of this social and public health crisis. Everyday across the country families and communities are being rocked by gun violence, from suicide…

National Academies Release New Report on Ontologies in the Behavioral Sciences

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) has released a new consensus study report titled Ontologies in the Behavioral Sciences: Accelerating Research and the Spread of Knowledge. The report offers a description of ontologies, or frameworks for organizing existing knowledge, and ways they can be used to support behavioral science. In addition, the report offers several recommendations for science stakeholders to best use ontologies to advance behavioral science research, including federal agencies and professional organizations. Some of these recommendations include: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation (NSF) should create agendas for advancing behavioral science…

Headlines Moving to Quarterly Schedule

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