COSSA
NEW ACTION ALERT: Write to Congress TODAY about the Need to Protect Government Data
Since January, government data sources have begun disappearing from federal agency websites, including at the National Science Foundation, U.S. Census Bureau, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services, and Department of Justice, among others. While some data have since been restored, many remain unavailable and the Trump Administration’s plans regarding the availability of government data and statistics remain uncertain. The social and behavioral science community understands well that the research enterprise, government officials, businesses, and other sectors rely on accurate, unbiased public data—data that must remain free from political interference….
REGISTER NOW: Social Science Advocacy Day 2025
The stakes for research funding are at an all-time high as we enter a tough political and budgetary landscape. Social Science Advocacy Day is a must for everyone invested in the fate of federal funding for social and behavioral science research and who believe this research is vital to inform sound public policy. Now is the time to act. Registration for COSSA’s annual Social Science Advocacy Day is still open. The event will be taking place March 24-25, 2025 in Washington, DC and you can register here. If your organization is interested in becoming a sponsor for Social Science Advocacy Day, find all of our sponsorship opportunities…
Register Now: Headlines Webinars continue February 27
On February 27, join COSSA for updates on the latest Congressional actions, President Trump’s Executive Actions, and the federal budget. The webinar will be taking place on February 27 at 1pm EST. Register here. If you missed COSSA’s recent webinar 119th Congress & Trump 2.0: What Does it Mean for Us? you can find the recording and slides here. Headlines is a webinar series available to COSSA member organizations. Watch for additional webinar announcements, and previous webinar recordings, on the COSSA website.
Ronald Wasserstein Elected COSSA Board Chair
The COSSA Board of Directors has elected Ronald Wasserstein, Executive Director of the American Statistical Association (ASA), as its next chair. His two-year term began January 1, 2025. Ron has led the ASA since 2007 and prior to that served as a faculty member and administrator at Washburn University in Kansas for more than two decades. The American Statistical Association is one of 10 founding organizations of COSSA. “I am honored to serve as chair of the COSSA Board of Directors at this pivotal time for the social sciences,” said Wasserstein. “With our robust network of member organizations and partners, COSSA is…
Register Now: Headlines Webinars continue January 30
Earlier this month, the 119th Congress was sworn in at the Capitol. On January 30, join COSSA for an overview on the new Congress and what this means for the social and behavioral sciences community. The webinar will be taking place on January 30 at 1pm EST. Register here. Headlines is a webinar series available to COSSA member organizations. Watch for additional webinar announcements, and previous webinar recordings, on the COSSA website.
A Word from COSSA
Dear Friends: This is the last COSSA Washington Update of 2024, but it certainly is not the end of our work for the year. As I write, our team is busily preparing for what everyone expects will be a challenging year ahead for policymaking. We are headed into uncertain terrain with the return of the Trump Administration come January 20 and a new Congress with margins tighter than we have seen in a long time. Last week, COSSA hosted a webinar for our members previewing some of the expected actions of the next Congress and Administration and outlining many of the unknowns…
Social Science Advocacy Day 2025 Registration is Open!
Early bird registration for COSSA’s annual Social Science Advocacy Day is officially OPEN! The event will be taking place March 24-25, 2025 in Washington, DC. Take advantage of early bird pricing and register here. The stakes for research funding have never been higher as we enter a particularly challenging political and budgetary environment. Social Science Advocacy Day is a must for all stakeholders who care about the fate of federal funding for social and behavioral science research and who believe this research should be used to inform sound public policy. Advocacy Day is open to anyone affiliated with a COSSA member organization or university. Not…
Meet COSSA’s Fall Policy Intern: Paige Kirkham!
Paige Kirkham started as COSSA’s fall policy intern in September. Before heading back to class later this month, she provided some reflections from her time at COSSA. How did you learn about COSSA and the opportunity to serve as a policy intern for the fall? I am a student at University of Wisconsin-Madison, and was given the opportunity to come to Washington, DC through a program called “Wisconsin in Washington” in which the university brings a group of about twenty student-interns to DC for a semester. The coordinators of this program provide us with a list of opportunities to apply…
Social Science Advocacy Day 2025 Informational Webinar #2
Curious about 2025 Social Science Advocacy Day? Do you have questions or want to know more about what to expect from the event? Watch the recording for our informational webinar! We hosted a session to provide an overview of Advocacy Day, how to register, answer any questions, and more. Advocacy Day is an opportunity available to individuals affiliated with a COSSA member organization. If you are a member of or employed by one of COSSA’s member organizations, you are eligible to participate. You can check your organization/institution’s membership status here. Not a member? Learn more about how your organization can join…
COSSA Welcomes Child Trends as Newest Member!
COSSA is pleased to welcome Child Trends as its newest member! Child Trends is an independent research organization focused on improving life for children, youth, and families. According to Child Trends, “Our work explores how a child’s environment shapes their life and the drivers of variance in their outcomes across individual, socioeconomic, and other characteristics.” Interested in joining COSSA? Find more information on the COSSA website. COSSA’s full membership list can be found here.
COSSA Participating in Development of New Vision for U.S. Science and Technology
Throughout the fall, a task force of more than 60 leaders in science, technology, industry, government, and philanthropy has been meeting to discuss and develop a new Vision for American Science and Technology (VAST). The bipartisan group includes representatives spanning the various sectors that touch the U.S. scientific enterprise. The near-term goal is to develop a draft of the vision that can be shared with the incoming Presidential Administration and Congress in the coming weeks with the final vision slated to be complete by early 2025. COSSA Executive Director Wendy Naus is serving on the Task Force. According to a press release, the…
REGISTER NOW: Headlines Webinars continue November 19
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. Join COSSA on November 19 for a discussion 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
Let’s Get Ready to Work!
Dear Friends – I hope you had a wonderful summer and took some time to relax, especially now that we are heading into what will be a busy fall and historic election season. Last we spoke, Congress had made progress on the FY 2025 appropriations bills but still remains far off from finalizing them before the start of the fiscal year on October 1. Congress returns to Washington next week and is expected to immediately turn to negotiating a stop-gap measure to avoid a government shutdown at the end of the month. COSSA will also be busy this fall gearing up for the…
NEW DATE: NIH Town Hall with COSSA on September 12!
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, join COSSA Staff for an informal conversation about recent developments and the frameworks currently proposed for the NIH. This is a COSSA members-only…
COSSA Releases 2023 Annual Report
COSSA’s 2023 Annual Report is now available. Check it out to learn more about COSSA’s activities and successes over the past year. Find out how your organization can become a member of COSSA on our website.
Meet COSSA’s Summer Policy Intern: Rachel Bashe
Rachel Bashe started as COSSA’s summer policy intern in May. Before heading back to class later this month, she provided some reflections from her summer at COSSA.
2025 Social Science Advocacy Day
COSSA’s Social Science Advocacy Day is back! Join COSSA on March 24-25, 2025 in Washington, DC! Advocacy Day brings together social and behavioral scientists and science advocates from across the country to engage with policymakers. The stakes for research funding have never been higher as we enter a particularly challenging political and budgetary environment. Social Science Advocacy Day is a must for all stakeholders who care about the fate of federal funding for social and behavioral science research and who believe this research should be used to inform sound public policy. This opportunity is available to individuals affiliated with a COSSA member organization. If you are a member of or employed by one of COSSA’s member organizations, you are eligible to participate. You can check your organization/institution’s membership status here. Not a member? Click here to learn more about how your organization can join COSSA and take advantage of members-only opportunities. Sponsorship packages are now available and come with free event registrations. If your organization is interested in sponsoring, please contact Wendy Naus ([email protected]) before registering. A list of hotels in the area can be found here. Participants are responsible for making…
Save the Date: NIH Town Hall with COSSA on August 29!
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 August 29 at 12pm EST, join COSSA Staff for an informal conversation about recent developments and the proposed framework. Keep an eye on your inbox…
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…