A staple since COSSA’s earliest days, the biweekly COSSA Washington Update newsletter provides members and the public with comprehensive coverage of policy developments impacting social and behavioral science research.Â
NIH Announces Major Policy Shift: Agency to Impose Cap on R01s Held by Grantees
On May 2, National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Francis Collins announced that the agency would be initiating a new approach to grant funding designed to “optimize stewardship of tax payers’ dollars.” Essentially, the new policy would limit the number of investigator-initiated (R01) grants held by grantees to three. According to NIH, this change would affect approximately 6 percent of current investigators but would free up resources to support nearly 1,600 additional grants. Announcing the policy change, Collins stressed that the new policy would ensure that the funds given by NIH “are producing the best results from our remarkable scientific…
Events Calendar
Investments in Scientific and Educational Research: Fueling American Innovation — CNSF Exhibition and Reception, May 16, 2017, Washington, DC American Association for Public Opinion Research Annual Conference, May 18-21, 2017, New Orleans, LA 2017 Daniel Patrick Moynihan Lecture on Social Science and Public Policy, May 18, 2017, Washington, DC American Evaluation Association Summer Institute: Finding Your Pathway in Evaluation, June 4-7, 2017, Atlanta, GA Graduate Training in the Social and Behavioral Sciences: A Public Workshop, June 8-9, 2017, Washington, DC Law and Society Association Annual Meeting, June 20-23, 2017, Mexico City, Mexico Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues…
COSSA Washington Update, Volume 36 Issue 9
Featured News Congress Reaches Agreement on FY 2017 Funding COSSA in Action National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities Answers “Why Social Science?” Video from COSSA Briefing with Nobel Laureate Al Roth Now Available COSSA Testimony Calls for Increased Funding for NSF, NIJ, Census, and Other Agencies Federal Agency & Administration News OBSSR Holds 10th Matilda White Riley Behavioral and Social Sciences Honors; Mark Hayward Delivers 2017 Lecture NSB Releases Policy Brief on Career Path of Science, Engineering, and Health PhDs Preventive Services Task Force Accepting Nominations Publications & Community Events Thousands Participate in March for Science National Academies…
Congress Reaches Agreement on FY 2017 Funding
On May 1, Congress announced that a bipartisan deal had been brokered to fund the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year (FY) 2017. The omnibus appropriations bill includes 11 individual appropriations bills and keeps the government operating through September 30, 2017. Should the bill pass this week, the final, much-delayed result for FY 2017 will be mostly positive for social and behavioral science research. Compared to where we have been in recent years and with all of the unknowns surrounding the Trump Administration’s position on science funding, this outcome is about the best we could have hoped for….
COSSA Testimony Calls for Increased Funding for NSF, NIJ, Census, and Other Agencies
On April 21, COSSA submitted testimony to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies for fiscal year (FY) 2018. The testimony calls for increased funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institute of Justice (NIJ), Bureau of Justice Statistics, and the Census Bureau. You can read this and other statements on the COSSA website. Back to this issue’s table of contents.
OBSSR Holds 10th Matilda White Riley Behavioral and Social Sciences Honors; Mark Hayward Delivers 2017 Lecture
On April 25, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR) hosted its 10th annual celebration honoring Matilda White Riley’s influence in social and behavioral sciences conducted and supported by the NIH. In 2016, OBSSR renamed the celebration Real Life, Labs, Research: Matilda White Riley Behavioral and Social Sciences Honors. The ceremony honors a “who’s who of behavioral and social science research,” noted current OBSSR director Bill Riley (no relation). Mark Hayward, Professor of Sociology, Centennial Commission Professor in the Liberal Arts, and director of the Population Health Initiative at the University of Texas…
NSB Releases Policy Brief on Career Path of Science, Engineering, and Health PhDs
The National Science Board, which is the policy-making body of the National Science Foundation (NSF), released a new policy brief featuring an interactive infographic tool allowing policymakers, educators, students, and others to assess career opportunities for those with doctoral degrees in science, engineering, and health fields. The interactive webpage also allows users to see the number of people with doctorates employed in business, government, and academic jobs and how career paths change over time. The tool can be found here. Back to this issue’s table of contents.
Preventive Services Task Force Accepting Nominations
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is accepting nominations for new members. The Task Force, which is administered by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), makes evidence-based recommendations about the effectiveness of various clinical preventive services, including screening, counselling, medication. Candidates are particularly sought with expertise in public health, health equity, applying science to health policy, behavioral medicine, and communication of scientific findings to multiple audiences. Nominations are due by June 15, 2017. More information is available in the Federal Register notice. Back to this issue’s table of contents.
Thousands Participate in March for Science
On April 22, hundreds of thousands of people around the world gathered together to champion the role science plays in promoting the common good. COSSA staff gathered with social and behavioral scientists to march down the streets of Washington, DC and share the importance of our sciences in particular in advancing our health, well-being, economies, and safety. Some of our favorite photos and social media posts from the March are posted on COSSA’s March for Science page, as well as an archive of the many activities and resources organized by COSSA’s member associations. Thanks to everyone who marched in support…
National Academies to Host Workshop on Graduate Training in the Social and Behavioral Sciences
 The National Academies’ Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education (DBASSE) is hosting a two-day workshop on Graduate Training in the Social and Behavioral Sciences on June 8 and 9. The workshop is sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health and will analyze the current employment of PhDs in the social and behavioral sciences, the future of the social and behavioral science workforce, and other relevant topics. A tentative agenda can be found here. Register today. Back to this issue’s table of contents.
Progress Report Released for Innovation: An American Imperative
In 2015, COSSA endorsed Innovation: An American Imperative, a call for policymakers to strengthen investments in the U.S. innovation enterprise. In April, organizers released a progress report to the document, which now has signatures from more than 500 organizations. The progress report identifies areas in which progress has been made (including strengthening the R&D tax credit and reaffirming merit-based peer review) as well as areas for concern (in particular, changes to U.S. visa policy). The progress report is available on the Innovation Imperative website. Back to this issue’s table of contents.
23rd Annual CNSF Exhibition Scheduled for May 16
The Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF), of which COSSA is an active member, is hosting its 23rd Annual Exhibition and Reception on Capitol Hill on May 16. This year’s theme is “Investment in Scientific Research: Fueling American Innovation” and will feature a wide range of research projects made possible by the National Science Foundation. Register here by May 15. Back to this issue’s table of contents.
COSSA Welcomes Florida State University
COSSA is pleased welcome Florida State University as its newest member. Located in Tallahassee, Florida State ranks eighth in the nation in federal funding of R&D in the social and behavioral sciences.  COSSA’s full membership list is available here. Information on how to join can be found on the COSSA website. Back to this issue’s table of contents.
Funding Opportunity Announcements
AHRQ: Developing New Clinical Decision Support to Disseminate and Implement Evidence-Based Research Findings (R18) (PA-17-261) AHRQ: Scaling Established Clinical Decision Support to Facilitate the Dissemination and Implementation of Evidence-Based Research Findings (R18) (PA-17-260) NIFA: Agriculture and Food Research Initiative – Food, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Human Sciences Education and Literacy Initiative (USDA-NIFA-AFRI-006354) NIH opportunities: NIA: Paul B. Beeson Emerging Leaders Career Development Award in Aging (K76) (RFA-AG-18-006) NIA: Coordinating Center for Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Centers (U24) (RFA-AG-18-008) NICHD: Promoting NICHD Areas of Research for HIV/AIDS in Maternal and Child Health (R01) (PA-17-262) NIMH: Initiation of a Mental…
Events Calendar
Population Association of America Annual Meeting, April 27-29, 2017, Chicago, IL SPSSI Webinar: An Introduction to Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, May 4, 2017 Investments in Scientific and Educational Research: Fueling American Innovation — CNSF Exhibition and Reception, May 16, 2017, Washington, DC American Association for Public Opinion Research Annual Conference, May 18-21, 2017, New Orleans, LA 2017 Daniel Patrick Moynihan Lecture on Social Science and Public Policy, May 18, 2017, Washington, DC American Evaluation Association Summer Institute: Finding Your Pathway in Evaluation, June 4-7, 2017, Atlanta, GA Graduate Training in the Social and Behavioral Sciences: A Public Workshop, June 8-9, 2017,…
COSSA Washington Update, Volume 36 Issue 8
Featured News Why Social Science Is Marching for Science COSSA in Action 286 Societies Sign Letter in Support of R&D Enterprise Federal Agency & Administration News NSF Seeks Nominations for Advisory Committee NSF Releases Dear Colleague Letter on Convergence Research NIH Office of AIDS Research Issues RFI on FY 2019 Trans-NIH Research Plan Publications & Community Events Criminologists Call for Keeping Science at DOJ Academies Calls for Science Communication Partnership Proposals Academies Report Examines Impact of Social Competencies on College Success National Academies Releases New Research Integrity Report Funding Opportunity Announcements COSSA Member Spotlight Society for Prevention Research Joins COSSA…
286 Societies Sign Letter in Support of R&D Enterprise
On April 6, COSSA joined 285 other U.S. societies and associations in business, science, engineering, health, and higher education on a letter urging Congressional leaders to complete the fiscal year (FY) 2017 appropriations bills with “robust investments in scientific research.” The letter states the benefits of continued investment in the U.S. research and development enterprise, describes possible impacts of decreased funding, and urges policy makers to reject the cuts to science agencies proposed by the Trump Administration. Back to this issue’s table of contents.