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.
Headlines Webinars Return on February 27
COSSA’s Headlines Webinars have returned! For 2024, Headlines will feature discussions with leaders of federal science agencies, providing opportunities for the social and behavioral science community to learn about agency research programs, funding opportunities, and priorities. The series kicks off this month with a discussion about the research and data activities within the National Institute of Justice and Bureau of Justice Statistics. RSVP and learn more here. Headlines is a webinar series available to COSSA member organizations.
Congress Balances FY 2024 Budget and Supplemental Funding Package as CR Deadline Approaches
As previously reported, Congress is slowly inching closer to the end of their continuing resolution (CR) that expires on tiered deadlines in the first two weeks of March. While House Appropriations subcommittees have received their allocations for their respective bills, it’s still unclear whether Congress will produce the required twelve bills by the deadlines, produce a large or partial omnibus package, or extend the current CR. In past weeks, Congress has been working to pass a National Security supplemental funding package to provide aid to Ukraine, Israel, and the border crisis. However, this bill has been highly contentious and, while…
Science Committee Discuss Federal Agency Research Security Measures
On February 15, Congress held a Full Committee hearing on “Examining Federal Science Agency Actions to Secure the U.S. Science and Technology Enterprise,” which addressed the balance between protecting the university research community from foreign interference while finding ways to ensure an environment free from bias and discrimination. The session brought together high-ranking officials and experts including Arati Prabhakar, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Dr. Rebecca Keiser, Chief of Research Security Strategy and Policy (NSF), Geri Richmond, Under Secretary for Science and Innovation (DOE), and Dr. Michael Lauer, Deputy Director for Extramural Research (NIH)….
The National Medal of Science Nominations are Open
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has officially announced the Call for Nominations for the National Medal of Science. The National Medal of Science is the highest recognition the nation can bestow on scientists and engineers. The presidential award is given to individuals deserving of special recognition by reason of their outstanding contributions to knowledge in the physical, biological, mathematical, engineering, or social and behavioral sciences, in service to the Nation. Nominate colleagues and peers who have made extraordinary contributions that have advanced the scientific enterprise. Nominations are due by May 3. Learn more about the nomination and review process here.
CNSTAT Releases Third Data Infrastructure Report in Series Intended to Modernize Data Collection
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) Committee on National Statistics (CNSTAT) has released its third and final report in an ongoing series of data infrastructure reports intended to modernize and enhance data collection (previous COSSA coverage). This latest report, Toward a 21st Century National Data Infrastructure: Managing Privacy and Confidentiality Risks with Blended Data, builds off the previous two reports on mobilizing data and blending data from various sources by addressing concerns about mitigating privacy and confidentiality risks within the data infrastructure. The report provides potential policy approaches to protecting data privacy as well as a suggested framework…
OPPORTUNITY: FY 2025 Funding Request for NIH
COSSA, a member of the steering committee of the Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research, has signed on in support of a funding request of “at least $51.303 billion” for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in fiscal year (FY) 2025. The request would represent a $3.579 billion or 7.5% increase over the level included in the Senate bill for FY 2024. Other organizations wishing to lend their support to the NIH funding request for FY 2025 are encouraged to sign-on by March 1.
NEW ACTION ALERT: Tell Congress to Protect Science Funding in FY 2024!
Congress is working now to finalize spending legislation for fiscal year (FY) 2024. As lawmakers continue their negotiations it is critical that they hear from the social and behavioral science community. Write to your members of Congress TODAY and urge them to support the highest possible funding levels for federal science agencies in FY 2024! Don’t let funding for social and behavioral science research be left behind. For more details, follow COSSA’s 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 protect science funding in FY 2024.
Advocacy Day Spotlight: Join the Next Informational Webinar
Did you miss our first Advocacy Day Informational Webinar? Is this your first Social Science Advocacy Day? Do you have questions or are you curious about what to expect from the event? Join us for our second informational webinar! We will be hosting another session to provide an overview of Advocacy Day, how to register, answer any questions, and more. This webinar will share the same information, so if you attended the first there is no need to attend the second. This is the final informational webinar we will be hosting for Social Science Advocacy Day. The second session will…
Dr. Monica N. Feit from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) Answers “Why Social Science?”
The recent Why Social Science? post comes from Dr. Monica N. Feit from the Health and Medicine Division of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) who writes about how social science can provide valuable expertise to help inform better health research. Read on for more.
Congress Inches Toward FY 2024 Conclusion
As we move further into the fiscal year (FY), lawmakers on Capitol Hill continue to work toward finalizing appropriations for FY 2024. As previously reported, Congress pushed its deadline to complete the FY 2024 bills until March, leaving just a few weeks to find agreement across the 12 annual appropriations bills and pass them in each chamber. After months of stalemate, reports suggest that the end may be in sight now that leadership has agreed to top-line funding levels for discretionary spending. COSSA recently issued an action alert calling on the research community to contact their elected offices to urge the highest possible funding levels…
NSF Releases Dear Colleague Letter Opportunity for Bias, Prejudice, and Discrimination
The Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE) directorate within the National Science Foundation (NSF) has released a Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) encouraging research dedicated to understanding and mitigating issues of bias, prejudice, and discrimination (BPD). The DCL highlights three interests for SBE programs, including investigations of BPD in under-studied populations, the effects of environmental factors on BPD, and the development and origins of BPD. A list of participating NSF programs can be found here. Any questions about the DCL should be directed to bpd@nsf.gov.
Dept. of Ed Seeks Input on Mental and Behavioral Health of Students in Higher Education
The Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) within the Department of Education (DOE) has issued a request for information (RFI) regarding support systems for the mental and behavioral health of students in higher education. Recognizing the rising rates of depression and anxiety over the past two decades, OPE seeks successful examples of addressing student mental health and substance use disorder needs, transforming campus cultures at institutions of higher education (IHEs), and receiving support from State higher education agencies. Further, OPE seeks to understand challenges that IHEs face in implementing solutions. Comments are requested by February 25 and can be submitted here. This article was…
NSF Launches New National AI Research Resource Pilot
On January 24, the National Science Foundation (NSF), in collaboration with various agencies, launched the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) pilot. This initiative takes a first step towards creating a research infrastructure aimed at both strengthening and democratizing access to the essential resources required for responsible AI discovery and innovation. The NAIRR pilot is designed to equip U.S.-based researchers and educators with access to advanced computing power, extensive datasets, sophisticated models, cutting-edge software, and comprehensive training and support. By fostering collaboration across academia, industry, the nonprofit sector, and government, the program intends to utilize cross-sector partnerships. According to NSF,…
EPA Seeks Public Comment on Draft Scientific Integrity Policy
On January 24, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a 30-day public comment period on the draft updates to its Scientific Integrity (SI) Policy. This policy is in response to the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy’s (OSTP) memorandum requiring federal agencies to develop scientific integrity policies to restore trust in science (see previous COSSA coverage). The updated SI Policy will adopt a new Federal definition of scientific integrity and meaningfully strengthen several policy elements that will help ensure a culture of scientific integrity at the Agency. It will incorporate the model scientific integrity policy from the National Science and Technology Council’s A…
Applications for NIJ’s Graduate Research Fellowship Open
The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is now accepting applications for their Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) program. The program is looking for 20 new fellows and supports doctoral research with relevance to criminal or juvenile justice in the United States. This includes anthropology, sociology, public policy, information sciences, criminology, forensic science, technology for law enforcement, and more. Applications from all science and engineering fields are welcome. The fellowship provides up to three years of support within a five-year period and includes: The grants.gov deadline is April 10 and the JustGrants deadline is April 17. Students must be enrolled full time in a Ph.D….
AAPOR Awards Deadline Extended
The American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) has extended their awards deadline to February 21. AAPOR has a portfolio of awards to recognize distinguished work in the profession, as well as to further the education of students and early career researchers. AAPOR is a COSSA governing member association and welcomes and encourages diversity in all aspects of the research profession, including their award nominees. Learn more about the different awards that are open for submissions here. Don’t wait to send in your nominations!
Advocacy Day Spotlight: Join an Informational Webinar
Is this your first Social Science Advocacy Day? Do you have questions or are you curious about what to expect from the event? Join us for one of our informational webinars! We will be hosting two sessions to provide an overview of Advocacy Day, how to register, answer any questions, and more. Both webinars will share the same information, so you will only need to attend one. The first session will take place on January 25, 2024 at 10am EST and the second session will be on February 13, 2024 at 3pm EST. Contact Elyse Bailey at ebailey@cossa.org with any additional questions.
Congress Narrowly Passes CR to Extend Funding to March
As reported by COSSA, Congress previously passed two stop-gap measures to allow additional time to complete the fiscal year (FY) 2024 appropriations bills. On January 18, the day before the last continuing resolution (CR) deadline, the House and Senate struck a deal to extend funding to March. Like the previous CR, the new stop-gap measure includes “tiered deadlines” for the unpassed spending bills. The deadline for the first tranche of bills (the Military Construction-VA, Agriculture, Energy-Water and Transportation-HUD bills) has been extended to March 1. The remaining bills (including Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Commerce, Justice Science, which…
2024 NIJ Research Conference: Advancing Justice Through Science
The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is inviting submissions for lightning talks and research posters for their 2024 Research Conference: Advancing Justice Through Science. The conference will take place September 16-18 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. NIJ is welcoming proposals for 10-minute lightning talks on emerging issues and pioneering methods in research on safety and justice. Submissions for the poster session must focus on current issues and/or innovative methods that have an impact on the criminal or juvenile justice system in the United States and may involve social, behavioral, or forensic sciences; technology; and/or engineering. Eligibility for both opportunities is open to both…
Nominations Open for Distinguished Lecturer at the 17th Matilda White Riley Honors
The Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is accepting nominations for an outstanding social-behavioral scientist as candidates for Distinguished Lecturer at the 17th Matilda White Riley Honors. The Matilda White Riley Honors are an annual event recognizing transformative work in the fields of social and behavioral science along with early-career researchers. Nominees should have a research career that has “advanced behavioral and social scientific knowledge in areas within NIH’s mission and that expands upon Dr. White Riley’s work.” Nominees need not have NIH funding. More information is available on the OBSSR website. Nominee information should…