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.
Census Reissues Request for Input on 2020 Data Products
The Census Bureau has reopened a request for comments published over the summer to encourage additional feedback on how data products from prior decennial censuses (including summary and detailed tables, national and state demographic profiles, and topical briefs) have been used. As part of the Bureau’s ongoing efforts to safeguard privacy, some data products released after previous decennial censuses may be eliminated. Stakeholder input is necessary to help the Bureau prioritize which data products are most important to maintain. More information, including specific questions of interest to the Bureau and a spreadsheet containing a complete list of data products and…
NSF Releases Dear Colleague Letter on Mid-Scale Research Infrastructure Opportunities
On October 15, the National Science Foundation (NSF) released a Dear Colleague Letter, signed by the Assistant Directors of all seven research directorates and various Office Heads, announcing the intention to release Mid-Scale Research Infrastructure funding opportunities this fall. Mid-Scale Research Infrastructure is one of NSF’s 10 Big Ideas for future investment and focuses on experimental research capabilities in the mid-scale range (projects costing between $6 million and $70 million)—including in the social and behavioral sciences—that will serve as enabling tools for research and support the work of many investigators over time. The letter (NSF 19-013) outlined that one solicitation…
NIH Seeks Input on BRAIN Initiative
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is seeking feedback through November 15 on a Request for Information (RFI) on the next phase of the Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative (NOT-NS-18-075). The agency is requesting input on the vision, priorities and goals outlined in the 2014 strategic plan, specifically in the following areas: ideas for new tools and technologies that have the potential to transform brain circuit research, questions about brain circuit function in humans or animal models that could be addressed with new technologies, considerations for data sharing infrastructure and policies, questions about ethical implications of BRAIN-supported…
Briefing Highlights Role of Vital Statistics in Protecting Maternal and Child Health
On October 25, the National Association for Public Health Statistics and Information Systems (NAPHSIS), the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, and the March of Dimes held a Congressional briefing entitled “Vital Statistics: Vital to Maternal and Child Health.” The briefing featured Shawna Webster, Executive Director of NAPHSIS; Devin George, State Registrar and Director for the Louisiana Bureau of Vital Records and Statistics; Rebecca Russell, Senior Director of Applied Research for the March of Dimes; Judette Louis, Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of South Florida; and Elizabeth Saadi, State Registrar in the Kansas Office of Vital Statistics. The…
Carol Dweck Receives the 2018 SAGE-CASBS Award
On October 23, SAGE Publishing and the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences (CASBS) at Stanford University, a COSSA member, announced that Carol Dweck of Stanford University is the recipient of the 2018 SAGE-CASBS Award. The SAGE-CASBS Award recognizes outstanding achievement in the behavioral and social sciences that advance our understanding of pressing social issues. Dweck has previously held posts at Columbia University, Harvard University, and the University of Illinois and is most associated with launching a body of research collectively showing that individuals possess implicit theories of intelligence that reside on a continuum from “fixed mindset” to…
COSSA Washington Update, Volume 37 Issue 20
Featured News COSSA Endorses Bill to Combat Sexual Harassment in Science COSSA in Action Letters & Statements Congressional News Senate Panel Considers Dillingham Nomination for Census Director Federal Agency & Administration News Nomination Opportunities Funding Opportunities Notices & Requests for Comment Open Positions Community News & Reports Academies Releases “How People Learn II” Recent Reports COSSA Member Spotlight Fellowships & Professional Development Events Calendar
COSSA Endorses Bill to Combat Sexual Harassment in Science
On October 2, COSSA released a statement in support of H.R. 7031, the Combatting Sexual Harassment in Science Act of 2018. The bill, which is sponsored by Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Ranking Member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, would provide funding to the National Science Foundation to establish a grant program to study the causes and consequences of sexual harassment in the scientific workforce, efficacy of interventions, and methods of remediating the negative impacts of sexual harassment. This legislation would also direct data collection about sexual harassment in science and establish and interagency working group to…
Senate Panel Considers Dillingham Nomination for Census Director
On October 3, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs held a confirmation hearing to consider the Trump Administration’s nomination of Steven Dillingham for Director of the Census Bureau (see COSSA’s previous coverage). The Bureau has been without a permanent director since June 2017 and is in the middle of a significant ramp-up as it prepares to conduct the 2020 Census. Dillingham’s nomination is relatively uncontroversial, particularly when compared to the more overtly political candidates the Administration is reported to have considered. In his opening statement, Committee Chair Ron Johnson (R-WI) called Dillingham “well-qualified,” and Ranking Member Claire…
Academies Releases “How People Learn II”
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) recently released a new consensus study report, How People Learn II: Learners, Contexts, and Cultures, which summarizes the current research on the science of learning. The report is a follow-up to a 2000 study and highlights advances in knowledge produced over the past 15 years, including “insights about the influence of culture in shaping how people learn, the dynamic nature of learning across the life span, and the importance of motivation in learning.” The report also identifies priorities for future research in two main areas: (1) connecting research on internal mechanisms…
COSSA Washington Update, Volume 37 Issue 19
Featured News NSF Seeks Nominations for the 2019 Alan T. Waterman Award COSSA in Action SSRC’s Alondra Nelson Answers “Why Social Science?” Letters & Statements Congressional News Trump Signs Labor-HHS Bill/CR, Pushing Remaining FY19 Spending to Dec 7 Federal Agency & Administration News NSF Announces New Sexual Harassment Policy NIH Studying Impacts of Recent Hurricanes on Health Risks and Resilience NCHS Releases Health, United States Nomination Opportunities Funding Opportunities Notices & Requests for Comment Recent Reports Open Positions Community News & Reports COPAFS Launches Executive Director Search Notices & Requests for Comment Open Positions COSSA Member Spotlight Fellowships & Professional…
NSF Seeks Nominations for the 2019 Alan T. Waterman Award
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is accepting nominations for the Alan T. Waterman Award, the highest honor awarded by the NSF to early-career researchers. The annual award recognizes an outstanding young researcher, 40 years of age or younger or no more than 10 years beyond receipt of their Ph.D., in any field of science or engineering supported by the National Science Foundation. In addition to a medal, the awardee receives a grant of $1,000,000 over a five-year period for scientific research or advanced study in the mathematical, physical, biological, engineering, social or other sciences at the institution of the recipient’s…
Trump Signs Labor-HHS Bill/CR, Pushing Remaining FY19 Spending to Dec 7
On September 28, President Trump signed into law a fiscal year (FY) 2019 funding package containing two of twelve appropriations bills, the Defense Appropriations bill and the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Appropriations bill. The bill had been passed earlier in the week by the House of Representatives. Of particular interest to the social science community, the Labor-HHS bill contains next year’s final appropriation for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Education (ED), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), among other federal departments…
NSF Announces New Sexual Harassment Policy
On September 21, the National Science Foundation (NSF) published a new term and condition for awards, to be enacted October 21, 2018, requiring awardee organizations to report findings of sexual harassment. The new term and condition will require awardee organizations to notify NSF of: “Any findings or determinations that an NSF-funded principal investigator (PI) or co-principal investigator(co-PI) committed harassment, including sexual harassment or sexual assault. The placement of the PI or co-PI on administrative leave, or of the imposition of any administrative action relating to a harassment or sexual assault finding or investigation.” After notification, NSF will consult with the…
NIH Studying Impacts of Recent Hurricanes on Health Risks and Resilience
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced eight awards that will support researchers examining the health impacts of hurricanes Maria and Irma on Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2017. The grants, which are funded through the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), will focus on the impacts of psychosocial stressors related to the recent hurricanes, “such as grief, separation from home and loved ones, loss of income, and limited access to medical care.” More information and a full list of the grantees are available on the NIH website. Back to this issue’s table…
NCHS Releases Health, United States
The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) has released the 41st edition of one of its flagship publications, Health, United States, the “report card” on the nation’s health. Health, United States, 2017 compiles federal data on a wide range of topics related to morbidity, mortality, health care utilization and access, health risk factors, prevention, health insurance, and personal health care expenditures. The 2017 edition includes a special feature on mortality; life expectancy at birth has decreased for two years in a few, for the first time since 1993. The complete report is available on the NCHS website. Back to this issue’s table of contents.
COPAFS Launches Executive Director Search
The Council of Professional Associations on Federal Statistics (COPAFS) has launched a search for a new Executive Director following the retirement of John Thompson this summer. COPAFS advocates for the development and dissemination of high-quality federal statistics. More details on COPAFS and on the search are available on the COPAFS website. Back to this issue’s table of contents.
COSSA Washington Update, Volume 37 Issue 18
Featured News Social Psychologists Among 2018 Golden Goose Award Recipients COSSA in Action CJRA’s Peter Wood Answers “Why Social Science?” Letters & Statements Congressional News Congress Makes Progress on Appropriations as Fiscal Year Comes to a Close Senate Committee Seeks Answers from USDA on ERS/NIFA Plans Federal Agency & Administration News Nomination Opportunities Funding Opportunities Notices & Requests for Comment Open Positions Community News & Reports Recent Reports COSSA Member Spotlight Social Science Research Council Issues Final “To Secure Knowledge” Report Recent Reports Fellowships & Professional Development Events Calendar
Social Psychologists Among 2018 Golden Goose Award Recipients
The seventh annual Golden Goose Award Ceremony was held on September 13 in Washington, DC to honor seemingly obscure federally funded research that resulted in “tremendous human and economic benefit.” Many members of Congress joined the honorees in recognizing the importance of federal-funded scientific research including Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN), Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL), Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR). The honorees included the social and behavioral scientists that pioneered the study of implicit bias and the Implicit Association Test. More information about the award, videos of the honorees, and complete coverage of the event can be…