Social Science in the Age of Trump: What We'd Like to See


Michael Todd, Editor,Social Science Space

Wendy Naus,Executive Director,

Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA)

#SocialScienceLive

Social Science in the Age of Trump: What We’d Like to See

WENDY NAUS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTORFEBRUARY 9, 2017

About Consortium of associations formed in 1981 amid attacks from Reagan Administration

Primary Function: Advocacy for the shared policy interests of all fields of social & behavioral science

We seek to reach 4 main audiences: Congress, Executive Branch Agencies & the White House, Scientific & Higher Ed communities, and the general public

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MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATIONSAcademy of Criminal Justice Sciences American Association of Geographers American Evaluation Association American Historical AssociationAmerican Psychosomatic Society Association for Asian Studies Association for Behavioral and CognitiveTherapiesAssociation for Public Policy Analysis and

Management Association of Academic Survey Research

Organizations Association of Research Libraries Council on Social Work Education Economic History Association History of Science Society Midwest Sociological Society National Association of Social Workers North American Regional Science Council Rural Sociological Society Social Science History Association Society for Research on Adolescence Society for Social Work and Research Society for the Psychological Study of Social

Issues Society of Behavioral Medicine Southern Political Science Association Southern Sociological Society Southwestern Social Science Association

COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES Arizona State University Boston University Brown University

Carnegie Mellon University Clark University Columbia University Cornell University Duke University Fielding Graduate University George Mason University Georgetown University Harvard University Howard University Indiana University John Jay College of Criminal Justice,

CUNY Johns Hopkins University Massachusetts Institute of Technology Michigan State University New York University North Carolina State University Northwestern University Pennsylvania State University Princeton University Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Stanford University Texas A&M University The George Washington University The Ohio State University University of California, Berkeley University of California, Irvine University of California, Los Angeles University of California, Santa Barbara University of Colorado, BoulderUniversity of Chicago University of Illinois University of Iowa University of Maryland University of Michigan

University of Minnesota University of MissouriUniversity of Nebraska, Lincoln University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill University of Oklahoma University of Pennsylvania University of South Carolina University of Texas, Austin University of Texas, San Antonio University of Virginia University of Washington University of Wisconsin, Madison Virginia TechWest Virginia University Yale University

CENTERS & INSTITUTESAmerican Academy of Arts and Sciences American Academy of Political and Social

Science American Council of Learned SocietiesCenter for Advanced Study in the Behavioral

Sciences Cornell Institute for Social and Economic

Research Council of Colleges of Arts & SciencesInstitute for Social Research, University of

Michigan Institute for Social Science Research, University

of Massachusetts, AmherstNORC at the University of Chicago Owens Institute for Behavioral Research,

University of GeorgiaRTI International Social Science Research Council

Non-Governing Members

COSSA’s Advocacy Goals1. Nurture champions within

Congress and throughout Executive Branch agencies.

2. Enhance involvement of our members in COSSA activities and advocacy efforts.

3. Connect with and equip partners, stakeholders, foundations, and the general public to advocate in support of our sciences.

COSSA’s Mission: To promote the value of social and behavioral science research to policymakers and the public with the goal

of enhancing federal support.

Public Engagement

Member Engagement

Direct Lobbying (COSSA)

Threats to Social Science The direct attacks on SBS that led to the creation of COSSA still persist 35 years later

Challenges to SBS fall generally into 3 buckets: 1. Funding 2. Policy3. Negative and/or misleading statements

Trump and Science?More unknown than knownScience (generally) not yet an issue/concern/problem needing a fix Quoted saying that “scientific research requires long-term investment”So far:

◦ Federal hiring freeze◦ Regulatory freeze◦ Immigration ban◦ Cancel Obama’s Executive Orders◦ Holds on public release of scientific information (USDA, EPA, HHS)

Deep breath…Agencies are not backing downCongressional champions remainAppropriators are not easily swayed New members elected to Congress with serious science leadership potentialNarrowed majorities in both chambers will force compromise

COSSA Transition Document

◦ 10 recommendations for shoring up and enhancing U.S. scientific enterprise

◦ Funding◦ Key appointments/advisors◦ Data and statistics

◦ Focus on social science contributions

◦ First 100 Days:◦ Final FY 2017 appropriations ◦ Sequestration ◦ FY 2018 budget ◦ Science Advisor

◦ www.cossa.org/press-publications/2017-transition-recommendations

Changing the Conversation ◦ New public-facing website launched last month

◦ www.whysocialscience.com◦ Upcoming blogs from:

◦ National Academy of Sciences◦ American Anthropological Association◦ Industry, stakeholders, practitioners, etc.

What can YOU do?Engage your professional societies.Consider joining other groups focused on advocacy. Engage your elected officials directly. March for Science – April 22 (www.marchforscience.com)

Wednesday, March 29: ◦ Keynote by Arlie Russell Hochschild, author of Strangers in Their Own

Land◦ Discussion with John Sides of The Washington Post’s The Monkey

Cage Blog◦ Breakout sessions:

◦ Social science in public service◦ Advocating from home◦ Tips for communicating with the media◦ Social science student organizing on campus

◦ Capitol Hill Reception honoring Senators Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Gary Peters (D-MI)

Wednesday, March 29

Register at: http://www.cossa.org/event/2017-science-policy-conference

Thursday, March 30

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Wendy Naus, Executive DirectorEmail: [email protected]: www.cossa.org and

www.whysocialscience.com@COSSADC • #WhySocialScience


Webinar recording, slides, and follow-up Q&A will be emailed to you and available on socialsciencespace.com.

Thank you!

Be sure to check our sites for updates on our webinar series!

Wendy Naus

#SocialScienceLive

Social Science in the Age of Trump: What We'd Like to See

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