A delegation of Penn State faculty members traveled to Washington, D.C. recently to participate in the 2024 Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA) Social Science Advocacy Day. Held April 8 – 9, the event brought together social and behavioral scientists from across the country to advocate for the continued importance of federal funding for their research fields.

Penn State was well-represented by an interdisciplinary group of faculty members affiliated with the Social Science Research Institute (SSRI), including:

• Michael Donovan, associate director of the Evidence-to-Impact Collaborative and assistant research professor of social science and public policy
• Kristin Buss, Tracy Winfree and Ted H. McCourtney Professor in Children, Work, and Families and professor of psychology & human development and family studies
• Erica Frankenberg, professor of education policy studies/demography and SSRI associate director
• Emily Ansell, associate professor of biobehavioral health
• Nelson Roque, assistant professor of human development and family studies
• Niki Von Lockette, associate professor of public policy and African American studies

Making Their Voices Heard

These social science practitioners joined over 50 colleagues from other institutions, universities, and professional associations in a total of 66 meetings with U.S. House Representatives and Senators and their staff. During these meetings, they discussed the crucial role that social and behavioral science research plays in addressing critical societal challenges.

The Penn State delegation also highlighted the impact of their own research and emphasized the need for continued federal support for areas like public impact research, mental health supports, cognitive decline, and substance use and addiction.

Investing in the Future

“Federal funding is essential for advancing social and behavioral science research,” said Penn State organizer and attendee Michael Donovan, who is the associate director of the Evidence-to-Impact Collaborative (EIC). “Our work helps us understand complex social issues and develop solutions that improve lives. By advocating for continued support, we can ensure that this vital research continues to have a positive impact on our communities and nation.”

According to another attendee, Erica Frankenberg, professor of education policy studies/demography, it was helpful to learn from legislatures in Washington, D.C. about policy and the current budget climate. “We had a lot of interest from congressional staffers interested in our research, which I hope will be the beginning of conversations to support social science research and the adoption of policies that are more evidence-based.”

The COSSA Social Science Advocacy Day serves as a vital platform for social scientists to connect with policymakers and educate them on the value of their work. Penn State’s participation demonstrates the university’s commitment to supporting social science research and ensuring its continued contributions to solving real-world problems.

The Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) served as a key sponsor of the event. Part of SSRI, the EIC is a research center for the science of scientific impact — aiming to improve the relevance, value and use of research evidence to increase societal well-being. The EIC leverages expertise in administrative data, program design and evaluation, and researcher-policymaker relationships to optimize public and private investments.