Call for Members – Come to D.C. for Social Science Advocacy Day 2024

It’s simple – you’re the best person to tell Congress why science matters! Congressional staff listen to you, the experts who are directly impacted by their decisions. We need you to help share why science is important and to give examples of why the social sciences matter, from your own work.

• You’ll learn and develop unique skills in networking, advocacy and talking to lawmakers about your work.
• You’ll get to connect with and build relationships with Congressional offices. Often, offices will reach out to you with future questions, after they’ve met you.
• Connect with other researchers from similar and different fields from across the country.
• Come early or stay late to see D.C.’s famous cherry blossoms, which are often in bloom at this time of year!

No, you’ll be fully supported by SRCD and COSSA staff (you’ll never be alone with legislative staff!). COSSA is our coalition partner, and SRCD is one of several members. As this activity is hosted by COSSA, you’ll also have the opportunity to engage and share spaces with researchers and staff from other scientific organizations.

All scholars, regardless of discipline, career stage, or experience are invited to attend. If your work, or your colleague’s work, requires funding to complete, then this day is relevant for you. We want our Congressional offices to hear directly from social and behavioral scientists why federal investment in research is important. There is no one better than you to make this case.

​​​​​​Yes! Your role in these meetings is to share why you think research is important and to talk about your own work. SRCD staff (and other societies’ staff) can make “the ask” to staffers for specific appropriations requests, so that you don’t have to.

The more the merrier! We have never yet had to turn a scholar way. Your voice matters, and if you can come to D.C., we will gladly welcome you!

Maybe and maybe not. There will be an effort to ensure that at least one of the meetings will be matched to your State and/or Congressional District, however, this depends on how many experts each organization brings and if the Congressional office accepts the meeting.

Unfortunately, SRCD cannot provide funding for scholars for this event. However, there are significant benefits to you and your institution, and we want to help you make that case! Here is a sample email that you can use when reaching out to your institution:

Sample Email:

Dear XXX:

I have been invited to participate in an important event in Washington, DC April 8-9, 2024. I am a member of the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), which is a partner of the Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA), who hosts Social Science Advocacy Day each spring. Social Science Advocacy Day brings together social and behavioral scientists from across the country to engage with policymakers in Congress on issues important to our community, such as federal funding for research at agencies like the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, the Institute of Education Science (IES), among others. It is COSSA’s signature annual event focused on putting social and behavioral science front and center before Congress.

As a participant, I would join other scholars from across our state in a day of in-person meetings with our state’s representatives in the House of Representatives and Senate. During the meetings we will have the opportunity to discuss our own research and other research efforts happening at the university, with an overarching goal of with an overarching goal of showing Congress why increased federal funding for social and behavioral science research is important.

According to COSSA and past participants in this event, I can expect to:

 - Learn how federal funding and policy impact social and behavioral science research at the university level.
 - Learn how to communicate with policymakers and discuss research in ways that is helpful to them.
 - Gain visibility for the [institution/organization] and our research activities.
 - Connect with social and behavioral science researchers and professionals from across the country and across fields.
 - Learn a unique set of skills that I can bring to my work (e.g., teaching, research, advocacy, service, etc.).

The costs associated with the trip include a small registration fee, airfare, lodging for two nights, and a few incidentals (meals for one day and ground transportation).

I would be happy to provide additional information, including testimonials from past participants.