Another highlight of the
conference was an award ceremony and reception for Rep. Brian Baird of
Washington state, chair of the House Subcommittee on Research and Science
Education. Rep. Baird, who is also a psychologist, received the APA
Champion of Science Award for his efforts both to prevent defunding of NSF
grants that had previously undergone full peer review and to ensure that the
behavioral and social sciences were included in the America Competes Act
aimed at strengthening federal funding for scientific research and training.
For more information on the
2007 Science Leadership Conference, see:
http://www.apa.org/science/psa/nov07slc.html. Planning for the 2008
conference, to be held in October, is currently underway.
NIH and NIMH priorities.
The
Science Directorate has communicated concerns to the National Institutes of
Health about the status of the behavioral and social sciences at NIH. In
response to a request for input on NIH-wide priorities for funding of basic
behavioral and social sciences research, we urged NIH to maintain a
comprehensive grant portfolio and to renew funding for research areas that
have lost support in recent years (e.g., animal behavior, motor control,
adult language, social psychology). For the Directorate’s full response,
see:
http://www.apa.org/ppo/science/1107nih.html.
The Directorate has also
submitted comments on the draft strategic plan of the National Institute of
Mental Health. Concerned that the plan seemed to leave out any important
role for behavioral and social science research, we argued for the relevance
of such research (both basic and translational) for understanding mental
health and disorders and for developing effective interventions. The full
comments can be read at:
http://www.apa.org/ppo/issues/1207CommentsonNIMH.pdf.
Written statements such as
these are one component of the Directorate’s ongoing advocacy effort
targeted at NIH. We will continue to work for increases in the overall
budget of NIH and for enhanced support for all relevant areas of behavioral
and social science research. This effort is carried out through such means
as: formal and informal communications with members of Congress and agency
leaders; testimony, briefings, and exhibits; collaborations with other
scientific and professional organizations; communications through the news
media; nominating psychological scientists to serve on governing and
advisory boards; and training scientists to advocate on their own behalf.
Advanced Training
Institutes.
The Directorate sponsors Advanced Training Institutes (ATIs)
each summer at institutions around the country. They provide advanced
graduate students, post-docs, and faculty-level researchers with exposure to
current and emerging research methods and technologies. Five ATIs will be
offered in 2008:
Nonlinear Methods for Psychological Science
University of Cincinnati
June 9-13, 2008
Structural Equation Modeling in Longitudinal Research
University of Virginia, Charlottesville
June 9-13, 2008
Research Methods with Diverse Racial and Ethnic Groups
Michigan State University, East Lansing
June 23-27, 2008
Geographic Information Systems for Behavioral Research
University of California, Santa Barbara
July 16-18, 2008
Using
Large-Scale Databases: NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
August 4-8, 2008
For further information about
ATIs and application materials, see:
http://www.apa.org/science/ati.html.
Meeting on vulnerability and
risk in human research.
The Science
Directorate and Columbia University co-sponsored a meeting on
Defining Vulnerability in Minimal Risk Behavioral and
Psychological Research, held in New York
City on November 9-10, 2007. The purpose of the meeting was to explore what
constitutes a vulnerable population for various types of behavioral
research, how vulnerable research participants can best be protected, and
the criteria by which Institutional Review Boards should evaluate
vulnerability and risk in reviewing research protocols. For an initial
report on the meeting, see:
http://www.apa.org/science/psa/jan08risk.html.
This effort supplements that of the recent APA
Presidential Task Force on IRBs,
which will issue its report later this year.
Ethical guidelines for animal
research.
The APA Committee on Animal Research and
Ethics (CARE), which is managed by the Science Directorate, is undertaking a
revision of its
Guidelines for Ethical Conduct in the Care and Use of Animals.
CARE invites suggestions for changes in the document, which was last revised
in 1996. Comments should be sent to
Dr. Sangy Panicker by June 1, 2008. For additional background, see:
http://www.apa.org/science/rcr/guide-comments08.html.
Impact of Farm Bill
amendments on animal research.
The “Farm Bill” (H.R. 2419)
that is making its way through the House and Senate contains two amendments
that may adversely affect non-human animal research. One amendment would
limit the use of animals in demonstrations of surgical and medical devices.
Another would limit sales of dogs and cats by Class “B” dealers. The APA
Committee on Animal Research and Ethics (CARE) and Science Directorate have
expressed opposition to both amendments, on the grounds that they would
compromise scientific research without actually providing any additional
protections to animals. The Science Directorate is working with other
scientific organizations to monitor and respond to further developments
related to this legislation. For more information, see:
http://www.apa.org/science/psa/jan08farm.html.
Nonacademic careers
publication.
The Directorate is currently updating its popular booklet Nonacademic
Careers for Scientific Psychologists, which had its origins in a series
of essays in Psychological Science Agenda titled “Interesting Careers in
Psychology.” Each essay profiles a psychologist who was trained as a
researcher and eventually pursued a career outside of academia that calls
upon their research skills. These psychologists work in many different
fields, including corporate research, management, government, law, advocacy,
journalism, and entertainment. For a sampling of the essays, see:
http://www.apa.org/science/nonacad_careers.html.
We are seeking new
psychologists to profile in the next edition of the booklet. If you know of
any psychologists who have taken an interesting career path outside of
academia, please send us their names. We would like to include people at
all career stages, including recent Ph.D’s. You may send your suggestions
to either
Dr. Stephanie Johnson or
me.
New Behavior Matters
booklet.
A new booklet for lay audiences, Behavior Matters: How
Research Improves Our Lives – Health, has been released. The
Behavior Matters series is published as part of the Decade of Behavior
initiative. You may access the booklet
online or order printed copies (up to 25) free from the
Science Directorate.
Award deadlines approaching.
The
deadlines for submitting nominations for major awards administered by the
Science Directorate are coming up soon:
Distinguished Scientific Awards
Recognizes individuals who have made major research
contributions, in three categories:
Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award
Distinguished Scientific Award for the
Applications of Psychology
Distinguished Scientific Award for Early Career Contribution
to Psychology
Deadline: June 2, 2008
For information on all APA
science awards, including those for students, see:
http://www.apa.org/science/awards.html.
That’s some of what the
Science Directorate has been working on in recent months. To stay current,
check back at the Directorate’s
website. You may also subscribe to the Directorate’s monthly
newsletter,
Psychological Science Agenda (PSA), and science policy newsletter,
Science Policy Insider News (SPIN).
Have a great spring and
summer. I hope to catch up with many of you at the APA Convention in Boston
(August 14-17).
Science
Directorate Update