February 2023
SfN Announces the 2023 ECPA Class
The 2023 class of Early Career Policy Ambassadors (ECPAs) has been announced! We welcome 10 early-career scientists representing a variety of career levels and geographic locations. Ambassadors gain the necessary skills to advocate for science and to encourage those in their personal networks to join the conversation, kicking off by participating in SfN’s annual Hill Day. We look forward to working with this group of Ambassadors and helping them become great advocates for biomedical research.
Committees Finalized for 118th Congress
The House and Senate have finalized their respective committees and subcommittees for the 118th Congress. Leading the House Appropriations Committee will be Representative Kay Granger (R-TX-12) with Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) serving as ranking member. Representatives Robert Aderholt (R-AL-04) and DeLauro will serve as chair and ranking member of the House Labor-HHS subcommittee which oversees NIH funding while Representatives Hal Rogers (R-KY-05) and Matt Cartwright (D-PA-08) will lead the House CJS subcommittee overseeing NSF funding. In the Senate, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) will chair the Appropriations Committee with Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) as ranking member. Chairing the Senate Labor-HHS subcommittee will be Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) with Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) serving as ranking member while Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) will once again lead the Senate CJS subcommittee. This is the first time in history that four women will serve as the “four corners” of the Appropriations Committees, one of the most powerful panels in Congress.
SfN Members Awarded Civic Engagement Microgrants
Multiple SfN members were awarded Research!America’s civic engagement microgrants supported by the Rita Allen Foundation. With awards of up to $4,000, 20 graduate student- and postdoc-led science groups from across the United States will engage with public officials, local community leaders, and the public around issues of common concern. Since 2018, this program has enabled students to create innovative projects aimed at building dialogue with their local communities while developing skills in communication and program planning and a working knowledge of policy and government.
Explore the Health Snapshot for Your Congressional District
The NYU Grossman School of Medicine, in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, has released the Congressional District Health Dashboard, an extremely helpful tool compiling local data from multiple national sources for all 435 US congressional districts and D.C for more than 30 different health-related metrics. It enables users to explore district-level data on health, education, poverty, and more as well as map and use compelling visualizations to identify local or national gaps and advocate for change. Review this two-page overview to learn more.
New Survey Shows Strong Bipartisan Support for Research Investment
In a recent survey commissioned by Research!America, there is strong support amongst Americans in supporting federal investment in our nation’s science and technology enterprise, with 91% agreeing it is important for the U.S. to be a global leader in science and technology. Other key findings include more than 8 in 10 Americans agreeing basic research should be supported by the federal government; confidence in health care providers and scientists has increased; and cost of health care was cited as the single most important health issue facing the nation with COVID-19, cancer, and mental health following.
Apply Now for the FABBS Undergraduate Research Excellence Awards
The Federation of Associations in Behavioral & Brain Sciences (FABBS) honors up to five undergraduate student investigators with the research excellence award who have conducted research of superior scientific quality and with broad societal impact. Undergraduate majors in behavioral and brain science whose home academic department is a current FABBS Affiliate are eligible to apply. The nomination deadline is March 10.
SfN Advocacy Resources
- Introduce yourself to the new Congress via the Advocacy Action Center.
- Watch the Neuroscientist’s Guide to Advocacy series to understand the tools you need to help advance the field.
- Learn how to engage your members of Congress and effectively advocate for science with SfN's Advocacy Best Practices.
- Get involved in global advocacy.
- Talk to the public about the importance of animal research.
- Reach out to advocacy@sfn.org for assistance in preparing for your next advocacy effort at home or on Capitol Hill.
