Advocacy Network Newsletter - January 2018

Your Advocacy Achievements in 2017

Thanks to the efforts of you and other advocates, the science community achieved important legislative victories in 2017, including the preservation of the tax-exempt status of graduate tuition waivers and an additional $2 billion for NIH for FY17.

In 2017 SfN members:

• Sent over 15,700 letters to more than 455 elected officials
• Met with 54 congressional offices on SfN's Capitol Hill Day
• Wrote about the importance of animals in research in national publications including Inside Higher Ed and The Hill
• Published op-eds on biomedical research funding in local publications from Texas to Pennsylvania to California
• Participated in the March for Science alongside fellow scientists in more than 66 countries
• Publicly shared stories from 23 countries about global science collaboration at Neuroscience 2017

Federal News Roundup

• NIH revises early stage investigator initiative to aid researchers at risk of losing all funding
• Congress dropped a provision from the tax reform bill that would have treated graduate tuition waivers as taxable income after the scientific community, including SfN advocates Ryan Makinson and Kristin Anderson, expressed concerns over the ramifications of such a provision
• The continuing resolution keeping the government running expires January 19. Scientific agencies maintain FY17 spending levels until Congress passes a budget

Develop Your Advocacy Skills

You can help to advance federal funding for brain research. Learn to connect with policymakers through the SfN - Research!America webinar series:

Leveraging Public Opinion in Support of Science. Learn to craft a concise, compelling narrative about the value of your research using opinion survey data on scientific issues. (Available now)

Strategies to Maximize Your Advocacy Results. Discover new advocacy opportunities and targeted communication strategies to connect with Congress and the administration. (February 23)

Inspiring Others to Be Science Advocates. Empower your network to advocate for science and achieve legislative success. (April 18)

Measuring Advocacy Outcomes. Learn to allocate your resources appropriately by evaluating your advocacy performance against short- and long-term goals, managing expectations, and identifying gaps in science advocacy metrics. (June 1)

Become a Leader in Science Advocacy

Explore what science policy and advocacy could look like as part of your career through SfN's Early Career Policy Ambassador (ECPA) Program. You'll have the opportunity to build relationships with policymakers, connect with fellow neuroscience advocates, and develop your communications skills to promote neuroscience research funding. Click here to learn more about becoming an ambassador. Applications are due by 5 p.m. EST on Friday, January 19.

Advance Neuroscience Research Funding

SfN advocates will visit Capitol Hill this March to promote neuroscience research as part of SfN's 12th Annual Capitol Hill Day. Be on the lookout for opportunities to amplify our message from your home institution and with your chapter in our next edition of the Advocacy Network Newsletter.

Pet Lovers Supporting Animal Research

The Foundation for Biomedical Research recently launched a campaign encouraging animal lovers to learn how animal research benefits all animals and to support animal researchers helping pets live longer, healthier lives. Share these resources and contribute to positive conversations about animals in research today.

SfN Advocacy Resources

• Contact your legislator about research funding via the Advocacy Action Center
• Learn how to engage your members of Congress and persuasively advocate for science
• Engage your lawmakers directly by calling, scheduling an in-person meeting or a lab tour
• Get involved in global advocacy
• Talk to the public about the importance of animal research