COSSA Launches “Why Social Science?” Website


February 2017

In January the Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA) launched a new project, Why Social Science?, that aims to share the benefits and contributions of federally funded social and behavioral science research with the public and encourage its widespread use for tackling challenges of national importance.

The cornerstone feature of the new initiative is a series of bimonthly guest blog posts written by researchers, government officials, industry representatives, and a diverse group of other stakeholders all answering a common question—why social science?—from their unique perspectives.

The first two posts were contributed by Wendy Naus, COSSA’s executive director, and Bill Riley, director of the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research at the National Institute of Health.

The Why Social Science? website will also house other educational resources that highlight the important role of the social and behavioral sciences. 

“I’m pleased that COSSA is using this new platform to communicate the many contributions the social and behavioral sciences make to our society and to a broad audience,” said AERA Executive Director Felice J. Levine, chair of COSSA’s board of directors. “I encourage AERA members to bookmark the website and visit it often.”