By the Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA)

Why Social Science Is Marching for Science

Why Social Science? is a space to talk about the unique contributions the social and behavioral sciences have made to making our society better and improving the lives of people around the world. However, this week, we’re broadening our core question as the upcoming March for Science brings the opportunity for us to join with fellow scientists, researchers, and supporters from across fields, disciplines, professions, and industries to focus on Why Science—all science—is such a fundamental driver of human progress around the world.

The March for Science is a nonpartisan movement that “champions robustly funded and publicly communicated science as a pillar of human freedom and prosperity.” Through over 500 marches around the world, including a march in Washington, DC on April 22, the March for Science plans to celebrate and bring attention to the role science plays in improving our lives and advancing knowledge. The Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA) is an official partner of the March for Science, as are a dozen COSSA member organizations, with several other COSSA members having endorsed the goals of the March. A complete list of partner organizations is available on the March for Science website.

While the march is political in that it hopes to bring positive attention to the contributions and pursuit of science from both the public and policymakers, it is explicitly not partisan. In fact, the March’s core principles are simple and uncontroversial:

Science that serves the common good
Evidence-based policy and regulations in the public interest
Cutting-edge science education
Diversity and inclusion in STEM
Open, honest science and inclusive public outreach
Funding for scientific research and its applications, not limited to a few fields or specific demographics; scientific support must be inclusive of diverse disciplines and communities.

Join the March for Science, either in Washington on April 22 or at one of the satellite marches. You can sign up to participate in any of the marches—or even to “march” virtually—by filling out a form on the March for Science website.

COSSA is collecting information for social and behavioral scientists participating in the March for Science, both on the COSSA March for Science website and through a weekly newsletter that compiles the latest information and updates on March for Science activity (anyone can sign up to receive it here).

Some highlights for social scientists participating in the Washington, DC event include:

A happy hour for social and behavioral scientists the night before the April 22 March (RSVP requested by April 19)
A survey to help social and behavioral scientists connect and organize
A contest from the Linguistic Society of America to find the best linguistics-themed march signs
An in-person and online advocacy training from the American Psychological Association
A breakfast on the morning of the March at the American Sociological Association offices
And much more—see the COSSA March for Science website for a complete list.

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is also hosting programs and events for scientists from all fields in the days leading up the March. Check their website for details.

Whether you march or not, the April events will not be the end of the March for Science movement. Follow-up activities are planned for the days and weeks following the march to ensure that the importance of science and research stays in the conversation. We hope you’ll join us in the March for Science

The Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA) is a nonprofit advocacy organization working to promote sustainable federal funding for social and behavioral science research and federal policies that positively impact the conduct of research. COSSA serves as a united voice for a broad, diverse network of organizations, institutions, communities, and stakeholders who care about a successful and vibrant social science research enterprise. The COSSA membership includes professional and disciplinary associations, scientific societies, research centers and institutes, and U.S. colleges and universities.

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