FABBS reports on items of interest to many communities – scientists, policymakers, and the public. In our news, you will see updates on science funding and policy, articles that translate research for policy, and descriptions of the research contributions of scientists at all stages of their research careers.
More than Words: The Cornerstone of Reading Comprehension
Learning to read is one of the most fundamental, and yet most complex, tasks for young students. Despite many national initiatives to boost reading instruction, an alarming number of children still struggle: on a test sometimes called “the Nation’s Report Card,” (the National Assessment of Educational Progress or NAEP), almost half of fourth and eighth graders were rated as below proficient in reading in 2015. Part of the reason it’s so challenging to become proficient is that reading
read moreEducational Technology Is Not Making the Grade
Digital technology has revolutionized our homes, cars, and workplaces, but it hasn’t changed much in one surprising area: schools. The problem isn’t that schools lack access to technology, but that the expensive technology they have isn’t effective. In 2014 alone, U.S. schools spent close to $10 billion on educational technology, yet research on the benefits for students is “disheartening, at best,” according to Kimberly Lawless, who reviewed dozens of studies on the topic in Policy
read more2016 Annual Meeting Photo Highlights
FABBS held its Annual Council of Representatives meeting on December 12th, 2016. Speakers from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), National Institute on Aging (NIA), Institute of Education Sciences (IES), and National Science Foundation (NSF) joined us to give our member societies an overview on federal funding opportunities and what we may expect in the coming year. Council members and the FABBS Board also discussed society priorities and offered input on where they would like
read moreFABBS and Member Societies Meet with New NIMH Director
Scientists attending the FABBS Council of Representatives Annual Meeting were invited to participate in a meeting with the new National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Director, Dr. Joshua Gordon. Gordon, a psychiatrist and neuroscientist, joined NIH on September 12, 2016. Soon after taking the reins at NIMH, Gordon told Nature, “I won’t be doing anything radical [in the first year in office]. I am just going to listen to and learn from all the stakeholders—the scientific community, the
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