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.
Should Non-Standard English Be Taught in Schools?
March 15th, 2017
The 2016 presidential election brought into sharp focus the divisions among Americans about how to handle diversity. While race and country of origin came to the forefront of public and private debates, language is another issue that sparks passionate arguments. Oral language – the words we say and the way we speak them – is a strong marker of cultural background, not just across countries, but within them.
Americans have long debated educational policies for
read moreHow Do Young Children Learn Language? With Statistics
March 15th, 2017
Babies are even smarter than we thought. They are natural statisticians with the ability to use their accumulating experiences with the social world to learn language. According to cognitive scientist Michael Frank, an associate professor at Stanford, understanding that capability can help us ensure children get off on the right foot in school and life.
Young children who have rich vocabularies go on to do better in school than their peers. Unfortunately, children from
read moreCongress Pivots to Fiscal Year 2018 Issues: NIH Remains a Top Funding Priority
March 15th, 2017
While negotiating a final resolution to the Fiscal Year 2017 funding bills, Congress is forging ahead with hearings, launching the Fiscal Year 2018 appropriations process. Given the bipartisan support that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) enjoys on Capitol Hill, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees (the two committees in Congress responsible for drafting all 12 appropriations bills that fund the federal government) held initial hearings highlighting the
read moreHouse Science Committee Chairman Signals Cuts for SBE and GEO
March 15th, 2017
It’s déjà vu all over again. During the 114th Congress (2015-2016), Lamar Smith (R-TX), Chairman of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee led an effort to “reprioritize” research funding at the National Science Foundation. On the losing end of the plan were two Directorates: Social, Behavioral, and Economic (SBE) Sciences as well as Geosciences (GEO). Although the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2015 passed the U.S. House of Representatives, the
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