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FABBS



Federation of Associations in Behavioral & Brain Sciences (FABBS)  www.fabbs.org

Massachusetts Neuropsychological Society (MNS) was accepted as the first ever regional society in the Federation of Association in Behavioral and Brain Sciences. As members of the Federation, MNS joins 20 other organizations, including National Academy of Neuropsychology (NAN) and American Psychological Association (APA), to ensure national level exposure of our interests in the areas of science policy, national support for research, and education and training. As members of MNS, you are entitled to receive for free the Federation Newsletter. The Federation newsletters include updates on funding opportunities, information about legislation that may affect the behavioral science community, and reports on the Federation’s national advocacy efforts on the behalf of the psychological and brain sciences. Previous news updates can be found in the FABBS archive.

FABBS’s mission is to promote human potential and well-being by advancing the sciences of mind, brain, and behavior. As a coalition of scientific societies (MNS is a member of this association), they communicate with policy makers and the public about the importance and contributions of basic and applied research in these sciences. FABBS as an organization began on December 7, 1980, when representatives of eight organizations met in Chicago to joined forces to promote behavioral, psychological, and cognitive sciences. FABBS was incorporated in 1981, and opened an office in Washington, D.C., in 1982. In 2009, the Federation of Behavioral, Psychological, and Cognitive Sciences changed its name to the Federation of Associations in Brain & Behavioral Sciences (FABBS). The sister organization, the Foundation for the Advancement of Behavioral & Brain Sciences, changed its name to FABBS Foundation in 2009.

FABBS is a coalition of scientific societies that share an interest in advancing the sciences of mind, brain, and behavior. Our goal is to promote human potential and well-being through research knowledge gained from these sciences. We communicate the importance and contributions of basic and applied research in these areas to policy makers and the public. We work in close cooperation with scientific societies in the fields of social science, psychology, education, and neuroscience. Academic units and corporations that share these goals support the organization as affiliates. The FABBS Foundation was created in 2004 to conduct educational activities that enhance understanding of the sciences of mind, brain, and behavior. In 2010, the Foundation completed work on a book, Psychology and the Real World: Essays Illustrating Fundamental Contributions to Society. This book contains essays from many prominent researchers explaining the importance and relevance of the behavioral and brain sciences in the real world. Worth Publishers published the book and packages it with Intro to Psychology texts. I recommend that this book be considered by those of you who teach.  It will also be available for purchase separately, with all royalties being paid to FABBS. FABBS Foundation also recognizes eminent, senior scientists who have made significant contributions to our sciences.

A more recently published book is Writing Successful Grant Proposals From the Top Down and Bottom Up.  This test provides comprehensive advice on how to build a successful grant proposal, from the top down and from the bottom up.  Editor Robert J. Sternberg gathers editorial expertise from distinguished members of associations in FABBS, which includes some of the most successful grant applicants and grant givers in the field of brain and behavioral sciences.  Go to http://www.sagepub.com/books/Book236652 to read more about this new book.

FABBS represents the interests of its scientific societies by: 1) Educating federal representatives and Congress about the importance of research in the sciences of mind, brain, and behavior; 2) Advocating for legislation and policy that enhance training and research; 3) Providing sources of expertise and knowledge to federal agencies, Congress, and the media; 4) Encouraging the sound use of science in the creation of public policy; 5) Fostering effective interaction between agencies and organizations that fund research and the community of scientists and scientific societies; 6) Facilitating information exchange among constituent societies as well as other scientific organizations.

Paul Skedsvold, PhD, Executive Director of FABBS, said that President Obama has made a commitment to double the federal investment in science. Although his focus has been on the funding of physics, engineering, and biomedical research, FABBS has been working to ensure that behavioral and brain sciences are included on such agendas. As part of its advocacy efforts, FABBS continually works for sustained and future funding opportunities for the sciences of mind, brain, and behavior. FABBS advocates for these sciences in a number of ways: working in coalitions; providing Congressional testimony; and Congressional visits.

It is impressive to see how FABBS and its Foundation go about meeting the various needs of behavioral scientists and behavioral research.  Problems are identified, often by constituent societies, and are addressed effectively, often by influencing people who make decisions.

I will continue to inform the MNS membership of Federation news regarding advocacy efforts, as well as education and communication activities and funding opportunities for the brain-behavior sciences.

[Linda Zoe Podbros, Ph.D., has served in the role of MNS Federation Representative since MNS joined FABBS in 2007. Sandra Shaheen, Ph.D., AAPN has taken over in this role as of 2015].

Focus on Funding, Provided by FABBS

 

National Institutes of Health

National Science Foundation

Additional Funding Opportunities

National Science Foundation

National Institutes of Health

Institute of Education Sciences