News

ISSR Consultant Rodrigo Domínguez-Villegas on Protection of Unaccompanied Child Migrants

Drawing upon previously unpublished government data obtained through the Mexican Freedom of Information system, interviews with key Mexican officials and accounts from civil-society organizations, a new report from the Migration Policy Institute (MPI) assesses Mexico’s legal framework for child protection and its treatment of unaccompanied children, from apprehension through detention and adjudication of international protection claims. The report, Strengthening Mexico’s Protection of Central American Unaccompanied Minors in Transit, finds that while Mexico has undertaken ambitious reform of its child protection system, implementation of these policies is uneven and ongoing.

Congratulations to ISSR's Karen Mason, SBS Outstanding Staff of the Year Awardee

Karen Mason

Congratulations to our ace-in-the-hole Grants, Personnel and Budget Manager, Karen Mason, whose excellence and service earned her this year's staff award from the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at UMass. Karen, who is busy as we speak orchestrating ISSR's move to beautiful new offices in Machmer Hall, is truly the heart and soul of our organization, and we count our lucky stars every day. 

Announcing New ISSR Team Members in Grants Development, June Funding Brown Bag, and Upcoming Grant Deadlines

We are excited to introduce two additional members of the ISSR team who will support faculty in their search for research funding. Dr. Gretchen Gano will join ISSR as Grants Development Social Scientist starting in August 2017, and Megan Paik recently came on board as Foundation Grants Development Specialist this spring.
 

Social Science Lens on Trump Administration FY2018 Budget Proposal

Consortium of Social Science Associations

The Consortium of Social Science Associations in Washington (COSSA) has been reporting their analysis of debates in Washington over the federal government budget. In a letter to ISSR and other members this week, COSSA builds on analysis of the Trump Administration's "skinny budget" with the following highlights of  the President's full FY18 budget request:

Announcing Sustainability and Social Science Seed Grants Program Awards

Sustainability Seed Grant Waterspout

ISSR is pleased to announce three research grant awards totaling $25,000 in its inaugural round of funding through the Sustainability and Social Science Seed Grant Program.

Co-funded by ISSR and the School of Earth and Sustainability, the winning research teams leverage a broad range of disciplinary perspectives and expertise at UMass and beyond, including the Departments of Anthropology, Environmental Conservation, Geosciences, Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning, Legal Studies and Political Science, Resource Economics, Sociology, and the School of Public Policy, as well as a host of governmental, nongovernmental and community organizations working at the human-environment interface. This degree of inter-disciplinary collaboration exemplifies ISSR's commitment to spanning disciplinary boundaries to open new ways of conceptualizing and studying the defining issues of our times. 

May 1 PEP Event | Faculty as Engaged Scholars in an Era of Uncertainty

What are the roles and responsibilities of researchers in these uncertain political times? How can scholars best use their resources to respond to attacks on vulnerable populations and institutions? Panelists will address how recent developments in our government affect our roles as researchers and teachers, and how scholars can contribute to positive change through public engagement? Join the conversation on Monday, May 1 at noon, in the UMass Campus Center's Hadley Room.

April 22 (Earth Day) | Social Scientists and the March for Science

March for Science image

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. The upcoming March for Science brings the opportunity 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.

Full House at Life Sciences Laboratories Considers Pathways and Potholes for Women in Science

Volume Editor Anna Branch with co-authors Laurel Smith-Doerr and Laura Hirshfield

Some sixty members of the University community turned out for the launch of a new volume of research that offers new insights on the realities of women's careers in science. The volume, entitled Pathways, Potholes, and the Persistence of Women in Science: Reconsidering the Pipeline (Lexington Books), is edited by UMass Professor of Sociology and Chancellor's Faculty Advisor for Diversity and Inclusive Excellence  Dr. Enobong (Anna) Branch. With an introduction by Dr. Craig Martin, Professor of Chemistry at UMass Amherst, the panel of three of the volume's authors drew from research across academic and industry science settings to illustrate the supports and constraints that shape women's journeys through careers in science.

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