Federal Changes, Research Funding, and Executive Orders

Hello SPR Members,

I am writing on behalf of the SPR Board in light of the recent Presidential Executive Orders and cuts to federal funding of science in the United States. These events have created much chaos, uncertainty, and stress around the ability to conduct our science and threats to basic human rights. While this is directly impacting our members in the United States, we recognize that the forces challenging SPR members’ shared values of equity and inclusion are not unique to the US. This moment provides an opportunity to reaffirm our values that apply to all of our members around the globe. We are writing to share some information, including some of our plans for sustaining our diversity, equity, and inclusion work. We also invite you to share with us how these events are impacting your ability to do your work and/or could impact your ability to attend the SPR meeting this year.

Advocacy for Support for Science
Actions from the executive branch have put science in the United States in serious jeopardy. SPR, with the support of the Board, has joined numerous other organizations to advocate for science and signed a statement opposing the damaging cuts to NIH. We will continue to monitor opportunities for collective advocacy.

In addition, SPR is a member of the Federation of Associations in Behavioral and Brain Sciences (FABBS), an organization that represents 29 professional societies in psychology and neuroscience and engages in education and advocacy, including through direct communication with Congress. Bruce Bartholow, our SPR FABBS liaison, recently attended a meeting FABBS organized in response to the Executive Orders. There is still much that is uncertain, but you can find the slides from the presentation at that meeting here.

Our Values and Efforts in Equity, Inclusion, and Representation
Our values have not changed. We remain committed to our efforts to make SPR a welcoming home for all, to increasing representation of those from groups historically excluded or marginalized in psychophysiology, and to supporting science that advances health equity particularly for marginalized communities. You can find details about our ongoing efforts on the SPR website.

In keeping with this, I would like to report that the Board has approved funds to support the Fifth Annual President’s Symposium on Equity, Inclusion, and Representation for the annual meeting this October in Montreal, Canada. The presenters include a talented slate of researchers who have made equity and inclusion a central aspect of their career: Kate Webb, of Duke University, Keanan Joyner of the University of California, Berkeley, Carlos Cardenas-Iniguez, University of Southern California, and Nathaniel Harnett, McLean Hospital/Harvard University. I look forward to having them share their important work with us in Montreal.

The Board is also coordinating efforts with WISE, Diversity & Outreach and other committees to ensure that the nominees for the SPR Fellows program and other awards include SPR members with diverse identities and backgrounds.

We are also working on an additional initiative proposed by the Public Relations Committee and the Diversity and Outreach committees to present awards specifically for outstanding posters with a focus on health equity. Please stay tuned for more on this as the details have not been finalized. I highlight this initiative because it was brought to the SPR Board by a committee. We encourage you to join committees of interest to you to make your voice heard. Even if you are not on a committee now, but have an idea to promote equity, inclusion, and representation (or another area), please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or anyone on the Board. We are listening!

Share Your Concerns and Ideas with Us
We know that these recent events in the US are impacting our members, including those from marginalized groups and from outside of the US, and perhaps in ways that we do not know. We have created a Google document where you can share your concerns, or your ideas about ways SPR could provide support.

There is much more uncertainty ahead. The SPR leadership is committed to our equity, inclusion, and representation values, and to supporting a strong psychophysiological science community.  We welcome the opportunity to collectively advance these efforts as a scientific society.

Warmest wishes to you all (from here in frosty Wisconsin),

Chris Larson, SPR President
On behalf of the SPR Board
larsoncl@uwm.edu