Lectures and Seminars


The Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR) sponsors several lectures and seminars covering topics related to the behavioral and social sciences.  The current list of lectures and seminars is as follows:

     - Behavioral and Social Sciences: The Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Coordinating
      Committee (BSSR CC), with support from the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research
      (OBSSR), regularly convenes a series of guest lectures and symposia on selected topics in the
      behavioral and social sciences. These presentations by prominent behavioral and social scientists 
      provide the NIH community with overviews of current research on topics of scientific and social
      interest. The lectures and symposia are approximately 50 minutes in length, with additional time for
      questions and discussion. All seminars are open to NIH staff and to the general public.

     - Matilda White Riley: OBSSR sponsors an annual lecture in the behavioral and social sciences
       honoring Matilda White Riley (1911-2004) who in addition to serving as the Associate Director for
       Behavioral and Social Research at the National Institute on Aging, Dr. Riley provided leadership
       across the NIH in her role as chairperson of landmark committees regarding health and
       behavior.  The annual award honors an individual whose research has contributed to behavioral and
       social scientific knowledge and/or the application of such knowledge relevant to the mission of the
       National Institutes of Health. The recipients' research reflects Matilda Riley's commitment to
       research.

     - Systems Science and Health: OBSSR and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s 
       Syndemics Prevention Network presents a series of four educational seminars featuring leaders in
       various areas of systems science.  The purposes are to (1) raise awareness of particularly
       promising methodologies; and (2) improve our collective understanding about how and when they
       may be used effectively by behavioral and social scientists (including researchers, policy analysts,
       planners/evaluators, grant reviewers, journal editors, and government officials).