[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 16, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1296]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING PROFESSORS WALTER MISCHEL, JOEL COHEN, AND CHRISTOPHER SMALL--
               FOR RECEIVING THE 2015 GOLDEN GOOSE AWARD

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                           HON. NITA M. LOWEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 16, 2015

  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor three New York 
scientists--Professors Walter Mischel, Joel Cohen and Christopher 
Small--for receiving the 2015 Golden Goose award for research within 
their respective fields.
  Founded in 2012, the Golden Goose Award recognizes researchers whose 
obscure, federally funded research has returned significant benefits to 
society. This annual contest was inspired by my friend, Representative 
Jim Cooper of Tennessee, as a way of highlighting the tremendous human 
and economic benefits of federally funded research.
  Dr. Mischel of Columbia University, in conjunction with Drs. Philip 
Peake and Yuichi Shoda of Stanford University, were recognized for 
their ``Marshmallow Test.'' This project measures human behavior, 
specifically our self-control, by offering children one marshmallow 
immediately or two if they could wait just 15 minutes alone with their 
potential treat. The project revealed the importance of self-control 
and how the trait can be cultivated to appropriately teach our 
children. Dr. Mischel's work was made possible by funding from the 
National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation 
(NSF).
  Drs. Cohen and Small received the 2015 Golden Goose award for their 
study on population densities at various altitudes. Working out of the 
Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory in my district, Drs. Cohen and Small 
developed the first global map of human population distribution with 
respect to Earth elevation. This innovative way of looking at 
population density will help us understand how events such as natural 
disasters or sea-level rise impact population distribution and health. 
Their work was made possible by funding from the NSF.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Professors Walter Mischel, Joel 
Cohen and Christopher Small for receiving the 2015 Golden Goose Award. 
Their projects symbolize the importance of federal funding for 
scientific research and the creativity that research fosters. I urge my 
colleagues to join me in commending them for their hard work.

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