Liz Landau, Director, AGU Science Policy & Government Relations

We get asked often by scientists if they can ‘make a difference’ by taking part in science policy efforts. We always say “yes”, but I think actions speak louder than words. And some of the most telling examples are from the group of 38 scientists who participated in 79 meetings on Capitol Hill on 4 March.

 

There was the office that said that they had received 500 phone calls from people concerned over the announced dissolution of NCAR, and asking the office to do something about it. This was in Georgia, not exactly a neighbor to NCAR in Colorado, either.

 

There was the conversation a graduate student got to have with his Alabama Senator thanking her for supporting the Water Center there that made it possible for him to be a grad student and do his research in the state, showing the value directly to the person who made the policy decision to support that center.

There then there was the office that thanked the scientists for bringing the RESEARCHER Act to their attention this past fall during their last visit to DC, and said that the office had gone on to co-sponsor that important piece of legislation that helps support students and early career researchers because of the request.

 

These are just a few of the stories from those 79 meetings, which were part of an event for some of the AGU Local Science Partners, a group of scientists who work with AGU to become champions for science through developing relationships with their federal legislators.

 

The impact of scientists speaking up is huge. And lately scientists have really been speaking up. Last year over 200 AGU scientists met with their legislators in Washington, DC and over 14,000 scientists used AGU’s Science Policy Action Center to email or call their Members of Congress to ask for stronger support for science across the range of AGU sciences.

 

 

 

For those of you already engaged in science policy, thank you, and please keep it up. For those still asking if it makes a difference, I hope I have convinced you that it does. We would love it if you joined us to help make a difference.

 

Use the easy templates on AGU’s Science Policy Action Center to email your legislators in two clicks, or sign up for monthly science policy updates and opportunities through the AGU Science Policy Alerts.

 

If you want to experience what our AGU Local Science Partners did, including getting help, preparation, and support in meeting with your federal policymakers in Washington, DC, apply for the AGU Days of Action Congressional Visits Day coming up 21-22 April 2026. We will make the process easy for you, and you won’t have to go it alone. Together, we are making a difference.