By: Liz Landau

I am incredibly proud of AGU’s global science policy expansion during the first half of 2026. Our current global Voices for Science cohort is our largest yet, with 14 folks from Africa, Asia, Europe, and more coming together to learn and grow their science policy and communications skills. AGU is supporting them through initiatives such as the science diplomacy panel we hosted in April, where experts from the Science Diplomacy Center and the Policy Center for Science Diplomacy discussed how to gain science diplomacy experience and key tactics for effectiveness. So far, the cohort has already done over 200 outreach activities globally, engaging more than 28,500 people in their work. These projects include sustainable water and waste management programming with elementary school students in Nigeria, a podcast based in Israel interviewing Earth and space scientists from around the globe, and a public presentation on ocean development in China. 

These advocates are so dedicated to their work, and they are making a huge impact locally. We’re also working to provide a range of ways to engage in global science policy, so everyone in our community can find a way to make a difference. One very quick option is to sign on to a globally focused science policy letter. In January, AGU launched a global sign-on letter opposing the U.S. leaving the IPCC and other critical global climate and environment organizations. This decision has global impact, and our global community has responded with almost 1,000 signatures.  

We are also working to offer in-person trainings at AGU’s global meetings. The Ocean Sciences Meeting was held outside the U.S. for the first time ever in February 2026, and we ran four science policy and communications events throughout the conference, covering topics from ocean policy careers to a science communication workshop to an ocean science policy landscape panel discussion. The 400+ attendees of our events were deeply engaged in discussions and told me how grateful they were to find this globally focused policy content at the meeting.  

I’m looking forward to continuing to support our global community, including expanding our global Voices for Science cohort and launching an online asynchronous learning course focused on global science policy.