By: Caitlin Bergstrom

This year, our community has stepped up to provide critical feedback on several proposed regulations and calls for public comment. It has been a difficult eighteen months for the science community, with rapid divestments in science research causing uncertainty for both individuals conducting research and the vital research our scientists do. Utilizing our online action campaigns and our deep network of grassroots advocates, we have generated more than 2000 public comments on various regulations impacting our Earth and space science community.  

Last December, when the Administration announced plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), scientists from across the country expressed deep outrage at the proposed shuttering of a research institution that provides critical weather and climate data not only to the research world but also to private industry and governments. More than 30,000 scientists wrote to their members of Congress, and 500 shared feedback with the National Science Foundation, which manages NCAR.

Earlier this year, the Administration also announced sweeping changes to the federal grant distribution that, if enacted, would change how research in the United States is funded and conducted. If finalized as written, this rule would give political appointees veto power over peer review, allow the government to cancel active grants mid-project with minimal justification, ban entire categories of science from federal funding, and restrict researchers’ ability to publish their work and attend scientific conferences. We asked our community to write detailed comments sharing how this regulation would impact them, their students, their research, institutions, and communities. More than 1,300 scientists have submitted detailed comments to the Office of Management and Budget.  

This shows that even when faced with mounting challenges, our community cares deeply about what they do and shares a deep desire to preserve their work for the future.