The Bridge: Connecting Science and Policy

May 23, 2017

AGU DECRIES PROPOSED MASSIVE CUTS TO SCIENCE AGENCY FUNDING IN ADMINISTRATION’S FY18 BUDGET PROPOSAL

Earlier today, the Trump administration released its FY18 budget proposal. While details of the budget will continue to be released in the coming days and weeks, AGU issued the following statement in response to the currently available information in which I said the following: “The release of President Trump’s fiscal year 2018 budget proposal earlier today has drawn into sharp focus a disconnect between our nation’s desire to protect …

April 12, 2017

All Politics is Local – Engaging your Legislators Locally

Today is the 82nd day of the Trump presidency and science has already emerged as a significant issue, although not always in ways the scientific community supports. Given this environment, scientists and non-scientists alike are asking, “What can we do to support science?” Currently, your members of Congress are back home in their states and districts for April recess. April recess runs from Saturday, 8 April through the weekend of …

March 24, 2017

5 Things to Know About the New House Earth & Space Science Caucus

What is a caucus and why is it important? A caucus is a way for members of Congress to show support or interest in an issue outside of the committees on which they serve. Some caucus are well-known such as the Congressional Black Caucus or the Oceans Caucus. The Earth & Space Science (ESS) Caucus seeks to increase understanding amongst Congress of the sciences’ impact on policy and to facilitate …

January 27, 2017

10 Ways to Engage your Members of Congress in Minutes

Every two years, a new Congress takes office. Now is an excellent time to engage with the incoming 115th Congress by persuading your senators and representatives to make science a priority this Congress. Getting engaged in science policy is easier than ever, especially with the tools and resources AGU has to offer. Here are ten ways you can get involved, whether you have one minute, five, 10, 30 or an …

August 26, 2016

Q & A with Tammy Dickinson, Principal Assistant Director for Environment & Energy at OSTP

Did you know? Today is Women’s Equality Day! To celebrate, AGU fearured several female scientists on social media throughout the week. We posted Q&A’s on The Bridge, asking geoscientists about career advice, the work they do, and why it’s important to get involved in science policy. Today’s featured scientist is Dr. Tamara Dickinson. Dr. Dickinson is the Principal Assistant Director for Environment and Energy at the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the …

June 10, 2016

Space Weather Research and Forecasting Act Introduced to Senate

This blog post was written by Delores Knipp, Editor in Chief of AGU’s Space Weather and Space Weather Quarterly. To learn more about space weather, read Dr. Knipp’s previous post on the National Space Weather Strategy and Action Plan. Space weather effects on technology-enabled societies were first reported in telegraph systems in the late 1840’s, with the Carrington storm of 1859 being a prime example. Furthermore, technologies developed within the last …

May 31, 2016

Geoscience research essential to national security, experts say

By Lauren Lipuma WASHINGTON, DC — Government investment in basic science research is critical to protecting U.S. national security, according to a group of government and academic researchers. Basic geoscience research has helped the U.S. develop nuclear weapons experts, protect satellites from space weather and manage critical water supplies, scientists said during a recent congressional briefing on Capitol Hill. The May 12 briefing highlighted national security as an important, but …

May 25, 2016

Funding Season is Open: Part 3

Thanks for staying with us as we continue to break down federal science funding for fiscal year 2017 (FY2017). To completely understand how the FY2017 landscape is evolving, I encourage you to check out the first and second parts of our funding Bridge posts. As you’ll recall, we previously laid out the good and bad of the Senate’s appropriations bill covering NASA, DOE’s Office of Science, NOAA, and the National …

May 5, 2016

Funding Season is Open: Part 1

Well, it’s official – the appropriations season in Congress has begun. That’s not to say that Congress hasn’t been contemplating where to spend – and not spend – money all year, but we now have actual legislation that tells us what Congress’ funding priorities are – and more specifically, what their science funding priorities are. On 14 April, the Senate Appropriations Committee finished work on the Energy and Water spending …

February 16, 2016

The Science Policy Scene in 2016

The American Geophysical Union (AGU) has many exciting science policy events scheduled throughout 2016 to broaden the connections between AGU members and the policy community in Washington, D.C., and in their local communities. Spring AGU is proud to host our second member-only AGU Congressional Visits Day (AGU CVD) this spring. This event will bring together AGU member scientists from the academic and private sectors in order to share …