The Bridge: Connecting Science and Policy

October 12, 2016

Fossils and painted nails on a Sloth?: Q & A with Ryan Haupt on National Fossil Day

As part of Earth Science Week, we’ll be highlighting different leaders in the geosciences – from research to education and community outreach. We are posting Q&A’s on The Bridge asking geoscientists about the work they do. Today’s theme is National Fossil Day and one of our featured AGU members is Ryan Haupt. Ryan is a PhD Candidate at the University of Wyoming. Could you summarize your research in a sentence or two? Broadly, my …

October 11, 2016

Nearby Nature: Getting our youth outside.

As part of Earth Science Week, we’ll be highlighting different leaders in the geosciences – from research to education and community outreach. We are posting Q&A’s on The Bridge asking geoscientists about the work they do. Today’s theme is No Child Left Inside Day and our feature is Nearby Nature, a non-profit organization based in Eugene, Oregon. We spoke with Holly Hartmann, a Nearby Nature Board Member and Events Volunteer. She is also the …

October 10, 2016

Improving Science Literacy – from classroom to community

As part of Earth Science Week, we’ll be highlighting different leaders in the geosciences – from research to education and community outreach. We are posting Q&A’s on The Bridge asking geoscientists about the work they do. Today’s topic is Earth Science Literacy Day and our featured member is Jennifer Spirelli. Jennifer is currently the Assistant Principal in Somers Middle School in upstate New York. Could you summarize your job in a …

Earth Science Week is here!

It’s Earth Science Week! Each day this week AGU will be recognizing the efforts of a few members and how they contribute to the geosciences and science education. Thanks to the leadership of Senator Lisa Murkowski and the bill’s co-sponsors, a resolution recognizing Earth Science Week has already passed in the Senate. A similar resolution has been introduced in the House. Each day we will highlight a different geoscience focus; here’s a preview. Monday, …

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 …

December 23, 2015

What Does it Mean to Be a Geoscientist?

Today’s post is part of a series written by student bloggers from the AGU Fall Meeting. By: Emily Parker, Ph.D. student in environmental engineering, University of California, Irvine What does it mean to be a geoscientist? I did not know it was a question that needed answering – I thought it was a well-defined occupation. After attending an AGU Fall Meeting session focused specifically on what being a geoscientist means, however, …

November 2, 2015

Visiting My Legislators Was a Bit Like ‘The West Wing’

This blog post was written by Ryan J. Haupt, a paleoecologist working on his Ph.D. in the Department of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Wyoming. Ryan notes “I am not an expert in science policy but it is something I am deeply interested in it as a science communicator via my podcast and as a citizen reliant on the U.S. producing the cutting edge of scientific research.” Recently, I had the …

August 24, 2015

Women’s Equality Week Q&A With Marcia McNutt

For the entire week, we are celebrating prominent female figures in science and science policy to recognize Women’s Equality Day on 26 August. Today, we are excited to highlight Marcia McNutt, the current Editor-in-Chief of Science and nominee to become the first ever female President of the National Academies. McNutt received her BA in Physics from Colorado College and PhD in Earth Science from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. What is an …

June 8, 2015

AGU Members Share Their Science on Capitol Hill

Even April showers couldn’t keep American Geophysical Union (AGU) scientists away from the first-ever AGU-only Congressional Visits Day in Washington, D. C., on 13–14 April. Twenty scientists, from nine states whose legislators play leadership roles on science and funding committees, were invited to meet with lawmakers and describe the positive impacts of federal research funding on American jobs, infrastructure, and quality of life. The states represented were Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, …

May 14, 2015

Making My CASE

This blog post was written by Annie Putman, a Ph.D. student in the Geology and Geophysics Department at the University of Utah. Once the excitement of receiving my acceptance from AGU to attend the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Catalyzing Advocacy in Science and Engineering (CASE) Workshop in Washington subsided, I faced up to the next hurdle: a trip to the mall to supplement the flannels in my …