The Bridge: Connecting Science and Policy

August 25, 2018

Women’s Equality Week Q&A with Newsha Ajami

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 delighted to feature Dr. Newsha K Ajami. Dr. Ajami is the Director of Urban Water Policy at Stanford University. Dr. Ajami is also a Gubernatorial appointee to the Bay Area Regional Water Quality Control Board, a regulatory body that oversees protection of our California’s water resources in the Bay Area Region. Ajami received her Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from …

August 24, 2018

Women’s Equality Week Q&A with Vanessa Escobar

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 delighted to talk with Vanessa M. Escobar. Escobar is NASA Flight Applied Science Program Executive at Booz Allen Hamilton/NASA Headquarters. Escobar received her M.S. in Geology and Water Policy from Arizona State University and is a Ph.D. student in Geography at the University of Maryland. Who or what has inspired you to pursue …

August 23, 2018

Women’s Equality Week Q&A with Kristin Ludwig

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 focus on Dr. Kristin Ludwig. Dr. Ludwig is a Staff Scientist in the Natural Hazards Mission Area for the U.S. Geological Survey. Ludwig received her B.S. in Earth Systems from Stanford University and her Ph.D. in Oceanography from the University of Washington. Who or what has inspired you …

August 22, 2018

Women’s Equality Week Q&A with Erin Campbell

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 happy to highlight Dr. Erin Campbell. Dr. Campbell is the Wyoming State Geologist and Director of the Wyoming State Geological Survey. Campbell received her B.A. in Geology from Occidental College and her Ph.D. in Geology from the University of Wyoming. Who or what has inspired you to pursue your research? Both my undergraduate …

June 20, 2018

Predictively Speaking: Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Today’s post is written by David Trossman, Research Associate, University of Texas-Austin’s Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences Subtle environmental changes in the distant and not-so-distant past have contributed to civilization collapse, war, and uprooted lives. What, then, will be the human consequences of future changes on our planet? Looking to the past can provide lessons. Looking to the future through predictions can help us anticipate what risks may materialize …

June 5, 2018

High Potential for Strong DOE Funding

Appropriations: Part 2 The entire House is poised to vote on DOE funding this week. At this point, both House and Senate appropriators have passed energy and water spending bills out of their respective committees. Now, those bills must be approved by majority vote in their chambers of origin so that members from the House and Senate can begin to reconcile differences between the two bills, creating one final bill. …

May 8, 2018

Speaking Up for Science: Whistleblowing Is a Protected Right

Today’s post is written by Dana Gold, Director of Education, Government Accountability Project (GAP) Science professionals who refuse to stay silent in the face of direct evidence of abuses that betray the public trust—whistleblowers—are often the best mechanism for holding the powerful accountable and protecting the public interest. Science whistleblowers have exposed inappropriate censorship of climate science documents intended for Congress and the public, halted work at the Hanford nuclear …

March 27, 2018

Congressional Action on Sexual Harassment

Last week, AGU’s President Eric Davidson reflected on our ethics policy six months after its adoption. One component of the updated policy is the addition of harassment in the definition of scientific misconduct. AGU recognized that we could do more to address sexual harassment in the sciences, and we are not alone. Other scientific organizations and Congress are examining this issue. Recently, AGU’s CEO and Executive Director, Christine McEntee, testified …

March 26, 2018

Briefing Recap: Space Discovery through Cutting-Edge Technology

On Tuesday, 27 February 2018 the House Earth and Space Science Caucus hosted a briefing on “Space Discovery through Cutting-Edge Technology.” Representative Polis (CO-02), co-chair of the caucus, kicked off the briefing with a speech highlighting the awe-inspiring nature of space discovery and the key role technology plays in science. Representative Costello (PA-06), the other caucus co-chair co-sponsoring the briefing, was unable to attend. The panel was moderated by Randy …

February 13, 2018

President’s FY19 Request Proposes Continued Cuts to Science

On 12 February 2018, the Trump Administration released the FY19 Budget Proposal, outlining their priorities for the upcoming fiscal year. Similar to last year, the budget outlined several drastic cuts to science. This year’s budget proposal is quite unique, however, because Congress has not yet finished negotiations for final FY18 spending levels. As we reported last week, Congress passed a topline budget deal on 9 February that lifted the FY18 …