The Bridge: Connecting Science and Policy

December 26, 2016

GeoPolicy Connect: Recommendations for the Future

AGU’s inaugural GeoPolicy Connect (GPC) brought participants together to discuss how better decisions can be made around oil and gas issues as they pertain to hydraulic fracturing. Throughout the two day event, participants were tasked with finding ways to have inclusive conversations that lead to sound decisions around science policy issues. Through collaboration and innovative thinking, the following recommendations emerged: Build up easily accessible resources for science information to be …

December 16, 2016

How Scientists Can Reach Policy Makers: Lessons from Space Weather Scientists

Today’s post is part of a series written by student bloggers from the AGU Fall Meeting. By Kim Quesnel, Stanford University When I entered the Science Policy 201: Advocacy in Action session at the AGU Fall Meeting, I was surprised to learn that we would be spending the next hour discussing space weather. One of the taglines for the session was “Come learn how science can be used to …

November 23, 2016

Breaking Down the 115th Congress – Part I of II

Overview In the wake of the election there are many unknowns regarding how the 115th Congress (which begins in January 2017 with the newly elected members of Congress) will choose to legislate. What is known, apart from three Louisiana races and one in California, are the incoming congressmen and women. With the 2017 roster nearly set, Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate have begun the process of …

Breaking Down the 115th Congress – Part II of II

Shake Ups There will be several notable absences in the next Congress; Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), who has been a resolute defender and vocal proponent of science, is retiring. Notably, she was the ranking member on the Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Committee; she will be replaced by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT). Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD), who is the current ranking member on the House Subcommittee on Space, unsuccessfully …

October 14, 2016

Crowdsourcing Geoscience: Transforming interest into data

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 Geologic Map Day and one of our featured AGU members is Sudhir Raj Shrestha. Sudhir works at Esri as a Solution Engineer. He has a MS in both Physical Land Resource and Soil Erosion …

Mapping Earth’s History with an Eye on the Future

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 Geologic Map Day and one of our featured AGU members is Margaret E. Berry. Margaret works for the U.S. Geologic Survey (USGS) and helps to create maps that reveal our planet’s intricate layers. She is part …

October 13, 2016

Bridging the Gap: Creating an inclusive world of geoscience learning

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 Geoscience for Everyone Day and one of our featured AGU members is Dr. Christopher Atchison. Chris is an Assistant Professor of Geoscience Education at the University of Cincinnati, School of Education and Department of Geology. He …

Looking Beyond Our Comfort Zone: Exploring the geosciences in new ways

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 Geoscience for Everyone Day and one of our featured AGU members is Lisa White, Director of Education and Outreach, Museum of Paleontology, University of California at Berkeley. Lisa has a B.A. in Geology from …

October 12, 2016

Q & A with Wendi Williams about Geoscience Diversity

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 Geoscience for Everyone Day and one of our featured AGU members is Wendi J. W. Williams, Ph.D. Wendi is adjunct faculty at both Northwest Arkansas Community College in their Division for Science and Mathematics and …

Fossils and a Soviet ambulance in Kyrgyzstan? That and more – Our Q & A with Paleontologist Win McLaughlin 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 Win McLaughlin. Win is a PhD Candidate at the University of Oregon. In 2015, Win was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to help further her …