The Bridge: Connecting Science and Policy

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, …

August 31, 2016

My Dinner with Senator Whitehouse

This blog post was written by Annie Putman, a Ph.D. student in the Geology and Geophysics Department at the University of Utah. On August 8, I dined with climate champion U. S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and six Utah academics. The dinner was part of the Senator’s climate tour of Utah to understand how Utahns experience climate change and to persuade Utah Senators to support The American Opportunity Carbon Fee Act, …

August 24, 2016

Q&A with Dr. Maria T. Zuber

Did you know? Women’s Equality Day is August 26th! To celebrate, AGU will be featuring several female scientists on social media throughout the week. We’ll be posting 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. Maria T. Zuber. Dr. Maria T. Zuber is the Vice President for Research and E.A. Griswold Professor of Geophysics at the Massachusetts Institute …

August 22, 2016

Q&A with Dr. Ellen Stofan, Chief Scientist at NASA

Did you know? Women’s Equality Day is August 26th! To celebrate, AGU will be featuring several female scientists on social media throughout the week. We’ll be posting 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. Ellen Stofan. Dr. Stofan is the Chief Scientist at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). She received her M.S. and Ph.D. in Geological Sciences …

August 18, 2016

Science Policy and the “Third Parties”

By George Marino, AGU Science Policy Intern I recently received a response to an article I shared on our Twitter account about the science policy positions of the Presidential candidates from the two major U.S. political parties. The person asked where a candidate from one of the other parties stood on the issues. So after some research, I can present the facts that I could find on what “third party” …

August 2, 2016

Looking for Something Fun (and Good for the Earth Sciences) to Do This Summer?

John W. Geissman is a Professor Emeritus in Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of New Mexico Welcome! The title of this blog is not meant to imply that you are bored, or already finished the five papers you intended to write this summer, or already took your one-day summer vacation. Rather, the purpose of this post is to highlight a great opportunity. Now is the perfect time to …

June 17, 2016

Funding Season is Open: Part 4

Welcome back to our series on the federal funding process for science in FY2017! In this edition, we’ll be focusing on both the House and Senate Interior and Environment Appropriations bills. The House approved its version of the bill on Wednesday 15 June, and the Senate approved its version the following day. The Interior and Environment bill funds several environmental programs and agencies, such as the United States Fish and Wildlife …

May 13, 2016

CASE in Point

by Sarah Beganskas It’s 9:30 in the morning, and after a lovely 45-minute walk to Capitol Hill, I find myself standing outside Representative Sam Farr’s office door. Though the balmy weather is indistinguishable from that of my home in Santa Cruz, I feel worlds away. What will happen on the other side of that door? As a scientist who spends time in the field, I know that when I apply …

May 12, 2016

Earth, Space, and the Hill: My Experience at the Intersection of Science and Policy

By Megan Brown When I first saw the announcement for the AGU Congressional Visits Day (CVD) with a specific call for scientists from Colorado, I was excited about the opportunity to get involved and learn more about the policy making process. My research focuses on induced seismicity, and since this is a topic that is on the minds of the public and policymakers, I thought I could contribute to AGU CVD in …