The Bridge: Connecting Science and Policy

December 6, 2019

Global Science Policy at #AGU19

AGU’s science policy team is excited to host three international science policy initiatives at Fall Meeting this year. The first is a series of International Science Policy meetups. These meetups are a great opportunity to learn and hear from colleagues around the world engaging in science policy. Additionally, AGU’s science policy staff will be available to answer questions and provide resources. Tuesday, 10 December from 11 – 12 pm Moscone …

December 5, 2019

Science Policy Events at Fall Meeting 2019

AGU’s annual Fall Meeting is fast approaching! We are thrilled to be returning to San Francisco and celebrating AGU’s 100th year. Whether you’re curious about how to engage in science policy and want to learn the basics, or want to learn more about the fellowship opportunities AGU offers throughout the year, we have plenty of programs to help engage our members in science policy. Check out our schedule below. Most …

December 4, 2019

Why Climate Action Bills Matter

Early December marks the beginning of the COP25 Climate Summit in Madrid, where Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi made a public statement that the US will abide by the Paris Climate Accord targets: “The United States is still in,” she said, despite the Trump Administration’s recent withdrawal. Even though the US is caught in mixed messaging at the international level, Americans do overwhelmingly seem to be in support of climate action, especially democrats, according to a recent Pew Research study. Congressional Democrats are making their position known by introducing several bills that acknowledge the need for urgent climate …

December 3, 2019

Legal Education for Scientists Events at Fall Meeting

The Climate Science Legal Defense Fund (CSLDF) and AGU want to help scientists understand their legal rights and responsibilities—we believe this knowledge is an essential part of every researcher’s professional development. So we’ve partnered on the “Legal Education for Scientists Program” for eight years, and are offering a range of events at the 2019 AGU Fall Meeting. Among this year’s events are two workshops featuring experts from CSLDF, the …

November 20, 2019

Science Funding Remains Frozen

Nearly two months into fiscal year (FY) 2020, the appropriations process to fund the federal government continues. On Tuesday, 19 November, the House passed another continuing resolution (CR), keeping the government funded at FY2019 levels, ahead of the 21 November deadline granted by a recent CR signed into law in September. The Senate is expected to approve the legislation on Thursday, 21 November. The new CR will keep the government funded for another four weeks …

November 19, 2019

The Changing Face of Air and Space

Even with a façade that is currently under renovation (and will continue to be for the next seven years), the inside of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum is as inspiring as ever. Many young people are moved to pursue science thanks to a visit to the museum, but walking past rockets, moon landers, and photos from the final frontier can be just as exhilarating for adults. The museum served …

October 10, 2019

National Science Board highlights Skilled Technical Workforce shortage in new report

On 12 September, the National Science Board (NSB) released its latest report during a well-attended briefing on Capitol Hill. As the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) governing body, the NSB plays a critical role in looking broadly at trends in the science and technology (S&T) enterprise and provides recommendations to NSF on how to invest its portfolio. The NSB’s latest set of recommendations are presented in The Skilled Technical Workforce: Crafting …

October 8, 2019

AGU welcomes new Congressional Science Fellow, Dr. Kate Voss

The American Geophysical Union (AGU) is pleased to announce its newest Congressional Science Fellow, Dr. Katalyn Voss. Now in its 42nd year, AGU’s Congressional Science Fellow program places highly qualified and accomplished scientists, engineers, and other professionals in the office of an individual member of Congress or on a committee for a one-year assignment. Dr. Voss, who started her fellowship in September, has been placed within the office of Sen. …

October 2, 2019

Funding Update: Continuing Resolution keeps government open, appropriations continue

On Friday, 27 September, President Trump signed into law a continuing resolution (CR) that will keep the government funded through 21 November 2019. The CR extends 2019 funding levels into the start of Fiscal Year (FY) 2020, which began on 1 October. Although this means that science agencies will remain operational, while under a CR agencies cannot award new grants, plan new programs, or budget appropriately. Additionally, the CR can …

September 30, 2019

More Than Just a Scientist: My Journey Weaving Science and Politics

Dina Abdel-Fattah is a natural resources and sustainability PhD candidate at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Though she currently calls Alaska home, she has lived in Egypt, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Netherlands, Turkey, Germany, Nepal, and Sweden. When she’s not in work mode, you can find her trail running and cross-country skiing. Follow her work on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/dinaabdelfattah/) and Twitter (@Gruene_Partei). This article was originally published by Sister in partnership with Science Rising …