You are browsing the archive for Category: Value of science - The Bridge: Connecting Science and Policy.
August 25, 2026
Growing a Global Bench of Science Advocates
By: Liz Landau I am incredibly proud of AGU’s global science policy expansion during the first half of 2026. Our current global Voices for Science cohort is our largest yet, with 14 folks from Africa, Asia, Europe, and more coming together to learn and grow their science policy and communications skills. AGU is supporting them through initiatives such as the science diplomacy panel we hosted in April, where experts from …
Defending Science, One Voice at a Time
By: Michael Villafranca Protecting NCAR When the Trump Administration announced plans to dismantle NCAR in December, AGU’s SPGR team moved quickly. Within weeks, we had launched grassroots tools that generated 36,000 emails and more than 2,300 phone calls to Congress, coordinated with partner societies behind a joint letter to the White House, and submitted a formal organizational response to NSF—all while providing individual members a direct channel to submit their …
August 17, 2026
Rising to the Challenge: AGU Defends Science in 2026
2026 has been just as consequential a year for science policy as 2025. Despite attempts to dismantle infrastructure from NCAR to the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI), circumvent peer review through OMB rulemaking, and broadly politicize science, our community has once again risen to the challenge. Almost 200 AGU members came to Washington, D.C. to meet with their legislators in the first half of the year. Through our online engagement system, …
July 15, 2026
Guest Post: From Research to Community Action: How Science Communication Inspires Better Water and Waste Management
By Okunowo Oluwafemi Olutayo, AGU Voices for Science International Fellow As Earth scientists, we spend countless hours studying the Earth’s systems, collecting data, and developing solutions to environmental challenges. Yet one question continues to shape my work: How do we ensure that scientific knowledge reaches the people whose everyday decisions determine the health of our environment? That question inspired me to organize Voices for Water and Waste Management Sustainability, a …
June 9, 2026
Guest Blog: Bursting the Academic Bubble: Why Scientists Must Bridge the Gap Between Research and Policy
Bursting the Academic Bubble: Why Scientists Must Bridge the Gap Between Research and Policy Jelis J. Sostre Cortés, AGU-sponsored CASE workshop participant and PhD candidate at the Georgia Institute of Technology As someone who was born and raised in Puerto Rico, I have been exposed to countless natural hazards. I have witnessed firsthand how a disconnect between scientists and policymakers can harm society. My PhD research focuses on compiling different …
March 30, 2026
Guest Post: Bridging Earth and Lunar Orbit: Why Geoscientists’ Voices Matter for Artemis II
Aleksei Nelaev, AGU Voices for Science cohort member With the Artemis II launch scheduled for April 1, the world’s attention is fixed on the sky. But for geoscientists, the mission isn’t just about the rocket – it’s about the “geological proving ground” that awaits us in lunar orbit. As a member of the AGU Voices for Science program, I’ve seen firsthand how critical it is for scientists to step out …
March 6, 2026
Scientists Making a Difference on Capitol Hill
Liz Landau, Director, AGU Science Policy & Government Relations We get asked often by scientists if they can ‘make a difference’ by taking part in science policy efforts. We always say “yes”, but I think actions speak louder than words. And some of the most telling examples are from the group of 38 scientists who participated in 79 meetings on Capitol Hill on 4 March. There was the office …
February 5, 2026
Science Funding for FY26 Secured
On Tuesday, 3 February, the President signed into law a third appropriations package, resulting in 95% of fiscal year 2026 (FY26) appropriations now complete, including funding for all U.S. federal science agencies. Despite a challenging year for science and U.S. science agencies, the FY26 appropriations legislation is a bright spot, demonstrating the strength and value of the scientific community engaging with policymakers. The funding levels recommended in the president’s budget …
February 2, 2026
Powering our Action: AGU Voices in Action
In the face of chaos, uncertainty, and rapid changes, the AGU science policy community stepped up time and time again to protect and advance science policy around the globe. From courtrooms to the halls of Congress to local townhalls to AGU25, AGU and our members engaged policymakers everywhere. Collectively, we were able to prevent billions of dollars in cuts in funding to science in the U.S., raise awareness about the …
September 29, 2025
Introducing the 2025-2026 US Voices for Science Cohort
We are pleased to introduce the 2025-2026 Voices for Science United States Cohort! We have 20 participants from 16 States beginning their policy and outreach journeys. Click on each photo to read more about each participant.
