The Bridge: Connecting Science and Policy

May 30, 2024

Supporting science that saves lives and improves environmental health: a day of advocacy on Capitol Hill

I’m walking the hallways of the Cannon House Office Building, one of the three main buildings that houses offices for members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Walking beside me are Erika Jarvis and Melissa Zamora, both of whom are using science to fight for better environmental health for their local communities in Ohio and Texas, respectively. That’s what drew them here today, to walk the halls of Congress with …

January 26, 2024

Voices for Science Fellow Highlight: Chia-Chun Angela Liang

Since 2017, AGU’s Voices for Science program has helped scientists sharpen their science policy and communication skills through monthly coaching, quarterly trainings, and networking to be a strong voice for science issues that matter to them most. The Fellows of the Voices for Science program choose their own flexible advocacy and outreach goals and work towards them throughout their year in the program. Many scientists have incorporated the skills gained …

October 18, 2023

My year as an AGU Congressional Science Fellow

My year as an AGU Congressional Science Fellow By Nathan Dadap This past year, I worked for Senator Jon Ossoff (GA) as an AGU Congressional Science Fellow, focusing on energy, environment, and agriculture issues. I had an amazing experience and strongly encourage anyone interested in policy and government to apply for the fellowship. Here are some personal reflections from the experience. What is a Congressional Science Fellowship? The …

September 22, 2023

Making waves on Capitol Hill

UC San Diego graduate student joins AGU event in Washington, D.C. to increase congressional visibility of and support for the geosciences When I started my PhD in physical oceanography at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego wearing shorts and a tank top I never thought I would be turning up to Capitol Hill in a suit jacket and tie for meetings with members of Congress. But during …

March 9, 2023

AGU’s 2023 Policy Priorities

In 2019, AGU began developing annual policy priorities to help focus our advocacy work and speed up the advancement of important science policy and legislation. Our policy priorities reflect not only AGU’s broader strategic goals and current policy landscape, but also the needs and priorities of our members. To represent the diversity of AGU’s community, all within the Earth and space science community were encouraged to participate in a survey …

August 29, 2022

CHIPS and Science Act: AGU highlights and takeaways

On 9 August 2022 President Biden signed into law the Chips and Science Act. While it is largely talked about as an investment in our semiconductor industry and a national security win, this law is arguably more about advancing the U.S. scientific enterprise. At the heart of the science portion of the law is a compromise between the policies set forth in the Senate U.S. Innovation and Competition Act …

August 10, 2022

Senate Appropriations Committee majority release their FY23 spending bills

Just before Congress’ August recess, Democrats on the Senate Appropriations Committee released all 12 of their Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) appropriations bills. In this post, we’ll detail the Committee majority’s spending and programmatic highlights for federal science agencies and offices. Department of Energy Budget (rounded to the nearest million) FY22 FY23 President’s Budget Request (PBR) FY23 Senate Appropriations Percent Change Senate FY23 vs FY22 Percent Change Senate FY23 …

July 18, 2022

House Appropriations Committee releases their FY23 appropriations bills: read the Earth and space science highlights

In July 2022, the House Appropriations Committee released their 12 Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) appropriations bills. In this post, we’ll detail the House’s proposed spending and programmatic highlights for those science agencies. These spending numbers will set the groundwork for the Senate to start work on their FY23 spending. Department of Energy Budget (rounded to the nearest million) FY22 FY23 President’s Budget Request (PBR) FY23 House Appropriations Percent Change House FY23 vs FY22 Percent Change House FY23 vs …

October 15, 2021

New science policy engagement program; applications open now!

AGU is piloting a new program, Local Science Partners, that will cement sciences’ place in decision-making by empowering AGU members to build trusting, sustainable partnerships with policymakers. AGU’s new program will pair AGU members with their legislators and provide AGU member partners the tools, resources and training to build sustainable relationships with their legislators. The goal of Local Science Partners is to advance AGU’s policy agenda and diversify sciences’ Congressional …

May 25, 2021

AGU sends letter on Spectrum issues to Senate leadership

On 20 May 2021, AGU, The American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association sent a letter to Senator Maria Cantwell (WA), Chair of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation calling for leadership on Spectrum issues, including the importance of spectrum assets to national security and weather and hazards safety. Thank you for your voice of leadership to preserve diverse spectrum resources to sustain and advance crucial environmental …