November 30, 2023
Standing Up for Science: CSLDF at the 2023 AGU Fall Meeting
The Climate Science Legal Defense Fund (CSLDF) and AGU work together to help scientists understand their legal rights and responsibilities—knowledge that’s an essential part of every researcher’s professional development. This year, we’re offering several exciting events at AGU’s 2023 Fall Meeting. Whether you’re already involved in scientific and political activism, have questions related to your scientific field or legal rights, or are simply curious about how scientists can get …
November 29, 2023
Advancing wetland restoration as a climate change mitigation strategy
By Robert Feder, AGU Fall 2023 intern. Wetland ecosystems have a tremendous capacity to sequester carbon owing to inefficient organic matter decomposition in waterlogged soils. Modern wetlands like peatlands have been accumulating carbon for millennia, thereby making wetland soils a major reservoir of stable carbon on Earth. Then, in three centuries, an estimated twenty-one percent (21%) of Earth’s inland wetlands were lost to drainage or conversion, with much of the …
November 14, 2023
AGU sends letter to Appropriations Committees on FY24 appropriations
On 7 November 2023, AGU sent a letter to leadership on the Appropriations Committees in the House and Senate regarding appropriations for Fiscal Year 2024. AGU thanked the committees for averting a government shutdown in September but urged them to continue working towards full and robust support of scientific agencies. Read the full text of the letter below. On behalf of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) and our worldwide …
October 31, 2023
Join AGU Science Policy at #AGU23
Science Policy events at #AGU23 AGU’s annual meeting is just around the corner! We are thrilled to return to San Francisco in person this year and online everywhere. Our Science Policy Team has been busy preparing a packed schedule of science policy events for our members – whether you want to hear about coalition-building, learn the basics and start your journey into science policy, or even take the next …
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 …
August 14, 2023
Senate Appropriations Committee Highlights
This is part III of a three-part series, read parts I and II for more context. Before Congress’ August recess, the Senate Appropriations Committee introduced and passed all twelve of their FY2024 appropriations bills. Unlike the House, the Senate appropriations bills largely reflect the spending caps set in the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 – however, they also agreed to add $14 billion to the FY2024 spending limits to supplement …
House Appropriations Committee Highlights
This is part II of a three-part series, read part I for more context. August is a great time to talk to your legislators about funding (appropriations) for federal science agencies as Congress has until 30 September to finalize appropriations decisions or take alternative actions. The Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 extended the debt ceiling but also set spending caps for appropriations for the next two fiscal years (FY2024 and …
August Legislative Update and Engagement Opportunities
August recess is the time for members of Congress to travel back to their districts and states. This is an opportune time for members of Congress to engage with constituents and see how their congressional office can be of any resource, assistance, or guidance to you. Here are three great ways to engage with your legislators and their staff: 1. Invite them to visit your lab, field site, or institution especially …
July 20, 2023
AGU endorses the Mercury 13 Congressional Gold Medal Act
On 18 July 2023, AGU sent a letter to the office of Representative Chrissy Houlahan endorsing the Mercury 13 Congressional Gold Medal Act. On behalf of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) and our global community of more than half a million Earth and space scientists and allies, I am writing to thank you for crafting and introducing the Mercury 13 Congressional Gold Medal Act and to offer AGU’s official endorsement …
