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 22, 2023
AGU endorses the Preparedness and Risk Management for Extreme Weather Patterns Assuring Resilience and Effectiveness (PREPARE) Act of 2023
On 21 November 2023, AGU sent a letter of endorsement to Representative Cartwright (D-PA-8) for the Preparedness and Risk Management for Extreme Weather Patterns Assuring Resilience and Effectiveness (PREPARE) Act of 2023. On behalf of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) and our worldwide Earth and space science community, I am writing to thank you for re-introducing the Preparedness and Risk Management for Extreme Weather Patterns Assuring Resilience and Effectiveness …
November 15, 2023
AGU endorses the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2023
On 8 November 2023, AGU sent a letter of endorsement to the House Science committee on the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2023. We praise the bill’s goal of building on the achievements of the original Weather Act, which led to numerous advances in weather forecasting and predictions of high-impact weather events. As our communities become increasingly affected by severe weather-related impacts, from wildfires to flooding to …
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 …
November 12, 2023
AGU sends letter of endorsement for RESEARCHER Act
On 8 November 2023, AGU sent a letter of endorsement to Representative McClellan (D-VA-4) for the RESEARCHER 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 RESEARCHER Act (H.R. 4002) and to offer AGU’s endorsement for this important bill. applaud the bill’s …
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 …
