Geopolicy Working Group

Geoscience Congressional Visits Day 2008 a Sucess!

2008-10-22T15:26:00.008-04:00

First Annual Geosciences Congressional Visits Day
by Linda Rowan, AGI

On September 9-10, 2008, the geoscience community gathered together for the first Geosciences Congressional Visits Day in Washington DC. More than 60 geoscientists from 26 different states conducted over 100 congressional visits with Members of Congress, congressional staff and congressional committees. Each geoscientist communicated a message about the importance of investing in geoscience R&D and geoscience education at the federal level. Each geoscientist also had the opportunity to explain their work and its value at a local, state, regional, national and/or international level.

A workshop on September 9th at AGU headquarters in Washington DC provided the participants with an overview of Congress, how to visit congressional offices, the status of the federal budget, an overview of federally supported geoscience R&D and other information. Guest speakers included representatives of geoscience-related federal agency, such as the Geosciences Directorate of the National Science Foundation, the Earth Science Division of NASA, Office of Science at the Department of Energy, NOAA and the U.S. Geological Survey. A second panel of speakers included Congressional Science Fellows from AGU (Alex Apotsos), GSA (Maria Honeycutt) and SSSA (Ben Gutman).

The visits on September 10th went very well. Congressional members and staff were generally interested in the geosciences and appreciated the brief descriptions of the geoscience work being done in their districts or states. For many visits, the geoscientists had a chance to meet their Representatives and in some cases, some geoscientists met with one or both of their Senators. Many policymakers expressed support for research and science education, though everyone was concerned about a tight fiscal budget with not enough resources to support many important federal programs.

From L-R: Candace Grand Pre, Guy Hovis, Congressman Charlie
Dent (PA-15th) and Ben Edwards

The event was organized by the informal Geopolicy Working Group (GWG). GWG consists primarily of the public policy offices of the American Geological Institute and several of our member societies including the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, the American Geophysical Union, the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography, the Geological Society of America, the Seismological Society of America and the Soils Science Society of America. GWG also reached out to other geosciencerelated groups to participate in GEO-CVD. The Consortium for Ocean Leadership brought in five participants and helped with the visits.

Texas A&M group with Representative Chet Edwards (TX-17th) [Aggie alum].
From L-R: Elizabeth Landau (AGU), Leigh Fall, Will Sager, Andy Kronenberg,
Congressman Edwards, Will Dugat and Brian Davis (AGU).

Thanks to many society staff members for organizing GEO-CVD including: David Curtiss and Don Juckett (AAPG), Linda Rowan, Marcy Gallo, Corina Cerovski-Darriau, Jillian Luchner, Laura Bochner and Merilie Reynolds (AGI), Elizabeth Landau, Eugene Bierly, Ines Cifuentes, Paul Cooper and Brian Davis (AGU), Craig Schiffries (GSA), Elizabeth Duffy (SSA), Karl Glasener (SSSA) and Jon Corsiglia, Charna Meth and Emily Powell (Ocean Leadership). Below are some photographs from the two days of activities. Thanks to “photographers” Linda Rowan, David Curtiss, Liz Landau and Merilie Reynolds.

Additional information:
GSA website: http://www.geosociety.org/geopolicy/news/0809geosciCVD.htm
AAPG blog: http://blog.aapg.org/geodc/?p=43
AGI Monthly Review: http://www.agiweb.org/gap/email/review0908.html#21

New geoscience policy web page directory

2008-07-29T09:26:00.003-04:00

AGI has recently posted a policy web page that provides links to societies' policy resources. Please check it out!

Coalition for National Science Funding

2008-06-16T13:21:00.002-04:00

You are invited to:

The Path to Innovation:
Scientific Discovery and Learning

14th Annual Coalition for National Science Funding

Exhibition & Reception

Wednesday, June 25, 2008
B338-340 Rayburn House Office Building
5:30-7:30 pm

The exhibition will feature science, mathematics and engineering research and education projects supported by the National Science Foundation. Researchers, educators, and students from all over the U.S., will answer questions about their efforts to help meet the nation’s research and education goals.

Food and beverages will be offered.

RSVP by June 18th to outreach@aera.net or 202-238-3234

Member Society Position Statements Available on Web

2008-05-20T09:36:00.006-04:00

All GWG member society Position Statements are available online, though the AGI website. View by topic or society:

http://www.agiweb.org/gap/resources/positionstatements.html

Geoscience Congressional Visits Day 2008

2008-05-20T09:07:00.012-04:00

All geoscientists are invited to participate in Geoscience Congressional Visits Day (GCVD) 2008! Join fellow geoscientists during this two day event in Washington, DC 9-10 September.

Day one includes a briefing on how to speak with your legislative members, an overview of the Federal budget and the appropriations process, and a reception on Capitol Hill. On the second day you will meet with your Senators and Congressional Representative to discuss science research and development funding.

These visits show the importance of supporting Federally funded research through agencies such as NSF, NOAA, NASA, USGS, and DOE. GWG encourages all society members to join us at GCVD whether you have participated before or not.

Interested in joining us in September? Or perhaps you would simply like more information? Contact us at GeopolicyWorkingGroup@gmail.com or contact the public affairs staff at your member society from the list posted on this site.