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Policy ContactCitizen Scientists
Eos Volume 82, Number 13, March 27, 2001
James L. Burch, Chairman, AGU Committee on Public Affairs
Copyright 2001 by the American Geophysical Union
When was it that you first realized that the actions of politicians affect your science, and that your science can be important in policy debate?
For many of AGU's members in the U.S., it was the first time a government program we relied on for support was threatened because of a federal budget cut. Only then did we become acquainted with our elected representatives. Our initial visits often revealed large gaps in their understanding about our particular areas of interest. The intense interest on the part of legislative staff members for more information about our research programs, however, was gratifying. Perhaps they had questions about the science underpinning a local environmental crisis, or the scientific understanding of a recent natural disaster. At this point, we realized that educating policy-makers about our research is a very important thing and is welcomed by them.
Unfortunately, most of us have other priorities, and too often we don't follow through until the next legislative “crisis” occurs.
But follow-through is important. Fundamental scientific research in the Earth and space sciences is funded in the U.S. and worldwide almost exclusively by government. In addition, actions by the U.S. Congress and other national legislative bodies often have strong ramifications on Earth and space science research everywhere, because of the existence of so many cooperative international research programs.
In the U.S., many policy issues concerning science arise during Congressional debates over the funding of scientific agencies or the military, or participation in international initiatives, or environmental legislation. Science-related policy issues may also crop up as the result of regulatory actions by executive branch agencies, or reports containing policy recommendations; the latter are often open for comment by interested citizens. Many of these policy issues are crucially important to individual AGU members and their institutions.
As an organization, AGU makes its views known to policy-makers at the international, national, state/provincial, and local levels through its official position statements; for example, on meeting the challenges of natural hazards and monitoring the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. However, the value of these statements and their potential influence hinges on the awareness and activity of individual AGU members.
To keep its U.S. members aware of science-related policy issues that come up in Congress, AGU publishes AGU Science and Legislative Alerts (ASLAs)—brief e-mail notices sent to interested members which advise on when a phone call, letter, fax, or visit to a legislative representative will be most effective.
A critical opportunity for direct meetings with members of Congress is coming soon. U.S. members are urged to join with colleagues in other scientific disciplines for Congressional Visits Day on May 1–2, 2001. At this time, hundreds of scientists and engineers gather for a half day of briefings from scientific leaders in the Administration, legislators, and key staff members, and a full day of visits to their elected representatives in Washington, D.C. The goal is to raise the visibility of and support for science, engineering, and technology in Congress.