Kirsten Banks Cutler, AGU's newest Congressional Science Fellow, joined nearly 40 other scientists and engineers who began year-long science and engineering fellowships on September 6, 2000, in Washington, D.C. The fellowship program, which is organized by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), brings together scientists and engineers from a wide variety of fields to spend a year in the personal office of a Senator or Representative, or on the staff of a congressional committee.
Earth and space scientists, chemists, physicists, biologists, psychologists, veterinarians, civil engineers, agronomists, and scientists and engineers representing other disciplines are selected by their sponsoring societies as part of a long-time effort to bridge the gap between scientists and policy-makers. Cutler was AGU's 24th Congressional Science Fellow.
The new Fellows first completed a two-week orientation program on the ABCs of politics and policy-making for scientists organized by AAAS. The orientation serves in part to introduce the Fellows to the world of politics at the federal level--often a shock to those more accustomed to working with other scientists in a field or laboratory environment. The Fellows, in fact, often find themselves as the only scientists in a congressional office or on a committee, and are thus expected to handle issues ranging from nuclear waste disposal to genetic engineering. The orientation also helps them prepare for interviews on Capitol Hill, where the ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds on a range of public policy issues matters as much as scientific aptitude.
Following interviews in both houses, Cutler accepted an offer from the office of Senator Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.), who is also the Democratic vice-presidential candidate. Depending on the outcome of the national elections, her fellowship year could be even more exciting than anticipated.
Cutler received her Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis after studying the timing and history of sea level change over the last glacial cycle using 230Th and 231Pa dating methods on fossil corals. She received a B.A. from Macalaster College in 1990 focusing on biology, chemistry, and mathematics.
Between her undergraduate and graduate careers, Cutler fulfilled a life-long interest and taught math and science in the rural border village of Ruacana, Namibia only 2 years after Namibia gained independence.
Prior to her volunteer work in Africa, she worked for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency on the implementation of Minnesota Hazardous Waste Rules, an "eye-opening" experience where Cutler found "...the application of environmental principles far more complicated than the ideals." While working for the environmental agency she "...discovered the import of effective communication with the public, and felt the sting of crossfire between stakeholders...."
Read EOS articles by Kirsten Banks Cutler
• Report 1: Whirlwind Greets New Congressional Science Fellow (Eos, Feb. 27, 2001)
• Report 2: Reflections: A Year on Capitol Hill (Eos, Nov. 20, 2001)
Those interested in the AGU Congressional Science Fellowship Program, or in communicating with Kirsten, are welcome to contact AGU Public Affairs, 2000 Florida Ave., NW, Washington, D.C., 20009; Tel: +1-202-777-7509; Fax: +1-202-328-0566; E-mail: pfolger@agu.org.