Science and Policy

AGU Science and Legislative Alerts (ASLA)

ASLA. Do you get it? AGU’s Science Legislative Alert is an e-mail service created to keep you informed about what’s happening in Washington and how it affects you as an AGU member and scientist.

Pending Legislation

Hearing Summaries

Congressional Science Fellowship Program

For nearly 30 years, AGU has sponsored a Congressional Science Fellow to help bring sound scientific information to the U.S. Congress. The Fellow works for one year in a legislator’s office or on a committee staff. Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the U.S.

Position Statements

From time to time the AGU Council adopts position statements that relate the understanding and application of the geophysical sciences to relevant public policy. In making such statements, the Council limits itself to positions that are within the range of available geophysical data or norms of legitimate scientific debate. Each statement expires after four years unless reaffirmed.

Policy on AGU’s Role in Advocacy on Public Issues

AGU Promotes Good Science Education

“Scientists Must Speak Up for Science” (PDF, members only), an Eos editorial in response to a creationist film at the Smithsonian
Letter to Ohio (PDF)
- Reply to letter (PDF)
Grand Canyon Letter (PDF)
AGU members sign a letter (PDF), keeping good science in Texas textbooks.
Letter to the Charles County, Maryland School Board (PDF)

Public Policy Activities at AGU Meetings

image of U.S. Capital Building

Connecting to Congress

The Capitol Cause Fund

AGU's Capitol Cause Fund was created in 2004 to provide support for meetings between Earth and space scientists and decision makers on Capitol Hill. The Fund supports travel and other expenses that enable AGU scientists to deliver unbiased, sound scientific advice directly to those involved in policy making in congressional offices. To help Congress use more Earth and space science in policy making, make a contribution to the Fund.

Read about recent activities supported by this fund.

To learn more about visiting Capitol Hill and other AGU Public Affairs activities, contact C. Kate Von Holle (kvonholle@agu.org)

AGU Supports Findings from the National Academies Decadal Survey:: Letter to Administrator Griffin (PDF)
AGU and AMS Presidents ask U.S. Congressman Barton to honor scientific process in climate change dispute.: Letter to Barton (PDF); Write your Representative regarding the investigation
U.S. Federal Science Budget: AGU supports increase for NSF in FY2007 (PDF); AGU supports increase for USGS in FY2007 (PDF)

Workshops

Handout materials from the workshops are available. If you are interested, contact kvonholle@agu.org.

Communicating with Congress—meeting with members and staff
Communicating with Congress—hearing testimony

Activities on Capitol Hill

AGU’s Committee on Public Affairs (COPA)

The Uneasy Courtship of Science and Politics, 3 December 2002 Eos editorial by COPA Chair Tim Cohn
- Reprinted in Water Resources IMPACT, the newsletter of the AWRA (March 2003, V. 5, No. 2, pp. 28–29)
Citizen Scientists, 27 March 2001 Eos editorial by former COPA Chair Jim Burch