You are browsing the archive for Category: Policy - AGU Blogosphere.
27 August 2026
NCAR, OMB, and the Power of 30,000 Voices
By: Caitlin Bergstrom This year, our community has stepped up to provide critical feedback on several proposed regulations and calls for public comment. It has been a difficult eighteen months for the science community, with rapid divestments in science research causing uncertainty for both individuals conducting research and the vital research our scientists do. Utilizing our online action campaigns and our deep network of grassroots advocates, we have generated more …
Wins, Losses, and Why We Keep Showing Up
By: Lexi Shultz In 2026, AGU’s Science Policy & Government Relations team continued our “Days of Action” initiative to empower our science community to push back against a variety of systemic assaults on the federal science enterprise. This year alone, we’ve seen the U.S. Administration work to shut down critical ocean and atmospheric scientific infrastructure, block congressionally mandated funding from being spent on Earth and space science grants, eliminate government …
25 August 2026
Growing a Global Bench of Science Advocates
By: Liz Landau I am incredibly proud of AGU’s global science policy expansion during the first half of 2026. Our current global Voices for Science cohort is our largest yet, with 14 folks from Africa, Asia, Europe, and more coming together to learn and grow their science policy and communications skills. AGU is supporting them through initiatives such as the science diplomacy panel we hosted in April, where experts from …
Defending Science, One Voice at a Time
By: Michael Villafranca Protecting NCAR When the Trump Administration announced plans to dismantle NCAR in December, AGU’s SPGR team moved quickly. Within weeks, we had launched grassroots tools that generated 36,000 emails and more than 2,300 phone calls to Congress, coordinated with partner societies behind a joint letter to the White House, and submitted a formal organizational response to NSF—all while providing individual members a direct channel to submit their …
17 August 2026
Building Science Policy Leaders, One Step at a Time
By: Sophie Mangassarian I’ve spent a lot of time this year thinking about what it really takes for someone to become an advocate—and eventually, a leader. It’s rarely one workshop or one congressional meeting. More often, it’s a series of moments where someone gains confidence, learns a new skill, and realizes their scientific expertise belongs in public policy. In a year when it would have been easy for scientists to …
Rising to the Challenge: AGU Defends Science in 2026
2026 has been just as consequential a year for science policy as 2025. Despite attempts to dismantle infrastructure from NCAR to the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI), circumvent peer review through OMB rulemaking, and broadly politicize science, our community has once again risen to the challenge. Almost 200 AGU members came to Washington, D.C. to meet with their legislators in the first half of the year. Through our online engagement system, …
9 June 2026
Guest Blog: Bursting the Academic Bubble: Why Scientists Must Bridge the Gap Between Research and Policy
Bursting the Academic Bubble: Why Scientists Must Bridge the Gap Between Research and Policy Jelis J. Sostre Cortés, AGU-sponsored CASE workshop participant and PhD candidate at the Georgia Institute of Technology As someone who was born and raised in Puerto Rico, I have been exposed to countless natural hazards. I have witnessed firsthand how a disconnect between scientists and policymakers can harm society. My PhD research focuses on compiling different …
20 April 2026
Igniting Discovery: How NASA Funding Advances American Science
NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) has enabled American leadership in the Earth and space sciences for decades. Through NASA SMD, American researchers have revolutionized humanity’s fundamental understanding of the universe, provided data essential to national security and weather forecasting, and spurred commercial development. The pace of global investment in space science is accelerating, and maintaining American leadership in this arena requires sustained commitment to the fundamental research that has always …
5 February 2026
Science Funding for FY26 Secured
On Tuesday, 3 February, the President signed into law a third appropriations package, resulting in 95% of fiscal year 2026 (FY26) appropriations now complete, including funding for all U.S. federal science agencies. Despite a challenging year for science and U.S. science agencies, the FY26 appropriations legislation is a bright spot, demonstrating the strength and value of the scientific community engaging with policymakers. The funding levels recommended in the president’s budget …
2 February 2026
Powering our Action: AGU Voices in Action
In the face of chaos, uncertainty, and rapid changes, the AGU science policy community stepped up time and time again to protect and advance science policy around the globe. From courtrooms to the halls of Congress to local townhalls to AGU25, AGU and our members engaged policymakers everywhere. Collectively, we were able to prevent billions of dollars in cuts in funding to science in the U.S., raise awareness about the …
29 September 2025
Introducing the 2025-2026 US Voices for Science Cohort
We are pleased to introduce the 2025-2026 Voices for Science United States Cohort! We have 20 participants from 16 States beginning their policy and outreach journeys. Click on each photo to read more about each participant.
19 September 2025
AGU Updates Position Statements on Education, Government Support and the Rights of Scientists
We are pleased to share that AGU is updating several position statements that provide vital guidance on issues at the heart of the scientific community and society. AGU position statements — created, revised and approved by members with feedback and support from experts in related fields — are what enable AGU to take adaptive stances on significant policy issues related to the Earth and space sciences. These statements are reviewed every …
18 September 2025
AGU August Days of Action: Scientists stepping up for science
Scientists play a vital role in serving communities by deepening our understanding of the world and driving advances that improve public health, safeguard the environment, enhance safety, and more. Yet recent Administration policies are placing these contributions at risk, threatening the ability of scientists in the U.S. to carry out this critical work. Scientists are not standing by. They are stepping forward to demonstrate the profound value of their research …
4 September 2025
Repealing EPA’s Endangerment Finding Threatens Decades of Climate Progress: Take Action
AGU is deeply alarmed by the Environmental Protection Agency’s plan to reverse its longstanding endangerment finding for greenhouse gases. This action undermines decades of rigorous scientific research showing that carbon dioxide, methane and other emissions pose a clear threat to human health and welfare. AGU stands firmly with the global scientific community: The weight of evidence is unequivocal, and regulatory safeguards must reflect the best available science. By reversing …
11 July 2025
Community Blog: Showing up for one another when it feels like we don’t matter
Guest post by Dr. Heidi Steltzer Sixteen years ago, I chose with intention to live in rural southwest Colorado. There were many reasons, including my intuition guided me here. I needed to be in relationship with people who live in a rural region, many of whom don’t engage often with scientists. I’ve given lots of talks, spoken on panels, and engaged with folks to talk climate here. They all …
9 May 2025
Science in Action: Reflections on the 2025 AAAS CASE Workshop
Science in Action: My Reflections on the 2025 AAAS CASE Workshop By Ayobami Oladapo, PhD Student in Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Science at Purdue University Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to attend the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Catalyzing Advocacy for Science and Engineering (CASE) Workshop in Washington, D.C. The 3-day-long workshop was a great experience for me, from learning about the history of U.S. …
5 May 2025
Trump Budget Request Shrinks Federal Science Agencies
On Friday, 2 May, President Trump released a “skinny” version of his fiscal year (FY) 2026 budget request. This skinny budget outlines the President’s budget priorities, including cuts and increases in funding and his thematic priorities for fiscal year 2026. Although Congress and stakeholders need the President’s full budget request to fully understand his 2026 priorities and plans, the skinny budget is enough for Congress, especially appropriators, to begin determining …
9 April 2025
AGU Days of Action Activities in Your District
AGU Days of Action Activities in Your District 14-25 April 2025 As a community of scientists, now is the time to come together and demonstrate the robust, widespread support for sustained investment in the Earth and space sciences. Let’s all take action during these two weeks, when Congress will be back in their home districts: Call your Members of Congress at their home districts Attend an event hosted by a …
11 February 2025
AGU’s 2024 Science Policy Impact
2024 was an incredibly busy year for AGU’s science policy community, marked by numerous achievements: the adoption of three new position statements, multiple virtual trainings and gatherings, five Congressional visits day events, the release of AGU’s Ethical Framework Principles for Climate Intervention Research, and dozens of workshops and events at scientific meetings around the world, including AGU24 in Washington, D.C. Take a deep dive into AGU’s science policy and …
3 February 2025
AGU’s 2025-2026 Policy Priorities
Since 2019, AGU has developed policy priorities to guide our advocacy efforts and accelerate the advancement of important science policies and legislation. These policy priorities reflect AGU’s broader strategic goals, the evolving policy landscape, and the needs of our members. After reviewing feedback from AGU members and leaders, we are pleased to share AGU’s 2025-2026 policy priorities. The priorities focus on three key areas: Confronting climate change through research, …
