You are browsing the archive for advocacy Archives - AGU Blogosphere.
14 January 2021
In 2021, create community engagement as a science activator
Would you call yourself an advocate, and activist, or an activator? All of these classifications and actions under them can make a difference for science and the present and future of Planet Earth.
14 September 2020
AGU demands NOAA appointment be rescinded
AGU urges revocation of David Legates’ appointment as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Observation and Prediction at NOAA.
9 July 2020
AGU supports international students
Despite the pandemic and health experts predicting the fall will bring an increase in the number of cases, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) announced its new rule on 6 July to require those who are studying in the U.S. on visas (F-1 and M-1) to be enrolled with in-person classes or risk deportation.
29 April 2020
AGU filed response to OSTP on open access research
By: Brooks Hanson, EVP, Science and Matt Giampoala, VP, Publications Last December, scholarly publishers learned that the Trump Administration was considering an executive order that would have extended the 2013 White House memorandums to require immediate public access to scientific data and publications for U.S. federally funded grants. AGU would likely have been able to comply with the rumored guidance, as we have worked to expand communication and public access …
17 April 2020
AGU urges Congress to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 on the scientific enterprise
By Lexi Shultz, AGU Vice President, Public Affairs The COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating effects on lives and communities around the world. At the same time, it has also upended scientific work and research. Not only are many labs, facilities and field sites suddenly out of reach, but the uncertainty of when campuses might reopen has led to STEM workforce reductions. In many cases, students and early career scientists are …
9 December 2019
AGU Revises Climate and Data Position Statements: Declares World in Climate Crisis and Reaffirms Data as a World Heritage
In a revised climate position statement released today, based on the overwhelming research and scientific evidence, AGU is declaring the world to be in a climate crisis. In a concurrent updated data position statement, AGU describes scientific data as a world heritage and calls for a culture that supports, enables, and nurtures data that is equitable, accessible, and ethical. AGU position statements articulate the views of our community on key …
18 September 2019
Federal agency moves, vacant science positions create concerns about “brain drain” in the U.S. scientific enterprise
Recently, there have been media reports that some federal agencies—namely, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and parts of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)—are planning to move headquarters science staff far outside the Washington, D.C. area, causing many scientists to choose to leave these agencies rather than relocate. Meanwhile, the National Weather Service (NWS) has left hundreds of scientific positions vacant, putting stress on …
9 September 2019
AGU supports scientific integrity and the critical work of government scientists
AGU believes in science free of interference and political influence. We support our members and all scientists at federal agencies in the U.S. and around the world who make decisions and announce findings based on evidence and incontrovertible facts. These scientists, including those at NOAA and the National Weather Service, frequently provide research that protects our lives, communities, economy, and security. Interference with their work can impact lives and property …
22 August 2019
We Have Your Backs: Supporting the Work of Brazilian Earth Scientists
Where scientific findings have not conveniently fit into the ideological preferences of political leaders around the world, science and scientists are increasingly under attack. In a symposium on human rights threats to scientists at the 2018 AGU Fall Meeting in Washington, DC, an Iranian environmental scientist shared a chilling story about learning of his imminent arrest if he were to return home from an international trip. Other participants shared stories …
2 August 2019
AGU Commends the Bipartisan Budget Agreement of 2019
This week, the United States Congress passed the Bipartisan Budget Agreement of 2019, which was signed by President Trump. On behalf of the global AGU community of 60,000 Earth and space scientists, I’d like to thank the champions for science on Capitol Hill, as well as the leadership in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, for passing a budget that puts non-defense spending, which includes funding …
22 July 2019
Convergence: A Call for More Robust Global Science Collaboration
At AGU, we often say that science has no borders and takes no political sides. Science has the powerful ability to make profound impacts on nations, economies, and local communities. However, a tide of nationalism across the globe — manifested in the form of incendiary social media posts, trade wars, reactionary protectionism, and even overt violence — is on the rise. And often hand-in-hand with nationalism comes scientific disinformation campaigns …
3 July 2019
Protecting Science at the State and Federal Level
News coming out of Alaska right now reminds me how strongly science depends not just on federal but also state financial support. And it’s disheartening to hear that this crucial science funding is facing challenges at all levels. Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy recently vetoed the state’s budget, which would mean huge cuts for the state – including a $130 million—or 41 percent—cut to the University of Alaska system’s funding from …
2 May 2019
AGU Awards Over $500,000 in Funds to Support Outreach and Engagement Activities in Earth and Space Science
To mark our Centennial year, AGU initiated the Celebrate 100 grants program in the latter part of 2018. Centennial is about you and the science that you undertake every day. It is about inspiring all to participate, support, and advance the power of science to make the world a better place for us and for future generations. As I noted in an earlier post, these grants are available to AGU …
19 April 2019
Key Takeaways from the EGU General Assembly 2019
Fresh off an early-morning flight from Vienna, Austria, to DC last week, I was reflecting on every moment from the General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU). There were more than 16,000 attendees from 113 countries representing many scientific disciplines. It was an honor to see so many students and early-career scientists as the international presence of AGU continues to grow. As a founding society member of the Societies …
12 March 2019
AGU Responds to White House’s Budget Proposal for FY 2020
On 11 March, AGU issued the following statement from Executive Director/CEO Chris McEntee “AGU Responds to White House’s Budget Proposal for FY 2020.” Click here to read the full statement. Make your voice heard on this critically important issue by reaching out to your member of Congress today to tell them how valuable science is their community and across the nation, and why they should support a fiscal year 2020 budget …
6 February 2019
Use Your Voice to Make the State of Our Union Stronger
Last night, under the cloud of a delay resulting from the longest shutdown in the history of the United States federal government, President Donald Trump delivered the second state of the union address of his presidency. As in 2018, he again failed to acknowledge the role scientific research plays in advancing our society and economy. Earlier this morning, I issued my own response to the President’s State of the Union, …
25 January 2019
ACTION NEEDED: Shutdown May Be Over, but Science Isn’t Secure Yet
After passage by both the House and the Senate, President Trump has signed into law a bill to temporarily reopen the federal government until 15 February. First, I am relieved to know this action means federal employees, including federal scientists, will receive their first paychecks in more than 30 days, and that they will receive the back pay they are owed. Unfortunately, the havoc this unprecedented shutdown has wreaked on …
21 December 2018
Ensuring Science Progresses During a U.S. Government Shutdown
AGU is carefully watching the federal budget situation for a possible government shutdown. Currently, the United States government is funded through today, 21 December. In the case that the budget or a continuing resolution is not passed by Congress and approved by the President, there could be a government shutdown that would impact the work of NOAA, NASA, EPA, USGS, NSF, and other scientific agencies. AGU encourages our members who …
21 November 2018
Looking Beyond the U.S. Midterm Elections: Support for Science on Capitol Hill
The recent elections in the United States brought many changes to the policy landscape, many of which will have real consequences for the Earth and space science community. Changes on Capitol Hill can affect the role science plays in critical policy decisions that will have effects both within and beyond U.S. borders. First and foremost, Congress will have new leaders, including some additional members with professional backgrounds in science. AGU …
12 October 2018
Robust Investment in Natural Hazards Research is Essential to Our Safety and Security
Tomorrow, 13 October, is International Day for Disaster Reduction, created by the United Nations in 1989 to promote risk-awareness and natural disaster reduction. Now, as then, the need for proactive action is clear to help save lives and reduce devastating economic losses. Since 13 October last year, the United States has seen flooding from Tropical Storm Lane in Hawaii and Hurricane Florence in North and South Carolina, the latter causing …
