November 30, 2021

Science Policy Events at #AGU21

Posted by Caitlin Bergstrom

AGU’s annual Fall Meeting is just around the corner! We are thrilled to be back in New Orleans in person this year and online everywhere. Our Science Policy Team has been busy preparing a packed schedule of science policy events for our members–whether you want to hear from experts on what the recent U.S. election means for science, learn the basics and start your journey into science policy, or even take the next step into the policy world and learn more about the fellowship opportunities AGU offers, we have you covered. Check our schedule below for descriptions and links to each event. You can also find details of all Science Policy events here.

Recordings of all our Fall Meeting events will be available to attendees until 28 February 2022. Go to the AGU Fall Meeting homepage to enter the meeting.

Questions about any events? Email [email protected].

 

Monday 13 December

Science Policy Office Hours: Ask us Anything

10 am – 11:30 am CST

AGU Central: Career Center Pods (B-1), First Floor (In Person)

Join AGU’S Science Policy & Government Relations to talk about any and all things science policy. We’d love to help you: – Meet with your legislators – Explore a career in science policy – Work with your local or state policymakers – Get involved with AGU’s science policy initiatives – Practice presenting your research findings and policy ask for legislators

Science Policy 101

1 pm – 2 pm CST

AGU Central: Connections and Collaboration Theater (B1), First Floor (Hybrid)

Interested in talking about science with your policymakers, but don’t know where to start? Understanding the basics of how Congress works will ensure that you can be as effective as possible when engaging with legislators and their staff. Learn about how the legislative process and budget process work and how you can engage and gain insight on some key legislation AGU is tracking.

Science Policy in Action: Scientists and Engineers Shaping Local Policy

2:15 pm – 3:45 pm CST

AGU Central: Connections and Collaboration Theater (B1), First Floor (Hybrid)

Social issues over the past year, ranging from COVID-19 to climate change, have highlighted the role of science in decision-making processes. However, scientists and engineers are too often underrepresented at the local level, including in city, county, and state governments. While this is a critical opportunity for individuals with STEM backgrounds to shape policy in their community, it can be difficult to know where to start. Engineers & Scientists Acting Locally is a national organization dedicated to increasing civic engagement and providing resources to help individuals engage in their communities. This session will feature a panel of scientists and engineers who are active members of their community and have successfully engaged on local issues such as environmental management and climate change.

 

Tuesday 14 December

Science Policy Office Hours: Ask us Anything

10 am – 11:30 am CST

AGU Central: Career Center Pods (B-1), First Floor (In Person Only)

Join AGU’S Science Policy & Government Relations to talk about any and all things science policy. We’d love to help you: – Meet with your legislators – Explore a career in science policy – Work with your local or state policymakers – Get involved with AGU’s science policy initiatives – Practice presenting your research findings and policy ask for legislators

Science Policy in Action: Taking the First Step

12 pm – 1:30 pm CST

Online only.

Challenges over the past year have reinforced the critical need for scientists and engineers to engage in local policymaking processes in their communities. However, many professionals with STEM backgrounds lack the knowledge of pathways to participate in local government, such as serving on local advisory bodies or delivering public comments. This session will provide an introduction to local engagement, concrete examples, and step-by-step guidance to prepare participants to impactfully engage with their local government. Participants will also participate in an interactive activity and be encouraged to develop their own local engagement plans. Part of the series of events in Skills for Science: the additional skills necessary to enable 21st century scientific discovery and solutions for the benefit of people and the planet.

Climate Actions and Policies Around the World – Will They Be Enough?

1 pm – 2 pm CST

AGU Central: Connections and Collaboration Theater (B1), First Floor (Hybrid)

Earth’s climate continues to change dramatically, causing increasingly disruptive societal and ecological impacts around the globe. The UNDP estimates annual average economic losses from climate-related disasters are in the hundreds of billions of dollars and that climate-related geophysical disasters contributed to more than 1 million deaths and 4 billion injuries between 1998 and 2017. To limit these impacts, the world’s nations have agreed to hold the increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C (3.6°F) above pre-industrial levels, and the UN Sustainable Development Goal on Climate Action aims to mobilize US $100 billion annually to address the needs of developing countries to both adapt to climate change and invest in low-carbon development. These goals require urgent and ambitious collective action, but what climate actions or policies are actually happening? Hear from a panel of experts who will discuss some of the latest goals, policies, and other actions to address the climate crisis from nations and regions around the world and how these measures shape up against the challenge.

Science Policy Update: Scientific Integrity

2 pm – 3 pm CST

Hall D-1, First Floor (Hybrid)

Hear from experts within the federal government and private sector about the latest initiatives and policies to strengthen scientific integrity across the federal government.

Climate Science in the Courtroom: The Risks and Rewards of Being an Expert Witness

4 pm – 5 pm CST

Terra Stage – Great Hall, First Floor (Hybrid)

The number of climate change-related litigations, both in the U.S. and around the world, is steadily increasing. As a result, there is a growing need for scientists to participate in these cases and help non-expert judges and juries understand the climate science supporting the claims. In this session, attorneys from the Climate Science Legal Defense Fund will discuss what scientists serving as expert witnesses can expect from the process. We will talk about what scientists contemplating acting as experts in a litigation should understand, including: conflicts of interest considerations, potential credibility attacks by opposing counsel, and to what extent experts may be exposed to legal liability or other legal challenges. Finally, we will discuss ways for scientists to offer their expertise without serving as direct witnesses, such as acting as a consultant on a case or participating in regulatory notice and comment processes.

 

Wednesday 15 December

How to Become a Congressional Science Fellow or Mass Media Fellow

11:30 am – 12:30 pm CST

AGU Central: Connections and Collaboration Theater (B1), First Floor (Hybrid)

Spend the summer as a journalist or a year working for a congressional office in Washington, D.C.–AGU gives you the opportunity to do either as a Mass Media Fellow or Congressional Science Fellow. Learn more about AGU’s fellowship programs, learn how to apply, and ask questions of current and past fellows. Congressional Science Fellows will discuss their experiences and how they helped influence national science, energy, and environmental policy. Mass Media Fellows will share stories about reporting for major news outlets. These fellowships will benefit you on any career path, whether you are early or late career, or seeking a profession in an academic field or not.

Science Policy Update: Inclusive Climate Policies

11 am – 12 pm CST

Online Only

Hear from policy experts from across the government and private sector about the latest policy proposals and efforts to combat climate change through policies that incorporate justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Science Policy Office Hours: Ask us Anything

2 pm – 3:30 pm CST

AGU Central: Career Center Pods (B-1), First Floor (In Person Only)

Join AGU’S Science Policy & Government Relations to talk about any and all things science policy. We’d love to help you: – Meet with your legislators – Explore a career in science policy – Work with your local or state policymakers – Get involved with AGU’s science policy initiatives – Practice presenting your research findings and policy ask for legislators

Long-term Impact: The Legacy of Congressional Science Fellowships

2:30-3:30pm CST

AGU Central: Connections and Collaboration Theater (B1), First Floor (Hybrid)

Hear personal stories of current and past fellows as they share their fellowship experience and the impact of the fellowship on their careers. This unique and important fellowship experience allows science experts to directly craft legislation and creates leaders in the sciences who understand how to truly make an impact in policy.

Be a Voice for Science: Voices for Science Panel

4 pm – 5pm CST

AGU Central: Connections and Collaboration Theater (B1), First Floor (Hybrid)

AGU is looking for U.S., Canadian, and European-based scientists who are passionate about science outreach for its fourth prestigious cohort of Voices for Science advocates. If you are looking for a community of outreach-oriented scientists and professional resources to expand and hone your own outreach work, AGU’s Voices for Science program would be an excellent fit for you. This panel session will feature scientists from the 2021 Voices for Science cohort, who will detail their experiences in outreach and how the Voices for Science program has changed their perspective on outreach work, created a support network of scientists locally and internationally, and enabled more opportunities for sharing their science with many communities. Hear about the phenomenal work they are doing, get ideas for your own outreach activities, and have a dialogue with the Voices for Science advocates.

 

Thursday 16 December

Climate Actions and Policies Around the World – Will They Be Enough?

9:30 am – 10:30 am CST

Luna Stage – Great Hall, First Floor (Hybrid)

Earth’s climate continues to change dramatically, causing increasingly disruptive societal and ecological impacts around the globe. The UNDP estimates annual average economic losses from climate-related disasters are in the hundreds of billions of dollars and that climate-related geophysical disasters contributed to more than 1 million deaths and 4 billion injuries between 1998 and 2017. To limit these impacts, the world’s nations have agreed to hold the increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C (3.6°F) above pre-industrial levels, and the UN Sustainable Development Goal on Climate Action aims to mobilize US $100 billion annually to address the needs of developing countries to both adapt to climate change and invest in low-carbon development. These goals require urgent and ambitious collective action, but what climate actions or policies are actually happening? Hear from a panel of experts who will discuss some of the latest goals, policies, and other actions to address the climate crisis from nations and regions around the world and how these measures shape up against the challenge.

Safe Scientific Advocacy and the First Amendment

9:30 am – 10:30 am CST

Terra Stage – Great Hall, First Floor (Hybrid)

Scientists are increasingly looking to share their expertise with their communities and advocate for issues they care about, but they often have questions about how they can use their voices without exposing themselves to unnecessary personal and professional risk. In this session, attorneys from the Climate Science Legal Defense Fund will cover First Amendment fundamentals. We will discuss how the First Amendment does and does not protect scientists’ speech and activities in various contexts and capacities, both professional and personal. We will also provide tips and best practices for scientists who want to safely engage in advocacy and activism as citizens, while minimizing the risks of unwanted repercussions in their professional lives, such as workplace retaliation or doxing.

Skills for Science: The Federal Budget and You

10 am – 11 am CST

Skills for Science Room (B1), First Floor (In Person Only)

What’s the federal budget process? How does Congress make funding decisions? How can you be a part of the Congressional funding process? During this workshop, you’ll gain an understanding of how the federal budgeting and spending processes work and practice the skills you need to effectively engage your policymakers on funding issues. Part of the series of events in Skills for Science: the additional skills necessary to enable 21st-century scientific discovery and solutions for the benefit of people and the planet.

Long-term Impact: The Advocacy of Voices for Science

1-1:45pm CST

AGU Central: Connections and Collaboration Theater (B1), First Floor (Hybrid)

Building relationships with policymakers, creating conferences for underrepresented scientists, and starting local advocacy groups are just some of the impressive achievements that Voices for Science advocates have accomplished in this one-year program. Join us to learn about the impact that science advocates and communicators have with training and support from AGU.

Looking back and ahead: what the 2020 elections meant for STEM and how to engage in the 2022 US Congressional Midterm Elections

2 pm – 3 pm CST

Prow Main Stage – Great Hall, First Floor (Hybrid)

2020 was a landmark year for U.S. elections. Voters across the country cast their ballots in record numbers and in novel ways. Along with Science Rising, we will look at what the 2020 elections meant for STEM participation in policy. Even after a rollercoaster year of elections in 2020, it’s time to start looking ahead as well. We’ll talk about ways to get involved in the upcoming 2022 midterm elections and how to keep science on the ballot.

Science Policy Office Hours: Ask us Anything

2 pm – 3:30 pm CST

AGU Central: Career Center Pods (B-1), First Floor (In Person Only)

Join AGU’S Science Policy & Government Relations to talk about any and all things science policy. We’d love to help you: – Meet with your legislators – Explore a career in science policy – Work with your local or state policymakers – Get involved with AGU’s science policy initiatives – Practice presenting your research findings and policy ask for legislators

Daily Monday through Thursday 13-16 December

One on One with an Attorney: Free Legal Consultations from the Climate Science Legal Defense Fund

Mon-Thursday 8am-3pm

Appointments are virtual. Room 237 on the 2nd floor is available to use for appointments if you need a private space to use.

The Climate Science Legal Defense Fund (CSLDF) and AGU work together to help scientists from all geoscience disciplines understand their legal rights and responsibilities—knowledge that’s an essential part of every researcher’s professional development. This is the tenth year we’ve partnered with CSLDF on the Legal Education for Scientists Program, and we’re offering a range of events at the 2021 AGU Fall Meeting, including free, private 30-minute consultations. CSLDF is once again offering free, confidential counseling services at Fall Meeting to scientists from all disciplines dealing with harassment or legal intimidation. They can also help those who find themselves involved in legal discussions about their work, correspondence, public statements, or science advocacy. These sessions enable researchers to better understand their situation and how to respond. CSLDF attorneys also assist in circumstances where a scientist’s legal interests differ from their institution’s legal interests. To request a confidential 30-minute consultation with an attorney during Fall Meeting, write to [email protected].