UPDATE: The numbers included below are in comparison to current funding levels, which are those that were passed in the most recent omnibus spending bill. The White House recently released its budget proposing the following cuts: 31% cut to EPA’s budget including a 20% reduction of EPA staff Up to a 15% cut to USGS 2% … Read more
Over the past few weeks, many of you have expressed an interest in becoming more involved in science policy. We’ve discussed opportunities in the past for you to engage under a new Administration and Congress in “The Shifting Landscape of Science” post and this is another element of that effort. Each year, AGU weighs in on the … Read more
Editor’s Note: This blog post was cross-posted from the Bridge, an AGU blog on science and policy. Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) and 26 other Senators recently introduced S.338, legislation that aims to promote and protect scientific integrity. The bill contains language that would require the Directors of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and … Read more
Today, AGU issued this letter to federal agency heads and press release to science-interested media. AGU expressed its concern over recent reports related to scientific integrity and open communication of scientific information generated by federal agencies to the public. We will continue to monitor what’s happening to science at the federal agency level and speak out … Read more
By Eric Davidson, President, American Geophysical Union and Chris McEntee, Executive Director/CEO, American Geophysical Union: It has been said that our greatest fears lie in anticipation. Following the U.S election results this past November, many of AGU’s members are beset by fears of what might happen with regard to federal support for scientific research and … Read more
UPDATE, 22 November: I’m happy to tell you that AGU has launched the first element in our post-election efforts to galvanize our community and our friends and supporters to be advocates for science, scientists, and scientific integrity. Yesterday, we launched a petition to President-elect Donald Trump asking him to make appointing a Science Advisor a … Read more
The following statement is attributable to American Geophysical Union (AGU) Executive Director/CEO Christine McEntee. AGU represents more than 60,000 Earth and space scientists worldwide: “From the nation’s founding, science has been the backbone of America’s economy, security, and well-being, and the underpinning of our democracy. In the days and months ahead, AGU calls on our … Read more
Late last Friday afternoon, we received a letter and supporting information from Senator Whitehouse (D-RI) and Congressman Lieu (D-Cal), asking the AGU Board to reconsider its recent decision to maintain a relationship with ExxonMobil. Earlier this year, I informed you about a letter AGU had received from a group of members and other scientists calling for … Read more
With the journey to progress started by the Omnibus last year, the scientific community breathed a collective – albeit small – sigh of relief. The agreement signaled that science-related agencies would be relieved from the disruption of damaging cutbacks, program delays, and costly shutdowns, allowing them to carry on with their important work. And … Read more
UPDATE (3 December, 5:10 P.M. EST): In a new letter to Commerce Secretary Pritzker, Chairman Smith stated, “In order to move the Committee’s work forward…the Committee is willing to accommodate NOAA and prioritize communications sent and received by non-scientific personnel…However, this prioritization does not alleviate NOAA’s obligation to respond fully to the Committee’s subpoena.” Read The … Read more