Jakob Lindaas Named 2020-2021 AGI Fisher Congressional Fellow

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ALEXANDRIA, Va. - The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) congratulates Jakob Lindaas on his selection as the 2020-2021 William L. Fisher Congressional Geoscience Fellow. The Fisher Fellowship offers geoscientists the unique opportunity to spend a year in Washington, D.C., working as a staff member in the office of a member of Congress or with a congressional committee.
 
Currently completing his Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University (CSU), Lindaas has studied local ozone air pollution in Colorado as well as nitrogen-containing gases and particles in western U.S. wildfire smoke. His scholarly focus on atmospheric chemistry and air quality research has made him passionate about connecting geoscientists to public policy and supporting active scientific participation in public decision-making processes, he said on accepting the fellowship.
 
Lindaas recently organized a poster networking event that connected 21 graduate students from diverse fields throughout CSU with local government and community leaders in Fort Collins, Colorado. In his career, he hopes to continue to find ways to support and encourage geoscientists' engagement in public policy decisions, from local to national levels.
 
"Finding equitable and efficient solutions to many of our most pressing problems, whether it's a global pandemic or climate change, not only relies on including rigorous science but benefits from having scientists from many different fields at the decision-making table," said Lindaas. "I am looking forward to learning more about how and when geoscientists in particular can be involved in federal policy during this next year as a Fisher Congressional Fellow."  
 
"Policy at every level must be informed by the latest, most accurate geoscience, and that means ensuring that geoscientists are actively involved in the decision-making process," said AGI Interim Executive Director Sharon Tahirkheli. "Jakob is well positioned to make a valuable contribution in his work on Capitol Hill, not only because of his scholarly qualification, but also through his emphasis on engaging parties with multiple perspectives."
 
Previously, Lindaas earned a master's degree in Atmospheric Science from CSU and a B.A. in Environmental Science and Public Policy from Harvard University. Prior to enrolling in graduate school, he worked as a research assistant in the Harvard Earth and Planetary Science Department focusing on greenhouse gas flux estimates from urban and arctic environments.
 
Each year, AGI's Fisher Fellow joins more than two dozen other scientists and engineers for an intensive orientation program on the legislative and executive branches, organized by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), which also guides the placement process and provides educational and collegial programs throughout the year. Learn more at https://bit.ly/AGI-CSF.
 
About AGI
The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) is a nonprofit federation of more than 50 scientific and professional associations that represents over a quarter-million geoscientists. Founded in 1948, AGI provides geoscientists with access to scholarly information, serves as a voice of shared interests in the profession, plays a major role in strengthening geoscience education, and strives to increase public awareness of the vital role the geosciences play in society's use of resources, resiliency to natural hazards, and health of the environment.
 
AGI is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to serving the geoscience community and addressing the needs of society. AGI headquarters are in Alexandria, Virginia.
 
The American Geosciences Institute represents and serves the geoscience community by providing collaborative leadership and information to connect Earth, science, and people.
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AGI Contact:
Geoff Camphire, Communications
703.379.2480 ext. 216