Critical Geoscience Needs of the Nation — an Important Resource during AGU Days of Action
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — This year, the American Geophysical Union (AGU) is organizing two Days of Action, in April and June, to encourage geoscientists to talk to policymakers of all parties about supporting science. For scientists participating in these events, the American Geosciences Institute (AGI) offers a powerful new resource, Critical Needs: Geosciences Meeting the Needs of the Nation, to show how the geoscience community’s knowledge, experience, and expertise advance solutions to our nation’s most urgent challenges.
Through Days of Action, AGU, an AGI Member Society, provides training and resources to help scientists advocate for strong support for sustained investment in Earth and space sciences and highlight the dangers of cutting research funding and weakening the U.S. federal workforce.
To help inform and guide that vital work, AGI offers Critical Needs, its new six-part document series. This guidance not only identifies needs but also provides actionable insights into how the geosciences address those challenges. To ensure direct connection to policymaker needs, the series frames issues in terms that policymakers frequently address. Each document includes exemplars of geoscience impact, case studies, related National Academy of Sciences reports, examples of relevant policy, and non-profit organizations providing non-partisan expertise.
The succinct, compelling documents at www.criticalneeds.org outline six key priorities:
- Geosciences Supporting a Vibrant Economy — ensuring sustainable resource management and fostering economic stability through responsible resource development.
- Geoscience Solutions for Future Infrastructure — strengthening hazard mitigation strategies and ensuring the resilience of the nation’s built environment.
- Geosciences Partnering in Innovating the Future — advancing technological innovation through geoscience research and applications.
- Geoscience’s Crucial Role in National Security Strategies — supporting energy independence, resource security, and defense initiatives.
- Geoscience Protecting the Public — enhancing disaster response, hazard assessment, and public safety initiatives.
- Geoscience’s Role in Building U.S. Influence Across the World — leveraging geoscience expertise to support global partnerships and diplomacy.
Geoscience is vital to the well-being of society and the prosperity of the nation. From ensuring the robust supply of critical minerals to strengthening disaster preparedness and response, geoscience education, research, and workforce development align with federal objectives for economic growth, national security, and technological advancement.
Please visit Critical Needs online at https://www.criticalneeds.org/ for full web content and printable PDFs. Also, visit AGU Days of Action for resources and opportunity to put the information from Critical Needs to direct and immediate use.
About AGI
The American Geosciences Institute (AGI), a federation of scientific and professional organizations representing over a quarter-million geoscientists, is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to serving the geoscience community and addressing the geoscience needs of society. AGI headquarters are in Alexandria, Virginia.
Contact: Geoff Camphire, AGI Communications gac@americangeosciences.org