congress

How Elections Affect the Geosciences: Navigating New Leadership

Friday, September 30, 2016

What do Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have to do with geoscience?  Believe it or not, elections—whether presidential or congressional—can have large implications for scientific research. Presidents set national priorities and policies, and Congress funds (or doesn’t fund) federal research often based on its own prerogatives and agenda. Join us for an informational webinar as we attempt to navigate the upcoming presidential transition during #election2016.

Webinar Resources:

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pdf download icon Download the presentation slides

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Our speakers are:

Dr. Gene Whitney (Congressional Research Service, Ret.) served as Energy Research Manager for the Congressional Research Service (retired).  Previously, he was Assistant Director for Environment at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). His work at OSTP focused on federal policies for earth sciences, energy, water, natural hazards, remote sensing, environment, and natural resources. Prior to OSTP, Dr. Whitney was chief scientist for the U.S. Geological Survey Energy Resources Team. He has extensive international experience and currently serves as Chairman of the National Academies of Science Board on Earth Science and Resources. Dr. Whitney received his Ph.D. in geology from the University of Illinois.

Virginia Ainslie (CEO, Ainslie & Associates) has more than 30 years of experience working with Congress on policy and funding issues, including research priorities.  As the CEO of Ainslie & Associates since 1986, she has successfully secured more than $2 billion in federal funding for client priorities through direct advocacy in support of changes in authorizing law; many of which still remain in effect today and continue to support her clients’ needs. Ms. Ainslie has a B.S. in Chemistry and a duel degree in Political Science from Michigan State University. She also worked with the American League of Lobbyists to develop the Lobbyist Code of Ethics.

Brittany Webster (Public Affairs Specialist, American Geophysical Union) has worked for the American Geophysical Union since 2015. In her role, she connects policymakers with scientists and vice versa to increase Congressional recognition of the value of the Earth and space sciences. She also works with many coalition partners to broaden the impact of the geoscience policy community’s advocacy initiatives. Ms. Webster got her start in science policy working for a Member of Congress, who served on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. She received her J.D. from Boston University School of Law and her B.A. in Comparative Literature and International Affairs from The University of Georgia.

Abby Seadler (Geoscience Policy Manager, American Geosciences Institute) has experience working with the geoscience community and stakeholders in Congress to build consensus and movement on issues including basic research, natural hazards, and energy and mineral resources. Ms. Seadler is currently pursuing her M.S. in Environmental Sciences and Policy at Johns Hopkins University. She received her B.A. in Geoscience and Government from Hamilton College. 

Geo-Congressional Visits Day 2016

GeoCVD Logo
Follow along #GeoCVD2016 on Twitter and Instagram to see what fellow geoscientists are doing for the Geoscience Congressional Visits Day. Yesterday the participating scientists were given an orientation briefing on how Congress works, and how laws can affect the geosciences both nationally, and at the state level. Today they are touring the House and Senate where they are meeting with their legislators. This annual event is hosted by the American Geophysical Union (AGU), the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), the Geological Society of America (GSA), the Seismological Society of America (SSA), the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA), the American Meteorological Society (AMS) and the American Geosciences Institute (AGI). AGU has allowed "Guest-Grammers" to share their experiences at Geo-CVD over Instagram. Geo-CVD has made an impact on many scientists, usually as their first experience at the policy-making level. 

Data as a National Asset for Decision-Making

Monday, July 25, 2016

Background:

Robust data collections are vital for understanding and managing Earth’s natural resources and hazards:

  • Earthquake data can help identify quake-prone areas and inform earthquake preparedness.
  • Air quality data can reveal potential health risks and hazards from air pollution.
  • Water quality data can capture noteworthy trends and changes in safety and accessibility.

Our speakers are:

Webinar Co-Sponsors:

American Association of Petroleum Geologists, American Geophysical Union, American Meteorological Society, Consortium for Ocean Leadership, Geological Society of America, Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology, U.S. Geological Survey

Resources to learn more:

Search the Geological Surveys Database for reports and factsheets about geoscience data.

 

AES: Data As A National Asset for Decision Making - Introduction

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