HOW DO I GET INVOLVED?

Work on Capitol Hill
as a GSA-USGS Congressional Science Fellow

Your work as a geoscientist greatly impacts society and Earth — why not make an impact on the U.S. government as well?

Meet the 2011–2012
Congressional Science Fellow

Kelly A. Kryc
Serving on the staff of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Stay informed!
Join the G&PP List Serve

Engage & Communicate

Contact your member of Congress about earth-science issues. Visit your Senator or Representative at his or her district office or in Washington D.C. Both provide excellent opportunies for you to share your scientific expertise and ensure that the geoscience community is engaged with leaders and policy makers on Capitol Hill!
Find supporting information & materials on these Web sites:

Engage with colleagues
to address regional public
policy issues via our wiki

View GSA's Official Position Statements

Position Statement
Development Process

Science Policy
News Archive

Roles of the
GSA Policy Entities

Geology & Public Policy

NEWS FROM THE HILL
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Science Policy News

GSA Expresses Concern About Potential Travel Restrictions
GSA joined more than 50 scientific organizations to express concern about the impact of provisions that would place severe restrictions on government employees’ abilities to attend meetings and conferences, noting, “The free exchange of scientific ideas and information is crucial to advancing science and innovation, and conferences are a standard mechanism for the transfer of information among scientists and engineers.” [ read letters ]

GSA Signs Letter Thanking Congressional Leaders for Support of NSF
The Task Force on American Innovation sends thanks for support for the scientific research and education programs in the Subcommittee’s FY 2013 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies appropriations bill.
[ read letter ]

GSA Testifies in Support of USGS, NSF
Soon after the release of the Obama Administration's Fiscal Year 2013 (FY 2013) budget request, GSA played an active role in advocating for geoscience research by testifying three times in 24 hours. GSA President John Geissman, GSA Treasurer Jonathan Price, and GSA Fellow Harvey Thorleifson each spoke in support of the critical role the USGS plays in understanding and documenting mineral and energy resources, researching and monitoring potential natural hazards, and determining and assessing water availability and quality. Within the same time-frame, GSA Director of Geoscience Policy Kasey White testified at two hearings, one in support of the NSF, and the other also in support of the USGS. [ full story ]

GSA Cosponsors Congressional Briefing on East Coast Earthquakes
The New Madrid and Wabash Valley seismic zones affect 8 states — Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Alabama. A magnitude 5.8 earthquake in the Central Virginia Seismic Zone in August 2011 was felt over much of the Eastern U.S. The earthquake shut down the North Anna Nuclear Power Plant and caused damage in Virginia, Washington DC, and beyond. Seismic activity in the eastern U.S. tends to surprise people who are not accustomed to earthquakes. This 29 Mar. 2012 briefing discussed efforts to understand earthquakes in the East and to reduce risks to life, property, and infrastructure. [ watch video ]

Research that Pays Off: The Economic Benefits of Federally Funded R&D
GSA and eight other scientific and engineering societies hosted a briefing on 16 March, in Washington, D.C. An engaging panel discussed the critical contributions that federal R&D have made to American industry in recent decades, how federally-funded R&D could continue to return dividends, and what effect this investment could have on long term economic prosperity. [ watch video ]

FY 2013 Budget Request Proposes Increases for R&D
The Administration released the Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 budget request on 13 February. Overall, the budget proposes $140.8 billion for federal R&D, a 1.4% increase over FY 2012 with a focus on innovation and manufacturing, clean energy, and STEM education. The proposed increases for many science agencies, including NSF and USGS, stand in contrast to overall non-defense discretionary spending, which stayed flat for the second year in a row. The action now goes to Congress, where additional pressures to reduce the deficit, combined with November elections and the looming sequestration in January 2013, will continue to squeeze spending levels. [ full story ]

Administration Requests an Increase for USGS in FY 2013
The budget request is $1.1 billion, a $34.5 million increase over FY 2012. Director Marcia McNutt explained the difficult choices that were made in the tight budget environment, noting that targeted decreases were necessary to make room for priorities, which include programs that protect lives and human property, long-term monitoring, and R&D. [ full story ]

GRANT Act
GSA joined 83 other scientific organizations to express concerns about legislation that would require all funded grant proposals to be published online and identify peer reviewers.
[ read GRANT Act Letter ]

FY 2013 Budget Request Proposes Increases for NSF, other COMPETES Agencies
For the second year in a row, non-defense discretionary spending stayed flat, making the increases proposed for science notable. Overall, the Administration proposes an increase over FY 2012 with a focus on innovation and manufacturing, clean energy, and STEM education.
[ read more ]

GSA Participates in Climate Science Day
Executive Director Jack Hess and GSA Director for Geoscience Policy Kasey White joined a dozen scientific societies on 1 Feb. for Climate Science Day on Capitol Hill and were part of a contingent of scientists visiting Members of Congress and their staff to discuss climate science. [ more ]

USGS Budget Release
The U.S. Geological Survey releases its FY2013 budget on Tuesday, 14 February; at 1:00 pm ET, in the Dallas L. Peck Auditorium in Reston, VA. Please RSVP to Karen Wood, if you plan to attend the briefing in person.

NSF Budget Presented
National Science Foundation Director Subra Suresh presented the president's fiscal year 2013 NSF budget request to Congress on Monday, 13 February, at 3:30 pm ET.
[ more info ]

GSA Welcomes Kasey S. White as New Director for Geoscience Policy
Kasey Shewey White joined The Geological Society of America in December as Director for Geoscience Policy, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Washington, D.C. office. [ more ]

Roles of the Geology and Public Policy Committee, the Geology and Society Division, and GSA's Washington, D.C., Office

Geology and Public Policy Committee	Geology and Society Division	Washington DC Office
Oversees development of GSA’s Position Statements. These statements are the foundation for public policy actions by the Society. Advises GSA’s Council, Executive leadership, and the Washington Office. Develops and sponsors technical sessions, symposia and other events relating to public policy development and outreach at the annual meeting and section meetings in coordination with the Geology and Society Division. Collaborates with the Geology and Society Division on expanding the participation of GSA’s members in public policy communications. Through GPPC’s Section Representatives, fosters communication about GSA’s public policy activities at section meetings. Explores opportunities for expanding international activities at the interface between the geosciences and public policy by collaborating and cooperating with GSA’s International Secretariat, the International Section, the Director for Geoscience Policy and other organizational units of GSA. G&PP Committee Click here for printable document	Strengthens, broadens and supports the engagement of GSA’s members in activities where geoscience intersects with the policy interests of society. Encourages research on issues where geology and society are connected. Provides forums for presentation and discussion of mutual problems and ideas at GSA Section and GSA Annual meetings. Stimulates communication among geoscientists conducting research that serves society’s needs and can guide policy development. Encourages the use of GSA’s PolicyComNet as a means of developing a coordinated response to a geoscience-related public policy issue on national, regional or local levels. Encourages GSA’s members to engage in public policy development through presentation of exhibit booths at all section meetings, in collaboration with the Geology and Public Policy Committee. Fosters recognition and acknowledgment of those who make significant contributions to serving society’s needs through geoscience research, including awards for best student papers at the national meeting. Encourages and mentors students interested in conducting and presenting the results of research that serves society’s needs and can guide policy development. Advises and assists the officers, committees, divisions and sections of GSA in matters related to serving society’s needs through geoscience research. Publishes a newsletter to communicate the Division’s activities to the members and others. Division web page.	Provides GSA and its members with leadership in formulating public policy through active involvement in the decision-making processes at the national level. Monitors public policy issues and participates in information-sharing and educational efforts directed toward the executive and legislative branches of the federal government. Encourages the use scientific information in decision-making in the public policy arena. Works with the GSA community to increase members’ involvement in activities related to public policy development. Supports adequate funding for scientific research activities at the federal level. Provides testimony to Congress and federal agencies on geoscience issues. Organizes and co-sponsors congressional briefings on geoscience issues. Fosters participation of GSA members in Congressional visits days. Administers GSA-USGS Congressional Science Fellowship. Participates in coalitions of scientific organizations. Co-sponsors science exhibitions and receptions on Capitol Hill. Explores opportunities for expanding international activities at the interface between the geosciences and public policy by working with GSA’s International Secretariat, the International Section, the Geology and Public Policy Committee, the Geology and Society Division and the other Divisions, Sections, and organizational units of GSA. Washington, DC office contact information.

Geology and Public Policy Committee

Geology and Society Division

Washington DC Office

Oversees development of GSA’s Position Statements. These statements are the foundation for public policy actions by the Society.
Advises GSA’s Council, Executive leadership, and the Washington Office.
Develops and sponsors technical sessions, symposia and other events relating to public policy development and outreach at the annual meeting and section meetings in coordination with the Geology and Society Division.
Collaborates with the Geology and Society Division on expanding the participation of GSA’s members in public policy communications.
Through GPPC’s Section Representatives, fosters communication about GSA’s public policy activities at section meetings.
Explores opportunities for expanding international activities at the interface between the geosciences and public policy by collaborating and cooperating with GSA’s International Secretariat, the International Section, the Director for Geoscience Policy and other organizational units of GSA.
G&PP Committee

Click here for printable document

Strengthens, broadens and supports the engagement of GSA’s members in activities where geoscience intersects with the policy interests of society.
Encourages research on issues where geology and society are connected.
Provides forums for presentation and discussion of mutual problems and ideas at GSA Section and GSA Annual meetings.
Stimulates communication among geoscientists conducting research that serves society’s needs and can guide policy development.
Encourages the use of GSA’s PolicyComNet as a means of developing a coordinated response to a geoscience-related public policy issue on national, regional or local levels.
Encourages GSA’s members to engage in public policy development through presentation of exhibit booths at all section meetings, in collaboration with the Geology and Public Policy Committee.
Fosters recognition and acknowledgment of those who make significant contributions to serving society’s needs through geoscience research, including awards for best student papers at the national meeting.
Encourages and mentors students interested in conducting and presenting the results of research that serves society’s needs and can guide policy development.
Advises and assists the officers, committees, divisions and sections of GSA in matters related to serving society’s needs through geoscience research.
Publishes a newsletter to communicate the Division’s activities to the members and others.
Division web page.

Provides GSA and its members with leadership in formulating public policy through active involvement in the decision-making processes at the national level.
Monitors public policy issues and participates in information-sharing and educational efforts directed toward the executive and legislative branches of the federal government.
Encourages the use scientific information in decision-making in the public policy arena.
Works with the GSA community to increase members’ involvement in activities related to public policy development.
Supports adequate funding for scientific research activities at the federal level.
Provides testimony to Congress and federal agencies on geoscience issues.
Organizes and co-sponsors congressional briefings on geoscience issues.
Fosters participation of GSA members in Congressional visits days.
Administers GSA-USGS Congressional Science Fellowship.
Participates in coalitions of scientific organizations.
Co-sponsors science exhibitions and receptions on Capitol Hill.
Explores opportunities for expanding international activities at the interface between the geosciences and public policy by working with GSA’s International Secretariat, the International Section, the Geology and Public Policy Committee, the Geology and Society Division and the other Divisions, Sections, and organizational units of GSA.
Washington, DC office contact information.

Contact GSA's Washington D.C. office any time

Kasey S. White
Director for Geoscience Policy
Geological Society of America
1200 New York Avenue NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20005
Tel: +1-202-669-0466

[ click for map & directions ]

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