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

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

Science Policy News

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 ]

GSA Panel Seeks Input on DRAFT Position Statement on Supporting Planetary Exploration. Comments and suggestions were due by 15 November 2011.
[ read DRAFT (PDF) ]

"Ethics Office Moves to Let Federal Employees Serve on Nonprofit Boards" [New York Times]
GSA submitted a letter to the Office of Government Ethics suppporting a proposal to permit federal employees to serve in their official capacity as an officer or director of a scientific society."

NSF Budget Remains Flat but NASA Budget Cut by $1.6 Billion in House Appropriations Bill
The National Science Foundation's FY 2012 budget would remain flat at $6.9 billion under legislation approved by the House Appropriation Committee on 13 July 2011. President Obama proposed a $907 million increase for NSF in FY 2012. The bill would cut NASA's budget by $1.6 billion to $16.8 billion in FY 2012. It would terminate the James Webb Space Telescope, which the committee said is "billions of dollars over budget and plagued by poor management."

USGS Budget Advances in House of Representatives
Separately, the House Appropriations Committee approved legislation that would restore proposed budget cuts for many USGS programs, reduce funding for several programs, and increase funding for selected programs. Overall, the bill would appropriate $1.054 billion for the USGS in FY 2012, a decrease of $30 million below the FY 2011 enacted level and $64 million below the President's budget request for FY 2012.
[ learn more ]

Congressional Briefings
GSA co-sponsored and moderated a Congressional brefing on Landslide Hazards: A Stealth Threat to the Nation on 21 June 2011. GSA also hosted a USGS Congressional briefing on Unconventional Oil and Gas—Fueling the Future on 24 June.
[ Landslide Hazards | Unconventional Oil and Gas ]

Geosciences Congressional Visits Day (20–21 September)
Help raise visibility and support for geoscience research and education during meetings with House and Senate offices. GSA student, professional, teacher, and affiliate members are invited to participate in this annual event in Washington D.C. Contact Craig Schiffries, GSA's Director for Geoscience Policy, to sign up.

Revised Position Statements Adopted
In April 2011, GSA Council approved revised position statements on Public Investment in Earth Science Research and the Role of Government in Mineral and Energy Resources Research.
[ research statement | mineral and energy statement ]

GSA has joined the Task Force on American Innovation, an alliance of leading companies, research universities, and scientific societies that advocates for sustained research budgets at the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy's Office of Science, NASA, and other agencies. Task Force members include the Association of American Universities, American Chemical Society, American Physical Society, Business Roundtable, Council on Competitiveness, and Google. GSA is the only geoscience society on the Task Force.

Timothy Bralower (Penn State) with Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA) at science exhibition on Capitol Hill.

Timothy Bralower of Pennsylvania State University with Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA) at science exhibition on Capitol Hill.

Geosciences Featured at Congressional Science Exhibition
GSA, AGI, and AGU co-sponsored geoscience exhibits at the 17th Annual Coalition for National Science Funding Exhibition and Reception on Capitol Hill on 11 May 2011. Timothy Bralower of Pennsylvania State University, Chris Reddy of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and David James of the Carnegie Institution of Washington discussed research on abrupt climate change, the Deepwater Horizon spill, and the Yellowstone supervolcano, respectively. Rep. Fattah Chaka (D-PA), Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ), and Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA) were among the many visitors at the geoscience exhibits.

GSA Co-Sponsors Congressional Briefing on Earthquakes and the Nation's Buildings
Following the recent string of earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, New Zealand, and Japan, GSA co-sponsored a congressional briefing that focused on the ability of buildings in the U.S. to resist seismic activity.
[ learn 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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Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

— Margaret Mead

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