Geology & Public Policy News Archive
2008
Climate Change: Intersections of Science and Policy [ 22 Dec 2008 ]
GSA organized this 9 Jan. briefing with AAAS, AMS, ESA, and the Pew Center on Global Climate Change. GSA's Craig Schiffries is quoted in news release.
Speakers included:
- Timothy Wirth, president of the United Nations Foundation and the Better World Fund. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives (1975-1987) and the U.S. Senate (1986-1992), where he focused on environmental issues, particularly global climate change. He served in the U.S. Department of State as the first Undersecretary for Global Affairs (1993-1997) where he was the lead U.S. negotiator for the Kyoto Climate Conference.
- Susan Solomon, senior scientist at NOAA, recently served as co-chair of Working Group 1 of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. She was awarded the 1999 National Medal of Science, the highest scientific award bestowed by the U.S. government.
- Peter Gleick, president and co-founder of the Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment, and Security. Dr. Gleick is an internationally recognized water expert and was named a MacArthur Fellow (often known as the "Genius Grant") in 2003 for his work.
- Ted Parson, Professor of Law and of Natural Resources & Environment at the University of Michigan, authored The Science and Politics of Global Climate Change and Protecting the Ozone Layer: Science and Strategy.
[ program info | AAAS news release ]
Two New GSA Positions Statements Adopted by Council [ 1 Oct 2008 ]
(1) Public Investment in Earth Science Research and (2) Water Resources
[ view position statements ]
GSA Cosponsors Congressional Briefing on Disaster Reduction [ 22 Sept 2008 ]
The National Science and Technology Council has produced a 10-year strategy for “Grand Challenges for Disaster Reduction,” representing priority federal science and technology investment needs to help reduce future loss of life and property as a result of disasters. [ learn more ]
GSA Cosponsors Geosciences Congressional Visits Day [ posted 22 Sept 2008 ]
More than 60 geoscientists visited over 100 House and Senate offices during the first-ever Geosciences Congressional Visits Day, designed to increase visibility and support for the geosciences in Congress.
[ learn more ]
USGS Coalition Honors Reps. Dicks and Regula at Congressional Reception for promoting and providing funding for USGS-sponsored science. [ posted 16 Sept 2008 ]
[ learn more ]
G&PP events at the 2008 Joint Annual Meeting in Houston
5–9 October 2008. [ view events ]
Getting into Geoscience Policy: Careers and Avocations [ posted 17 Sept 2008 ]
This session at the Joint Annual Meeting in Houston, Texas, (6 Oct., 3-4:30 p.m., George R. Brown Convention Center, Room 370EF) features a panel of geoscientitsts who work in the public policy arena, including congressional staff, state-based resources managers, and academic scientists. Panelists will describe their career path, skill and knowledge requirements, and potential career resources. Q&A follows. Co-sponsored by GSA's Geology and Society Division and the GSA Geology and Public Policy Committee. [ more ]
A Student Intern's View of Geoscience and Public Policy
AGI Government Affairs Program Intern
[ read essay ]
GSA Highlights Earth Science Research at Congressional Exhibition [ posted 16 July 2008 ]
GSA cosponsored this event at which geoscientists discussed their NSF-funded research with Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R-Mich), Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ), NSF Director Arden Bement, and numerous congressional staffers.
[ more ]
GSA Panel Seeks Comments on Public Investment in Earth Science Research [ posted 16 June 2008 ]
Please submit your comments and suggestions regarding the draft position statement by 11 August 2008, to Richard Berg.
House Panel Approves 4.8% Budget Increase for USGS
- 11 June 2008: Tthe House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies approved a bill to increase funding for the U.S. Geological Survey by 4.8%, or $48 million, to $1.054 billion in FY 2009. The House mark is 8.4% above the president's FY 2009 budget request for the USGS. The president proposed a 3.7% budget cut for the USGS in FY 2009. [ view table ]
- A statement by Subcommittee Chairman Norm Dicks (D-WA) contains strong language about the President's budget request for the Department of the Interior. [ view statement ]
- Read the USGS Coalition's testimony to the House Appropriations Committee meeting.
Improving Tsunami Warnings [ posted 20 March 2008 ]
14 March 2008: GSA cosponsored a congressional briefing in the U.S. Capitol on "Improving Tsunami Warnings Nationwide." This briefing, moderated by former GSA President Mary Lou Zoback, summarized improvements to tsunami warnings and the role and status of observatory networks and warning centers.
[ view summary ]
Congressional Visits Day [ posted 17 March 2008 ]
4-5 March 2008: Former GSA President Mary Lou Zoback and GSA Councilor John Geissman spoke at a press conference in the U.S. Capitol with Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) and Rep. Judy Biggert (R-Il), Co-Chairs of the Congressional R&D Caucus, to to address the severe repercussions of recent underfunding of key science agencies. The press conference was convened in conjunction with the 13th Annual Science-Engineering-Technology Congressional Visits Day (CVD). If you are interested in participating in next year's CVD, please contact Craig Schiffries, GSA Director for Geoscience Policy,
.
[ more details ]
2007
GSA Opens Washington Office [ posted 17 Sep 2007 ]
17 September 2007: GSA opens an office focused on public policy and the geosciences in Washington, D.C. The office is staffed by Dr. Craig M. Schiffries, the Society's new Director for Geoscience Policy, who joined GSA 1 Sept. 2007.
[ more details ]
CNSF Fall Hill Visits [ posted 16 July 2007 ]
The Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF) organized Hill visits on 18-19 September 2007, focused on advocating for the National Science Foundation. All CNSF member organizations are encouraged to bring in scientists, educators, and engineers to participate in the event.
[ how to participate ]
Panel Seeks Input [ 20 July 2007 ]
The GSA Panel on Energy and Mineral Resources, requests comments and suggestions from GSA members, sections, associated and allied societies, and other interested parties, on this draft GSA Position Statement on Government's Role in Energy and Mineral Resources. Comments deadline extended to 14 December 2007. [ read proposed statement ]
Managing Drought [ posted 16 July 2007 ]
Congressional briefings on "Managing Drought: A Roadmap for Change in the United States" were held Wednesday, 18 July, in the nation's capital. Presented by the Geological Society of America, in association with the Congressional Hazards Caucus and the Hazards Caucus Alliance, the briefings were open to the public.
[ fact sheet | roadmap | press release ]
GSA National Leadership Initiative [ posted 4 Apr 2007 ]
The NLI addresses the need for more effective communication among the Society, its members and their initiatives, and national, state and local policymakers and agencies.
Year of Science 2009 [ posted 6 Feb 2007 ]
GSA participates in the Community Project to Promote the Public Understanding of Science (COPUS ).
"Many in the scientific community see the need for a coordinated and sustained effort by scientists to engage the public directly and with the help of communications experts, to do a better job of explaining the nature of science, and to be ready to learn about and adapt to public perceptions of science in the process."
Climate Change [ posted 12 Jan 2007 ]
View presentations given by Richard Alley and Robert Jackson at the Public Forum on Climate Change, 2006 GSA Annual Meeting in Philadelphia.
2006
Download The Nature of Science and the Scientific Method, a new, FREE educational resource from GSA. [ 11 Sep 2006 ]
Read this new white paper, "The Impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in Louisiana: America's Coasts Under Siege," a joint effort by GSA and The Pontchartrain Institute of Environmental Studies, University of New Orleans. [posted 16 Feb 2006]
2005
What Can Be Learned from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita?
GSA is a sponsor of a congressional briefing hosted by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on 28 October 2005. The focus is how science can help reduce America's risk from hurricanes and their aftermath. [posted 28 Oct. 2005]
Kansas Denied Use of National Science Education Standards
The National Academy of Sciences and the National Science Teachers Association have refused to grant copyright permission to the Kansas State Board of Education to make use of publications by the two organizations in the state's science education standards. According to a statement from the two groups, the new Kansas standards are improved, but as currently written, they overemphasize controversy in the theory of evolution and distort the definition of science. [posted 28 Oct. 2005]
2002
Statement by Presidents of National Academies on Visa Restrictions
Current Visa Restrictions Interfere with U.S. Science and Engineering Contributions to Important National Needs
To make our nation safer, it is extremely important that our visa policy not only keep out foreigners who intend to do us harm, but also facilitate the acceptance of those who bring us considerable benefit. ... [ more ]
E-mail service to NGO and others
Invitation by J. Frank Mermoud, Special Representative, Commercial and Business Affairs,
• Includes Remarks at World Summit on Sustainable Development by Colin Powell
• Address by Richard L. Armitage on America's Challenges in a Changed World