Scientific Advocacy and Congressional Powers
We’ve teamed up with the American Geophysical Union to host two free webinars on Monday, September 28 and Tuesday, October 13. The webinars will help scientists from all disciplines participate in electoral politics or engage directly with their legislators as private citizens fully, confidently, and effectively.
On October 13, 2020 from 2-3 p.m. ET, join us for “Scientific Advocacy and Congressional Powers,” which will help scientists navigate the landscape around engaging directly with legislators. While a focus of the 2020 U.S. general election is on the presidential race, the outcomes of congressional races also have critical implications for science. Congress has significant power to fund (or not fund) scientific research. It also has significant oversight authority with respect to federal scientific agencies, including the ability to investigate how federally-funded science is conducted.
Scientists have the right to participate in activism and advocacy surrounding legislative matters. In this webinar, attorneys Lauren Kurtz and Augusta Wilson will discuss how scientists can engage in Congressional activism and advocacy without violating anti-lobbying laws. They’ll also talk about the powers and limitations of Congressional oversight into science, including how these powers can be misused to the detriment of research. And they’ll give suggestions for potential reform measures that would improve how the next Congress treats science.