advocating for science funding in a turbulent political

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Advocating for Science Funding in a Turbulent

Political Climate Jeremy Gaison

WIDG/NPA Seminar June 1, 2017

*Photo by Michael Oliver

Disclaimer

•  This talk is in a nuclear physics context, but

applicable to many different disciplines

J. Gaison, June 1, 2017 2

Outline

•  What: •  Future funding situation •  Nuclear Physics D.C. Day

•  How: •  Strategies for speaking with politicians in Washington

•  Why: •  Reception and next steps


A Brief Look at the Numbers


2016 Budget [Billion USD]

2017 Budget [Billion USD]

2018 Proposal* [Billion USD]

% Change from 2017

Department of Energy 29.6 30.8 28.0 -9%

Office of Science 5.34 5.39 4.47 -17%

Nuclear Physics .617 .622 .503 -19%

*From the Presidential Budget Request, May 23, 2017: https://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2017/05/f34/DOEFY2018BudgetFactSheet.pdf

These proposed budget cuts would be crippling!

What Did We Do?


Nuclear Physics D.C. Day

•  Annual event organized by members of the nuclear physics community •  Faculty •  National facility staff •  Graduate students

•  Advocating for federal funding for science, specifically

the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science (SC)

•  Logistics coordinated through Bose Public Affairs Group •  Arrange meetings, orient physicists in Washington, develop

presentation material


Nuclear Physics D.C. Day


-85 Nuclear Physicists -115 members of Congress visited

Morning Orientation


Format of Nuclear Physics D.C. Day

•  Groups of 3-5 scientists, organized by state •  Range of research interests

•  Whole group met with House and Senator staffers for each district represented

•  Each meeting led by constituent, other members acting as support


Format of Nuclear Physics D.C. Day


Best Practices

•  Clarify who you are! •  Establish your credibility •  Express that you are a constituent

•  Know your audience •  Most staffers are in their 20’s, with a background in political

science and law •  Very bright, just not familiar with technical physics •  Personal office staff or Committee staff •  Use real numbers, but avoid jargon


Bridging the Cultural Divide


•  Scientists •  Politicians/Policymakers

Fabiola Gianotti: CERN Director-General Rodney Frelinghuysen: Appropriations Committee Chair

Discuss a Wide Range of Benefits

•  National Facilities •  RHIC, CEBAF, JLAB, FRIB •  investment in infrastructure

•  Basic Research •  New frontiers of knowledge

•  Direct applications •  National security, resource exploration, smoke detectors, radiocarbon

dating, medical diagnoses, etc.

•  Workforce development •  Training future leaders in the field •  Technical experts

•  You don’t know what argument will stick!


Ending the Meeting…

• Have a concise summary of your arguments

• Present your specific “Ask”


…But Not the Conversation

•  You’ve just asked for their help. Offer yours!

•  Leave your card (they’ll have one for you). Follow up within a day

•  Check if they’re having a town hall soon


So What Happened?

•  In general, our meetings were well received

•  Many misconceptions of what a nuclear physicist does, and what our work means

•  Range of political viewpoints, but all meetings can

be productive

•  All of the groups we spoke to did not put much weight on the Presidential Budget request


What Can You Do?

•  You don’t need to be a professional lobbyist •  Contact your own representative! •  Emails < Phone calls < In person meetings

•  Reach out through professional organizations •  APS Forum on Graduate Student Affairs (FGSA) social media

campaign •  Science community / National facility petitions or events •  Low energy nuclear physics community:

•  http://fribusers.org/letter/index.html

•  If you feel inclined, donate to the cause •  APS Office of Public Affairs (OPA)


Questions


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