200 Scientists Participate in 2018 Biological Sciences Congressional District Visits

Across the country, biologists have been meeting with their lawmakers this summer and fall as part of AIBS’s 2018 Biological Sciences Congressional District Visits. In its tenth year, this national science advocacy event enables scientists to meet with their federal or state elected officials in their local community. Over 200 individuals from 34 states are participating this year. “I had a great experience with the AIBS Congressional District Visit Day. As a graduate student this training is so vital to the development of civically engaged scientists,” said Alexandra Chirakos, a graduate student at the University of Notre Dame. “We had our meeting with Rep. Walorski’s office here in Indiana’s Second District. It is often very difficult for wet lab Biologists to be away from the lab for the few days it would take to go to Washington. Being in our home district for the meeting was so ideal. The district director seemed pleasantly surprised to hear how much NSF funding the state of Indiana receives.” The event is made possible by AIBS, with the support of event sponsors American Society of Naturalists, Botanical Society of America, Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology, Helminthological Society of Washington, Natural Science Collections Alliance, Paleontological Society, Society for the Study of Evolution, and Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections.      
Source: Public Policy Reports - Category: Biology Authors: Source Type: news