GEOSCIENCE FOR LAWMAKERS

Legislators and others who make or influence public policy are a vital group to engage on geologic-related issues. Geoscientists occasionally testify at legislative hearings on specific bills. State geologists provide annual updates to legislative committees on the state’s aquifers, minerals, or oil and gas reserves. However, it’s valuable to establish relationships with lawmakers outside of the state house where there is constant competition for their time.

The Kansas Geological Survey runs an annual field conference in which invited participants travel on a single bus for two to three days to visit sites of geologic, environmental and natural resource policy importance. Each year, the field conference visits a different area of the state; topics, sites and speakers are identified with input from state and federal natural resource agencies. In Kansas, recent field sites provided the basis to discuss the High Plains aquifer, hydraulic fracturing and induced seismicity, aggregates, the Missouri River and dredging of a federal reservoir. Legislators don’t want an armchair tour; they like getting onto boats, trains and helicopters, going into mines and walking through dairies.

Field guides provide a primer on the issues at each stop and are posted online after the field conference is over. Legislators have used the guides as a reference when related issues come up in session.

Although costs are manageable with sponsorships and registration fees, it is a major project for the Survey. So why do it? Field conferences provide education to a group with a diverse background; participants are educated but not typically in the sciences. The lawmakers become better educated on the resource issues. When a geologic-related issue arises, the survey is a resource for legislators; they know Survey staff and what the Survey can provide. And importantly, it is easier to ask for their support on an item when relationships are well established.