CELEBRATING THIRTY YEARS OF PUBLIC POLICY ENGAGEMENT AT AGI

Building on governmental relations work from its inception, the American Geological Institute established a formal Government Affairs Program in 1992 to serve as a link between the geosciences community and policymakers by sustaining communication, ensuring quality information flow, and representing the voices of AGI member societies. Over the past 30 years, AGI’s policy program has maintained a steadfast focus on these goals while responding to emerging issues, the evolving viewpoints and needs of member societies, a dynamic political environment, and changes within AGI.

Public policy – “anything a government chooses to do or not to do” (Dye, 1972) – has immense consequences for geoscientists, geoscience disciplines, and the geoscience profession. AGI has consistently promoted awareness of and requested support for the essential contribution the geosciences make to the sustainability, prosperity, and security of the nation. There are varying levels of comfort and consensus in the geoscience community regarding contentious policy topics therefore AGI’s policy program has always strived to represent and respect the range and diversity of opinions within AGI’s member societies.

As a 501(c)(3) organization, AGI educates and informs on policy matters but does not cross the threshold into lobbying activities. The policy program has provided information and facilitated communication between policy makers and the geoscience community through products and events including the Monthly Review (1996-2018), Critical Needs booklets, Congressional briefings and testimony, Geoscience Congressional Visits Days, and organising in-person meetings with policy makers, in addition to administering the Fisher Congressional Fellowship. The Critical Issues Program, established in 2013, provided major impetus by developing a website and boosting the production of policy-relevant factsheets, reports, and webinars. Many of these activities have been done in collaboration with member societies, some of whom have their own policy programmes, and through broader strategic coalitions.

AGI can play a vital role in ensuring that all facets of the geosciences are represented at the federal policy level and that all geoscientists have the support they need to participate effectively in the policy process.