THE AGI FISHER CONGRESSIONAL FELLOWS PROGRAM: A SUSTAINED AND SUCCESSFUL INTERSECTION OF GEOSCIENCE AND CONGRESS

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) established a Congressional Science & Engineering Fellowship program in 1973. The program enables early to mid-career scientists to spend a year on Capitol Hill to serve as professional staff for congressional offices or committees. Fellows share their scientific expertise, perform reviews, and provide policy oversight with the expectation of assisting in science-based decision making, leading to better government.

The American Geoscience Institute (AGI) selected its first congressional fellow in 1998, and since has provided a steady flow of fellows with geoscience expertise in partnership with the AAAS Congressional Fellowship Program, which provides fellows’ training, placement assistance, and support. To date, AGI has sponsored 24 congressional fellows. The majority (58%) have worked in Senate offices, compared to 25% in the House of Representatives. With regard to committee assignments, 13% have worked for Senate committees, whereas 4% worked for House committees. Policy is a long-game, and the key of AGI's fellowship’s success and longevity has been an endowment through the AGI Foundation to provide support for the fellowship in perpetuity. The fellowship was named in honor of William L. Fisher, who is renowned for his service to the geosciences via academia, federal government executive leadership, service to the National Research Council, and AGI.

Congressional fellows find variety of ensuing professional opportunities resulting from their newly minted policy experience and exposure, and professional network made while serving as a fellow. Aside from returning to academia, many former AGI fellows have gone on to work as lobbyists, industry representatives, leadership positions in not-for profit organizations, permanent congressional staff, and senior positions in federal executive agencies as well as state government. We will provide an overview of the history and successes of the AGI congressional fellows program, the legacy of service to the geosciences provided by former fellows, a vision for the future, and the model for sustainability of this valuable AGI program.