Scientists have a unique skill set and invaluable perspectives to contribute to policy making.  In the area of water resources, scientists are able to understand how a forest fire in a watershed may affect water quality, water availability, and flooding for years in the future, which makes them particularly strong advocates for swift delivery of mitigation funding. Successful legislation to ensure the continued availability of liquid helium for NMR and MRI superconducting magnets recently resulted from the combined efforts of Ph.D. scientists serving as congressional science policy fellows and scientists from off Capitol Hill who lobbied for passing the bill before a crisis was unavoidable. These and other examples of how scientists have influenced policy during this recent Congress will be discussed.

Opportunities for science and policy symbiosis for water, land, and energy: Perspectives from Capitol Hill

248th National Meeting (2014)

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