Proposed federal cuts to the science budgets today parallels problems that occurred when President Ronald Reagan took office in 1981. David Stockman was the Budget Director and his goal was to slash budgets as much as possible. Each Congressional office was attempting to challenge cuts in the area(s) of most importance to them. Few chose to support the sciences as a priority.<br/>In response, a small group of Congressional Science Fellows started the National Coalition for Science and Technology. They quickly recruited an outstanding bipartisan Advisory Board which included present and past congressmen and present and former leaders of scientific societies. They raised some funds, hired an executive director and recruited members (more than 1200 scientists and educators). They wrote editorials, gave testimony at Congressional hearings, organized symposia, and advertised in scientific newsletters. Yet this well-organized, much needed effort had limited success in its mission to activate individual scientists.They kept the operation going for 6 years during which time the scientific societies became less reluctant to lobby Congress and the science budgets stabilized.<br/>Is this history relevant to current efforts by ACS President Allison Campbell to promote science advocacy? The author, a cofounder of NCST, will review its history and explain why he believes that the current plan to activate chemists (ACS President Campbell’s initiative) may be more successful than past attempts.<br/>

Grassroots advocacy for the sciences: A case history from the National Coalition for Science and Technology (1981-87)

254th National Meeting (2017)

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