Understanding the vocabularly - advocacy and activism (blog post by Dr. G) , and helping students advocate for the Earth (another blog post by Dr. G)
From Penn State Brandywine's Vairo Library - Postcard Advocacy (how and why to write to your Congresspeople)
How to track and voice your concerns about school curriculum
1. Go to your local school districts board meetings
2. Contact the State Department of Education and ask for updated curriculum https://www.education.pa.gov/Teachers%20-%20Administrators/Curriculum/Science/Pages/Science-Standards.aspx
More important is to demand change and the federal and state level
1. Find your Rep
Federal: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members
State Level (for PA residents) https://www.legis.state.pa.us/
2. Track what your Rep votes on and cosponsors
Countable app https://www.countable.us/
- Allows you to track legislation on topics important to you and track how your representative votes
- Enter your address, and it will connect you to your Federal Reps and Federal legislation
Congress.gov https://www.congress.gov/
- Allows you to search your Rep and bills at the federal level
- You can then track your representative, know what bills they vote on and what bills they cosponsor. You can also track a bill that you are interested in
State Legislation https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/bills/
- Search a bill by keyword or bill #, after you click on a particular bill you can also track that bill by clicking on "Subscribe for updates using PaLegis Notifications”
3. Follow other organizations that have an environmental or conservation mission statement
Water Now Alliance Toolkit example - https://waternow.org/2020/07/14/make-your-voice-heard-on-flexible-federal-funding-for-sustainable-water-solutions-with-the-stimulus-for-ustainability-toolkit/?mc_cid=5c9a7bf430&mc_eid=f62d9aa1c5#section1
Public Input Opportunities - Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed - http://www.delriverwatershed.org/public-input-opportunities
- Other orgs are 350.org, Delaware River Keeper Network, Reclaim Philadelphia
The BEST way to connect with your Reps is to visit their office. Remember they work for YOU!
(above information was compiled by Tanya Dapkey of 500 Women Scientists Philly Pod (500WS Philly))
The American Geophysical Union (AGU)'s Policy Action Center makes it easy for you to reach your legislators on important science policy issues. You do not need to be an AGU member to use their resources. Visit here to sign up for action alerts relating to climate issues; diversity, equity and inclusion; natural hazards; STEM education; science funding.
Be sure to subscribe to your policymakers’ newsletters or press releases so you know about recent legislation they have sponsored, statements they’ve made, and positions they have taken. Explore Congress.gov for the current status of legislation.
Both science news sources and congressional-focused outlets can have great analysis and news updates on what’s happening in Congress and across the country. Try: E&E News, FYI: The AIP Bulletin, The Hill, Politico, Roll Call, Space News, and Eos
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Twitter can be a great place to get breaking news and alerts on science policy. Consider following news sources on Twitter, as well as sources such as AGU Science Policy, AAAS, Capital Weather Gang and The New York Times Science Section.