Policy Blog
The AAS Public Policy team uses the Policy Blog to communicate with the membership about current events in the science policy world. Most policy blog posts are written by the John N. Bahcall Public Policy Fellow.
Where Did the $30 Million For Astronomy Go?
8 May 2023
The National Science Foundation's Astronomy Division seems to be missing the $30 million that Congress directed to support astronomy facilities. The funding must be in NSF budget somewhere, but not where we expected.
An In-Depth Look at the FY 2024 NASA Budget Request
7 May 2023
Let's take a closer look at the FY 2024 NASA budget request, which comes after two ambitious Decadal Surveys and faces a less ambitious congressional appropriations cycle.
Introducing the New John N. Bahcall Public Policy Fellow
25 Apr 2023
Meet our new John N. Bahcall Public Policy Fellow Yaswant Devarakonda. In this article, Yaswant describes his path to science advocacy and his hopes for the future of the field.
Applications Now Open for Congressional Visits Day 2023
15 Feb 2023
Are you an AAS member interested in advocating for your science with policy makers? If yes, then you should volunteer for Congressional Visits Day (17-19 April)! Application deadline: Friday, 3 March.
Final FY 2023 Appropriations Underwhelming Support for Science
23 Dec 2022
Congress passed the final appropriations bill on 23 December 2022, and the president signed it into law on 29 December 2022. Here are some details on the funding for NSF and NASA.
A Farewell from the Outgoing John N. Bahcall Public Policy Fellow
2 Nov 2022
A brief farewell address from Julie Davis, the outgoing John N. Bahcall Public Policy Fellow.
Committee on Astronomy and Public Policy Working to Modernize Guiding Principles
1 Nov 2022
The Committee on Astronomy and Public Policy held a retreat in early October, where they worked to reevaluate their guiding principles to better address the scope of concerns from our membership.
Applications Now Open for the Bahcall Public Policy Fellowship
1 Nov 2022
The AAS is seeking qualified scientists to apply to be the John Bahcall Public Policy Fellow. Apply now if you are interested in the intersection of science, policy, and the astronomical sciences.
A New Stewardship Paradigm for Maunakea
22 Aug 2022
In this guest blog post, Chief Scientist of W.M. Keck Observatory John O'Meara explains recently passed legislation in Hawaiʻi establishing a new governance body for Maunakea.
Making the Case for the Future of Astronomy
8 Aug 2022
AAS member Yaswant Devarakonda shares his experiences meeting with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and others as part of an advocacy day based on the JWST image release celebrations.