Stop by our Call A Representative Day this upcoming Monday April 10th at the Illini Union Room 104 from 9 am – 5 pm!

The proposed federal budget features alarming cuts to science. This funding is what brings about new discoveries that help us progress as a society and provide better quality of life to its citizens. We all can play a role in keeping funding where we need it. Drop by the Illini Union for Call a Rep Day. It’s as simple as taking 5 minutes to call your rep and telling them why funding science is important to you. We’ll have the phone number of your rep and some talking points in case you aren’t sure of what to say. Stand up for science, call your rep!

What has been proposed:
o NIH funding cut by 18% or
o EPA funding cut by 31%
o $1.7 billion cut from the Department of Energy
o NOAA’s funding cut by 17%
o Call for NASA to focus on “deep-space exploration rather than Earth-centric research”
o Elimination of funding towards climate change research

Reference: Nature 543, 471–472 (23 March 2017) doi:10.1038/nature.2017.21652
http://www.nature.com/news/us-science-agencies-face-deep-cuts-in-trump-budget-1.21652

Talking points: https://uofi.box.com/s/jttnrjnms35df3wwqh4efcz1o0wt9srx

Pictures: https://flic.kr/s/aHskTTHTAf

Check out these two visit days! Join fellow student leaders and classmates at the annual University of Illinois Student Days at the Capitol.

March 22nd registration deadline: https://uialumniassociation.org/2017/02/20/u-of-i-student-day-at-the-capitol/https://uialumniassociation.org/2017/02/20/u-of-i-student-day-at-the-capitol/

May 3rd registration deadline: http://www.cvent.com/events/2017-day-at-the-capitol-springfield/event-summary-81fff9021b7447dda7b410f3f9ab31e8.aspx

Join us for our second event this upcoming Thursday, March 16th at 4 p.m. in the ACES Library Monsanto Studio!

Scholars often speak of how their research has policy implications, but how does one actually influence policy? Professor Amy Ando from the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics will identify multiple levels in the U.S. system of government and multiple stages in the policy formation process at which policy can be affected. Professor Ando has participated in expert advisory workshops related to stormwater and wildlife habitat policy for the EPA and the USDA (respectively). In addition, she served for several years on the Advisory Committee for the Environment Program at the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and on advisory groups to help the City of Chicago form and evaluate stormwater initiatives.

Visit our Facebook page for more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1607776109238921/

View pictures here: https://flic.kr/s/aHskTYBcgs

UIUC’s newly formed Science Policy Group is hosting a panel discussion that will anticipate changes to science policy during the incoming administration! Join graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty across STEM to hear from our panelists, Prof. Jonathan Coppess (Agricultural and Consumer Econ.), Prof. Clifford Singer (Nuclear, Plasma and Radiological Eng.), and Prof. Donald Wuebbles (Atmospheric Science).

Friday, January 27, 4 pm, Chemical and Life Sciences Laboratory B102

More details and updates at: https://www.facebook.com/events/1796820367234963/

View pictures of the event: here

Publicity: here and here

Our event summary: here