Congressional Fellowships

Congressional Fellowships

Are you interested in public policy issues? If so, you should apply for a Congressional Fellowship. Many people are attracted to earthquake science because it benefits society, yet surprisingly few take advantage of the opportunity to make a direct contribution on Capitol Hill.

AAAS and the larger earth science societies (AGIAGUGSA) sponsor Congressional Fellowships, paying the salaries of scientists to work in Congressional offices for 12 months. Most people who work for members of Congress or Congressional Committees do not have any science background.

Science Fellows augment Congressional staffs and have a big impact in these offices. In return, Fellows get invaluable experience in public policy. Fellows come from a range of sectors, including academia, industry, and non-profits, representing a spectrum of career stages, from recent PhD graduates to faculty on sabbatical, to retired scientists and engineers. The age span ranges from the twenties to early seventies.

Applicants are encouraged to apply to more than one Society and fellowship opportunity. *Please note, stipends, application procedures, eligibility, timetables, and deadlines vary.

Here are several deadlines and links:

AAAS
Apply by Mid-December*
http://fellowships.aaas.org/
* Check the AAAS website for the exact deadline date as it varies slightly from year to year.

AGI
Apply by February 1
http://www.agiweb.org/gap/csf/index.html

AGU
Apply by February 1
http://sciencepolicy.agu.org/congressional_fellows/

GSA
Apply by February 1
http://www.geosociety.org/csf/

We strongly encourage you to please give this program serious consideration and to forward this message to others who you feel may be interested in having a tangible impact on public policy.