Initial Publication Date: April 9, 2018

Developing Talking Points for meeting with Representatives

Stay on top of current earth and environmental policy issues by following E&E News or monthly updates by geoscience organizations linked below. Many existing organizations provide templates for phone calls, letter writing, petitions, social media campaigns, and one-on-one meetings. Consider joining an existing effort that aligns with your views.

  • Advocate or develop talking points for advocacy groups based on your expertise or from consensus documents-e.g. GSA Position Statements, National Climate Assessment, Reports from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine). The American Geosciences Institute also offers Geoscience in Your State fact sheets that review geoscience employment, water, minerals, and hazards issues in your state. These also describe federally-funded geoscience.
  • Translate science into a personal story. What is the impact of the environmental issue on you or people who live in your district? How will you learn and include cultural perspectives?
  • Assist your students in exploring impacts of policy on their community (Example Activity: Explore Local Issues (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 20kB Mar14 18))*

*Assign this to small groups and work to compile & discuss talking points across groups. This might include having each group add a talking point. The assignment could be modified to consider local perspectives versus common perspectives presented in national news sources. Identifying audience-relevant talking points is also useful when drafting Op-Eds, Blogs, or Social Media.

References

American Geosciences Institute, Policy and Critical Issues. Follow monthly policy updates and geoscience funding trends.

Geological Society of America, Science Policy. Keep up with the latest geoscience issues in Washington, participate in congressional visits as a GSA member, and review geoscience position statements.