Washington County is a great place to enhance Earth’s scientist.
I know – I’m one. I can easily find my science roots to Washington County – with deep respect of nature, I prepared in Boy Scouts in Camp Anwana, to fear and encourage Saturn’s ring in the Mango Creek Park Observatory. As a result of my public education in the Trinity, the field tripped at the National Radio astronomy Observatory at the Green Bank, WWA, where I learned to see the universe in a different light, literally, and appreciated the importance of federal science research.
I went to the College and Graduate School for Earth and Environmental Sciences. I thanked the Federal Student Loan, the Work Study Awards, NASA Internship, and the National Science Foundation (NSF) for the amount of research grant. I am proud of this job: Identifying and foresting forest fire; Understand the relationship between forests, climate change, and land management methods. And in my current position, eliminating the gap between scientific data and policymaking.
This is not done by a profitable company. The Federal Funded Science provides open general results to the American people in the name of public service – even when the results are unpopular or it takes years to return their price. From the National Weather Service (NWS) in Noaa to the US Forest Service, the National Institute of Health (NIH) provides important information that can save your life, and also fuel innovation in the private sector. Where do weather apps get their data? From NWS to public datases. Google Maps was based on NASA and USGS Landsat satellite imagination. This investment is efficient at a cost, which is returning the price many times higher than their cost.
Unfortunately, in the past month, federal science agencies have been seen in destructive deductions, thousands of employees have been eliminated and a billions of dollars of grant have increased, which relies on communities. Although the courts have ordered the restoration of some staff and programs, the deduction continues. Many of the best and bright scientists in the country are being told that their work and skills are not appreciated. When you cut off the high predictions of the weather in NWS, the health grant in NIH, or the forest and fire managers in the USFS, remove the knowledge of the expert. The operations are slow and inactive, and life is more dangerous for us.
This is a problem that affects both Washington – including thousands of federal employees and millions of dollars in federal funding in the southwestern Pennsylvania. Federal workers are your neighbors and friends who provide services and resources. They are people and agencies who give a warning of storms, monitor air quality, help farmers plan for the coming season, or clean local rivers and rivers. They improve our standard of living.
In 2024, Pennsylvania received 2 332 million in the NSF Awards, including university research, STEM education, and support for local businesses. The state also received $ 2 billion in financing NIH. This money supports local staff and economies and provides people with the resources to save lives. It also helps to bring more people into science and engineering, so we will have scientists to support the next generation.
I am a scientist because where and how I was raised – deep curiosity and praise for the natural world, and a desire to serve my community. I want the kids going through school now and in the years from now on, I will have the same opportunities. We need bilateral cooperation for public science and education. Pennsylvan residents deserve the standard of living that science can provide.
Contact your representative and say to federal science agencies to oppose staff and funding deductions: https://www.house.gov/repreprepresentatives/find-your-repreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepreprepesentive; Reprint Guy Rescueler, which represents Washington and Green Counties: https://reschenthaler.house.gov/contact/.
Dr. Shane Cofield is a science and technology policy fellow with the American Association of Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Washington, he has worked in data analysis to help federal agencies on topics like agriculture, land use, forestry and forest fire. The views expressed here are their own and do not represent the AAAS or any federal agency.
