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.
Back-to-Back NASA Town Halls: Before and During AAS 236
5 Jun 2020
NASA's Science Mission Directorate gave us a plethora of news with virtual two town halls, less than a week apart, offering COVID-19 updates and the big announcement of its science plan for the next five years.
AAS President Calls on All Members to Support Black Americans Now
2 Jun 2020
Megan Donahue comments on the murders of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, and Breonna Taylor and reaffirms the Society's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and to AAS members who are marginalized.
NASA Science 2020-2024: A Vision for Scientific Excellence
29 May 2020
Members of the science community are invited to download a PDF of the NASA Science Mission Directorate's newest version of its science plan for the next five years.
AAS Resources during the Coronavirus Pandemic
21 May 2020
In this challenging time of anxiety about COVID-19 and how it’s changing our lives, we want to share the resources available to the astronomy community.
New Report Shows Americans Continue to Value Science
19 May 2020
When it comes to Americans’ confidence in institutional leaders, scientists can feel good about their track record, according to a new report from the National Science Board.
Webinar on the Impacts of Satellite Constellations on OIR Astronomy
19 May 2020
On 26 May the AAS and the Satellite Industry Association will host an informational webinar on the impacts of satellite constellations on ground-based optical and infrared astronomy. You must register to attend.
SpaceX Describes Efforts to Minimize Adverse Effects of Starlink Satellites on Astronomy
30 Apr 2020
Based on testimony to the Astro2020 Decadal Survey, SpaceX has posted a rather lengthy and detailed update on its efforts to mitigate the adverse effects of its Starlink satellite constellation on ground-based astronomy.
AAS Member Avi Loeb to Join White House Science Advisory Panel
22 Apr 2020
Abraham Loeb (Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian) will be nominated to serve on the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
COVID-19 Response from NASA
7 Apr 2020
Looking for information regarding NASA's response to COVID-19? You can find some useful resources on this page.
President's FY 2021 Budget Request
3 Apr 2020
The Trump administration released the President's FY 2021 Budget Request on 10 February. Here we provide some detail about the funding for NASA, NSF, DOE, and NIST.