In an October 28 speech on the House floor, Rep. Fortney "Pete"
Stark (D-CA), called the Congressional Science and Engineering Fellowships
"a shining example of a collaborative program that benefits all
who participate." The fellowships, he said, are "a remarkable
partnership between Congress and the 30 or so participating professional
societies that select and fund the Fellows." Rep. Vern Ehlers (R-MI),
who introduced the resolution, described the fellowships as "a
truly valuable educational program that gives scientists a wonderful
opportunity to step out of the lab and into the political process."
For physicists who wish to learn about - and contribute to - the policy
process, the American Institute of Physics (AIP) and the American Physical
Society (APS) are now seeking applicants for their Congressional Science
Fellowships. PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR INFORMATION ON APPLYING BY THE
JANUARY 15, 2004 DEADLINE.
The above remarks were made during debate on a congressional resolution
honoring the 30th anniversary of the Congressional Fellowship program
of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). AIP
and three of its Member Societies (APS, the American Geophysical Union,
and the Optical Society of America) all sponsor Congressional Fellows
under the auspices of the AAAS program. In fact, APS was one of the
original societies to participate in the program.
The AIP and APS Fellowships enable qualified members of APS or any
of the nine other AIP Member Societies to spend a year on Capitol Hill,
working in the office of a Member of Congress or for a congressional
committee. Fellows work with personal offices and congressional committees
to select an assignment that interests them. They do not act as representatives
of AIP or APS during their time on Capitol Hill; their only responsibility
is to the congressional office in which they choose to serve.
Some Fellows accept permanent positions on Capitol Hill or in federal
agencies after their Fellowships, while others return to academia or
industry, to share their experience of the legislative process with
others in the science community. The APS 1982-1983 Congressional Science
Fellow, Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ), was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives,
where he is now serving in his third term.
Scientists of all ages and career levels are encouraged to apply. Applicants
to the AIP and APS Congressional Fellowships should have a PhD in physics
or a closely related field. In exceptional cases, the PhD requirement
may be waived for candidates with compensating research experience.
While a Fellow must have the scientific qualifications to be a credible
representative of the science community on Capitol Hill, he or she should
also have demonstrated an interest in broader societal concerns and
the application of science to their solution. Applicants must be U.S.
citizens, APS members for the APS Fellowship, and current members of
one or more of the ten AIP Member Societies for the AIP Fellowship.
If the society membership requirements are met, one application suffices
for both the AIP and APS Congressional Fellowship programs.
FOR THE AIP AND APS CONGRESSIONAL SCIENCE FELLOWSHIPS, ALL APPLICATION
MATERIALS MUST BE POSTMARKED BY JANUARY 15, 2004.
For details on applying for any of the four physics-related Congressional
Fellowship Programs of AIP and its Member Societies, please see the
following web sites:
For AIP: http://www.aip.org/pubinfo
For APS: http://www.aps.org/public_affairs/fellow/
For AGU: http://www.agu.org/sci_soc/policy/sci_pol.html
For OSA: http://www.osa.org/aboutosa/publicpolicy/fellowships/
The congressional resolution (H. Con. Res. 279) states that "Members
of Congress hold the AAAS Congressional Science and Engineering Fellowship
Program in high regard for the substantial contributions that Fellows
have made, serving both in personal offices and on committee staff."
It reaffirms the House's "commitment to support the use of science
in governmental decision-making" through the Fellowship program.
For PhD physicists who want to apply their knowledge and skills beyond
the lab bench, and who believe there is a need for technical advice
and analysis in the conduct of national policy, this is an opportunity
to make a difference.
Further excerpts from floor discussion of the resolution will be provided
in FYI #145.
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