AIP’s Science Policy Information Services and Products

”...I want to emphasize that the primary responsibility for making the case to Congress and the American people belongs to the science and technology community.” -- John H. Gibbons, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology

The American Institute of Physics’ Office of Government and Institutional Relations provides a number of services to assist the physics community in effectively communicating with Members of Congress. AIP offers these services and products without charge.

FYI, THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS BULLETIN OF SCIENCE POLICY NEWS:

In-depth analysis of budget and policy developments significant to the physics community is the focus of FYI. Coverage centers on congressional deliberations affecting the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, NASA, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and, new this year, Department of Defense R&D. FYI is distributed several times weekly by electronic mail subscription, and can be found on AIP’s HomePage.

New subscribers should send an E-mail message to AIP’s automated Listserver at: “listserv@aip.org ”. Do not fill in the subject line. To have FYI sent to the address in your message header, type: “add fyi”. To have FYI sent to a different address, type: “add different address’ fyi”. Two important notes: send your request to “listserv@aip.org ” and NOT to our correspondence address (fyi@aip.org ). Also, the quotation marks used above should not appear in your message.

To remove your address from our subscription list, follow the above steps, substituting “delete fyi” in the message field. The Listserver will only honor this request if it originates from the address you want deleted; in other cases, please notify us at “fyi@aip.org ”.

For an E-mail set of the above instructions, write to “listserv@aip.org ” with the message: “help”.

Please note that FYI is also available on AIP’s HomePage at http://enews/fyi

A 1993-current issue archive of FYI is available. For 1995 and later issues, you can easily conduct a key word search at http://www.aip.org/cgi-bin/fyiwais

Finally, technical errors may prevent the receipt of a particular issue of FYI. If so, you may access it via our HomePage (see address above), or you can send a message to “fyi@aip.org ” asking us to resend the issue.

“COMMUNICATING WITH CONGRESS” BROCHURE:

AIP has a six-panel brochure with guidance on writing to, and visiting with, Members of Congress. Single copies are available without charge. Send your request with your US mail address to “fyi@aip.org ” or write to: AIP Office of Government and Institutional Relations, One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3843. A workshop kit is available by calling 301-209-3095.

PHYSICS SUCCESS STORIES:

AIP has developed 12 double-sided exhibits illustrating the importance of physics research. They are meant to be used by physicists in preparation for meeting with, or writing to, Members of Congress. Physics Success Stories highlight technologies employing basic physics research, facts on economic impact and funding sources, an R&D time line, and other important information. These exhibits are not intended for use in mass mailings, but rather as background information or as handout/enclosure material.

The topics are: medical imaging, lasers, global positioning system, environment, new materials, telecommunications, computers, consumer goods, national defense, transportation, energy efficiency, and health.

These exhibits are available without charge in small quantities, and at cost for bulk orders. To receive copies of these exhibits, send us your US mailing address and the topics needed. Note that the information contained in these exhibits is also available at the following site on AIP HomePage: http://www.aip.org/success/

PHYSICS AND GOVERNMENT HOMEPAGE:

We have a site on AIP’s HomePage to answer many of your questions about physics-related policy matters. This site categorizes issues of FYI by funding agencies, stages in congressional deliberation, and outcomes. It also provides information on congressional committees by agency jurisdiction, tips on writing to and meeting with Members of Congress, and other useful information. You may access the Physics and Government Page at: http://www.aip.org/gov This page will be updated in early 1997.

INFORMATION SERVICES:

We are here to help! Call on us for assistance on:

Members of Congress: Districts, voting records, biographies, addresses and telephone numbers, names of science policy legislative assistants and appointment schedulers. If you need to know the names of your representative or senators, please provide your zip code.

Science Budget/Policy Committees: We can provide information on jurisdictions, rosters, key staff members, addresses, and telephone numbers.

Scheduling Information: Call us for House and Senate floor and committee schedules before planning an event or a trip to Washington.

Reports and Documents: We can provide ordering information for entire reports, and copies of specific passages.

Legislation: Contact us for copies of bills, cosponsors, status, and selected hearing testimony.

General Information: We are here to answer your questions. Write or call if you need help with any question -- large or small. We welcome your inquiries on the difference between authorization and appropriation bills, the budget process, the name of a key person in a science department or agency, or in determining your Members of Congress.

HOW TO CONTACT US:

E-mail correspondence (preferred): fyi@aip.org

FYI subscriptions: listserv@aip.org (see instructions above.)

US Mail Address: American Institute of Physics, Office of Government and Institutional Relations, One Physics Ellipse, College Park, Maryland 20740-3843.