Government Affairs Committee    

Government Affairs Workgroups

• Policy Outreach Workgroup

  Chair: Joshua Caldwell, Vanderbilt University
  HQ Liaison: Todd Osman, Executive Director
  

  The Policy Outreach WG provides opportunities for MRS members to visit key Congressional Offices and government agencies to advocate for basic science funding and engages representatives of funding agencies to participate in the MRS Spring and Fall Meetings to explain current initiatives and the mechanics of proposals to attendees. It also plans and hosts an annual Government Agency Summit, during which agency leaders meet with the presidents of materials-related societies to discuss topics of mutual interest.

• Grassroots Advocacy Workgroup

  Chair: Boris Dyatkin, DARPA
  HQ Liaison: Todd Osman, Executive Director
  

  The Grassroots Advocacy WG serves the materials science community by providing two-way communication between MRS members and national legislators. Through this group's efforts, members stay aware of legislation that affects scientific research. In return, the working group provides an opportunity for members to contact the President and members of the United States Congress through signed letters that the members send through Materials Voice. The Grassroots Advocacy WG also issues Public Affairs Alerts to notify members of urgent issues and hosts the Materials Voice kiosk at the MRS Spring and Fall Meetings.