Scientific Ocean Drilling

A key topic that came up in the Road Check survey was the need to better organize the community with regards contacting and involving policymakers. We would welcome any examples that anyone has of what worked (or didn't work!) when reaching out to members, and what is needed to ensure consistency of messaging across our scientific ocean drilling community.

Perhaps we could organize a virtual advocacy day (or week) for SOD community members? I really like the set up AGU does where we have specific legislation we advocate for, and multiple scientists from different states take part, so our voice is very unified. Something else that has worked well is one of my regional team members in Voices for Science started the Western Coalition, and we're currently working on Wildfire and Climate related legislation. With the Western Coalition, we choose legislation to support and advocate for with policymakers, and since we choose the same legislation, our voice and message is unified.

Maybe some of us could organize a virtual advocacy day (or week)? I'm happy to help organize something.

It is important that a message is developed that is consistent among ocean drilling community members. In organizing the community, we need to reach consensus on the message and the ask.

Might pre-expedition planning include a USSSP-prepared packet with legislator information for each U.S. based scientist?

I'm wondering if we should be compiling packets that cover different aspects for scientists - reaching out to journalists, reaching out to legislators and more general science communication tips , tools and techniques. But would scientists welcome being given more "paperwork", or would it be better to run pre-expedition training days and then provide the packets as aide memoirs?