Join us on Wednesday, December 3 at 2:30 PM in White Hall, Room G09. Fengqiu (Adam) Dong will present a talk titled "Advocate for Science: How You Can Shape Policy."

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Abstract

Federal action - and inaction - made 2025 a tumultuous year for science. Student visa changes, a government shutdown, grant cancellation, and much more have directly impacted scientists across the U.S. With the unrelenting news cycle, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or powerless. But, with the right tools and training, anyone can be an impactful advocate against damaging policies and for progress.

Learn how science policy gets made, the fundamentals of communicating with policymakers, and how to maximize your influence. Nonprofits, scientific societies, and individuals have mobilized in response to the policy challenges facing our field. Last year, a dozen WVU students and faculty stepped up to volunteer with the American Physical Society, showing West Virginia lawmakers the local impact of federal funding. This talk will equip you to join similar group advocacy efforts or level up your solo advocacy. Your voice is needed; learn how to speak out effectively for science.

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Biography

Charlotte Selton is the member advocacy and mobilization manager for the American Physical Society. Here, she helps physicists of all career levels make their voices heard on Capitol Hill as she leads grassroots and grasstops advocacy programs. In the past, Charlotte worked as the organizer for the Physicists Coalition for Nuclear Threat Reduction as well as in partisan politics, including voter engagement, fundraising, policy and research. She holds a bachelor's degree in physics and political science from Emory University.