Scientist Network for Advancing Policy

A flyer with photos of 2 people standing in front of their research posters. The flyer congratulates both people on winning first place in their presentation categories.

Congratulations 🎉 to SNAP members Shreya Venkatesh & Bryce Wedig (@brycewedig.bsky.social) for winning 1st place 🥇 in their presentation categories at #AAASmtg!
#AAAS2026

Florida places temporary ban on H-1B visas in university system The move followed Gov. Ron DeSantis’ call for universities to eliminate the visas. University system decision-makers expressed a willingness to be nimble

Florida prohibits universities from using the H-1B program to hire “new employees” until Jan. 5, 2027. The change will not affect existing H-1B holders, according to system Chancellor Ray Rodrigues.

@unitedfacultyfl.bsky.social

Stance on Science is a nonpartisan initiative meant to inform the voting community about political candidates’ positions regarding science policy-relevant issues, and also shows how science policies can affect our communities!

Join us for #StanceOnScience where we ask politicians where they stand on #SciencePolicy issues ahead of the midterm elections!

#SciPol #MidtermElections #SciComm

I can’t say it better than @disha-patel3.bsky.social already did. The opportunity to meet 40+ SNAPpers at #AAASmtg and then reflect on a year of @snapcoalition.bsky.social? Priceless!

Please enjoy our new blog post on Medium: medium.com/science-poli...

Inspired and amazed by the interesting and thought-provoking sessions at the AAAS Annual Meeting, the 40+ members of the @snapcoalition.bsky.social I had the honor to meet in person (finally!), and the ideas and conversations that took place.

Jordan and I hope you enjoy this AAAS reflection!

Happy Birthday, SNAP! Reflecting on an Eventful First Year at the AAAS Annual Meeting Written by SNAP members Disha Patel and Jordan Williams

New blog post just dropped!

Read to learn about the #SNAPcoalition experience at the @aaas.org conference in #Phoenix and to hear more about some of the work SNAP is doing.

#AAASmtg #AAAS2026

medium.com/p/eea4fcbf7de7

This year, we also saw real momentum for non‑animal, human‑relevant science. SAO’s Gabby Vidaurre, PhD gave a standout Postdoc Talk on Research Modernization NOW, and AI‑driven breakthroughs—from lung‑ultrasound to exposome analytics—took center stage.

#scipol #sciencepolicy #NAMs #AI

A graphic featuring logos and images from the AAAS 2026 annual meeting and its theme, 'Science @ Scale.' The text reads: "SAO in action. Highlights from the 2026 AAAS annual meeting." On the right, silhouettes of a photo of SAO Director Emily Trunnell, PhD and Research Associate Gabby Vidaurre, PhD.

✨ #AAASmtg Highlights! ✨

The 2026 @aaas.org Science @ Scale theme brought big ideas from across the research landscape. From climate & public health to biomedical innovation, it was inspiring to step outside our orbit—and even convert a few particle physicists into #organonchip fans.

🔗 below 👇

SAO in Action: Highlights from the 2026 AAAS Annual Meeting In the science policy space, AAAS is the annual meeting—the who's who of where U.S.

Read the full recap, featuring:
🎓 @snapcoalition.bsky.social
🕵️‍♀️ @elisabethbik.bsky.social
👩‍💻 @anima-anandkumar.bsky.social, @caltech.edu
🧪 and researchers from @jhucaat.bsky.social, @asuhealthsolutions.bsky.social, @tue.nl, & @asumedicine.bsky.social

⬇️
www.linkedin.com/pulse/sao-ac...

#AAAS2026

“NIH” put out a memo about how they are making a “concerted effort” to support Early Stage Investigators (ESI). In the data presented, there is a decrease in funding rates from 26.1% in ‘24 to 18.9% in ‘25. Median age of ESIs stayed flat at 40.

grants.nih.gov/news-events/...

Please take a moment to read this incredible OpEd by @jpflores.rbind.io in @hechingerreport.org. Here JP highlights why we need more science in more places.

My undergrad research experience at @boisestate.bsky.social was pivotal for getting where I am today, and more people need access to it!

OPINION: Pathways for future scientists are becoming scarce, threatening a strong and innovative workforce When I was 17, I didn’t know a single scientist. I did not grow up around labs, research universities or people who talked about things like “STEM pathways.” The only reason I am a scientist today is because mentors leading support programs invested in me early, before I knew how to find science on my own. Today, those are the very programs being dismantled. Doors that opened for me and my colleagues are now being quietly shut for others. Federal officials recently confirmed that research funding related to diversity, equity and inclusion at the National Institutes of Health will not be renewed, signaling a broader retreat from efforts designed to widen the pathway to participation in science.

OPINION: Pathways for future scientists are becoming scarce, threatening a strong and innovative workforce

When I was 17, I didn’t know a single scientist. I did not grow up around labs, research universities or people who talked about things like “STEM pathways.” The only reason I am a scientist…

Check out my latest piece in @hechingerreport.org !

First of many as an OpEd Project Public Voices Fellow

So happy to welcome @snapcoalition.bsky.social member @meggarcia5.bsky.social to Bluesky!

You can find Megan and many other SNAPpers and their #SciPol orgs here:

go.bsky.app/HjpXQp5

What a remarkable and inspirational group of scientists!

Notre Dame's SPI members Connor Schmidt, @disha-patel3.bsky.social, Mallory Sands, @eselland.bsky.social, and Ijeoma Asilebo at the 2026 #AAASmtg!

I always find the fellow night owls! So many interesting conversations @AAASmtg and friendships cemented. Talking #SciComm and #SciPolicy. #AAASmtg

@snapcoalition.bsky.social memeber @brycewedig.bsky.social described his modeling process for dark matter subhalos in an expertly phrased story that any person could understand!

Truly incredible example of #scicomm skills.

Remarkable work responding to judge questions, as well.

#AAASmtg #AAAS2026

@snapcoalition.bsky.social is the most wonderful and inspirational group of graduate students and we are so beyond grateful to be a part of the SNAP community! #AAASmtg

@snapcoalition.bsky.social

So happy to welcome @snapcoalition.bsky.social member @erin-cullinane.bsky.social to Bluesky!

You can find Erin and many other SNAPpers and their #SciPol orgs here

go.bsky.app/HjpXQp5

One of my goals for @AAASmtg was to meet Mirzayan #SciPol fellows/alum. Talked late into the wee hours with Priyanka.

@snapcoalition.bsky.social member Alex Byrne presenting his #chemistry work on "Analyzing sensitivity of molecular cloud chemistry to gas phase kinetics" at #AAASmtg

#AAAS2026

Excellent presentation by @snapcoalition.bsky.social member @bdavisbio.bsky.social discussing how "Delayed lagging strand synthesis drives asymmetric histone incorporation" at #AAASmtg

#AAAS2026

I’m working the booth tomorrow morning from 9-11 am. Come by and say hi! 👋

#AAASmtg #EarlyCareerResearchers

Thanks for sharing all of this! @snapcoalition.bsky.social is so excited for our upcoming initiatives!

🫰snaps🫰for @snapcoalition.bsky.social, the first group of grad students to join us on the plenary stage in almost 180 years!

Homepage 2026 AAAS Annual Meeting

Lots going on at the @aaas.org annual meeting in Phoenix today!
I was interviewed by Jessica Hubbard on the Sci-Mic stage, met several people in the Expo Hall, and had a pre-panel discussion with my fellow panelists for our upcoming session: starting in an hour.
#AAASmtg
meetings.aaas.org