After years of meeting virtually due to the COVID pandemic, ASGSR Students returns to DC to advocate for the biological and physical sciences program at NASA! The time has come to prepare for the transition to the private space era while preserving and expanding the US workforce. With the ISS being removed from orbit around 2030, this task is now more important than ever to ensure the continued US leadership in the microgravity research community. We visited the Hill to emphasize the educational aspects of this transition and share our experience as a student community.
ASGSR Students in front of the Capitol. From left to right, the student board members Marshall Ledford (President-Elect), Álvaro Romero-Calvo (President), Yasmeen Sallam (Treasurer and Merchandise Coordinator), and Mesgana Admassu (Social Media team)
We attended many meetings with political staff on capitol hill, and then is when we realized how important it is to explain what we do. Microgravity research is a useful tool to develop new surgical tools, study how humans interact with microbes, understand how plants grow in extreme environments, or improve hydrogen production on Earth and in space. It is our task to share our experience with the general public so that we gain their support and these programs keep being funded.
The ASGSR Meeting proved to be an invaluable experience to understand how the federal budget is set and which factors play a role in this process. It goes without saying that your continuous support and enthusiasm as ASGSR members were key to conveying our message: for that, we thank you. See you in the 2022 ASGSR Meeting in Houston, TX!
ASGSR Students
The US Capitol at night