Since the start of the current Trump Administration, changes in federal policies have had significant impacts on many engineers and scientists as well as the broader scientific enterprise. These changes have implications not just for federal agencies and programs but also for the ways in which science informs decision-making at all levels of government. We at Engineers & Scientists Acting Locally (ESAL) recognize that many of you are asking how you can most effectively engage in decision-making in this new context.
Eight years ago, we founded ESAL on the premise that while federal policies play a significant role in shaping the landscape of STEM-related issues, state and local governments and communities are critical arenas for driving change. These levels of governance are responsible for implementing many policies that directly affect communities—such as environmental regulations, public health initiatives, infrastructure projects, and education programs. Scientists and engineers bring essential perspectives and expertise to these efforts, and our mission is to empower them to engage more effectively at the local level.
Toward this end, we have developed resources–articles, workshops, playbooks, events, and more–to help engineers and scientists navigate and contribute to local and state governance. This work has always been grounded in an implicit understanding of how federal, state, and local governments interoperate. With recent federal shifts in policy and funding, however, state and local responses will need to evolve in new and unexpected ways. That means our approach to supporting your engagement must also adapt.
We are actively updating and expanding our offerings to ensure they remain relevant in this changing landscape. Your insights are invaluable to this effort. Where are you encountering the most significant changes in how you engage locally? What are you hearing from your STEM peers and from your communities? Let us know. Your questions and insights will shape how we prioritize updates to help you meet this moment with action and impact.
In a few months, ESAL will launch an online platform aimed at lowering barriers to local engagement. The platform will help you connect with people near you, receive information about local engagement opportunities, and easily find relevant resources.
New circumstances require new ways of doing things. Nonetheless, ESAL’s mission, core beliefs, and commitment to Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion remain unchanged. Since ESAL’s founding, we have held to the belief that communities thrive when all members participate and meet challenges together. As you navigate these uncharted waters, we encourage you to embrace the advice that opens every ESAL presentation: show up in your communities. Attend local meetings. Listen to your neighbors. Offer your help wherever it’s needed. Change starts at home.
