Dear %%First Name%%,

We soon expect a first look at the funding numbers for federal agencies in the U.S. administration’s budget request for Fiscal Year 2027. By all accounts, there will be renewed efforts to cut research and development funding that would curtail the essential work of this community. But, as it is every year, this budget proposal is just the starting point.

What is equally pressing is ensuring that federal science agencies have access to FY 2026 funds appropriated by Congress and aren’t stymied by political efforts to control when and how funds are spent. AAAS will continue engaging with policymakers and speaking up on the importance of keeping science funding flowing. For updates from our Office of Government Relations on the state of the federal budget, be sure to register to join us April 22 at 1 p.m. ET for "Engage with AAAS: What the Administration’s FY27 Budget Request Means for Science."

Members are at the heart of everything we do, and we are proud to advocate on your behalf. Your participation makes our voice stronger, and we are continuing to equip our members with tools to make your voices heard. This week, we launched the AAAS Learning Hub to provide you with courses, events and tools to support your goals. The new platform is where you will access skill-building resources to deepen your impact, particularly in the areas of leadership, communication, and public engagement. “Crafting and Delivering Effective Presentations” and “Public Engagement with Science Essentials” are just two examples of courses you can take now, with more in development. We look forward to your feedback, which you can submit on the Learning Hub. Read more about it.

And speaking of learning: Scientists have discovered that single-celled organisms have the capacity to learn!

Sudip S. Parikh, Ph.D. 
Chief Executive Officer, AAAS  
Executive Publisher, Science Journals