By Maria Frostic

HIMB doctoral student Jacob Snyder just returned from the 2024 AMS Summer Policy Colloquium in Washington DC, where they were one of 40 early to mid career earth and atmospheric scientists and professionals from academia, government, and the private sector selected to share dialog with policy-level officials from federal agencies, the Executive Office of the President, offices of Congress members, and other leaders engaged in the policy process. “My experiences in ocean research and LGBTQIA+ advocacy have continued to inspire my long-term goal of collaborating with policymakers and historically marginalized communities to co-produce inclusive ocean management. The Colloquium was eye-opening,” shares Snyder of the role policy has played in their work and studies. Among their biggest takeaways from the Colloquium? “Bring your most authentic self into your work,” emphasizes Snyder. “As a Queer scientist, I aim to harness my new policy training to implement my enthusiasm for LGBTQIA+ advocacy and science into the political realm. The broader the diversity of life and thought actively engaged in decision-making processes, the more widely applicable solutions will be. Diverse national leadership is required to tackle the problems of the future.”

Read the full article about Snyderʻs experience