AWIS Advocacy Initiatives
AWIS Advocacy Committee
AWIS has a long and proud history of advocating for women in science. In fact, advocacy is one of the many reasons that people join our community. They want to get involved and give back to ensure science spaces are inclusive so that future generations can thrive.
The AWIS Advocacy Committee is comprised of volunteer AWIS members and led by the 2024 Advocacy Scholars. They work to provide our community with knowledge and tools to effectively advocate for inclusive policies so that women in STEM fields can reach their full potential. If you are interested in learning more about AWIS advocacy, email awis@awis.org.
Advocacy Scholars Program
Each January, AWIS graduate students and undergraduate juniors and seniors are invited to apply to the annual Advocacy Scholars program. One or two individuals will be selected to attend the annual Catalyzing Advocacy in Science and Engineering workshop in Washington, DC. They will also participate in the AWIS Advocacy Committee for 2 years with opportunities for leadership.
Coalitions and Committees
AWIS belongs to a number of coalitions and committees in order to have a bigger impact.
Recent Advocacy Actions
November 20, 2025
AWIS has supported the bipartisan National STEM Day Resolution which celebrates the importance of STEM in education and the workforce.
September 29, 2025
AWIS has signed on to a letter urging DHS not to eliminate "Duration of Status" admissions which would impact international students, postdocs, physicians, and teachers on F-1 and J-1 visas.
September 22, 2025
AWIS joins 284 organizations in supporting the Financial Accountability In Research model proposed by the Joint Associations Group to block F&A caps and ensure at least a two-year transition period to an alternative model.
May 2, 2025
AWIS has signed on to the amicus brief in support of restoring funding to the NIH Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers (MOSAIC) grant program.
April 30, 2025
AWIS endorses the Women and Underrepresented Minorities in STEM Booster Act of 2025, which would authorize funding for programs to increase the recruitment and retention of women and underrepresented minorities in STEM fields.
February 25, 2025
AWIS endorsed the RESEARCHER Act which would address the financial instability faced by graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.
February 25, 2025
AWIS signed a letter urging legislators to preserve and prioritize NIH funding in FY25 appropriations.
February 20, 2025
AWIS signed a letter to the Senate and House Appropriations Committees to protect against cuts to reimbursement for NIH grantee Facilities and Administrative costs.
February 14, 2025
AWIS and a coalition of science organizations signed a letter to researchers, educators, and academics of the United States acknowledging the importance of their work.
March 15, 2024
AWIS signs a letter urging the Biden Administration to swiftly finalize a comprehensive Title IX rule.
October 23, 2023
AWIS signs letter calling on the Biden Administration to release final Title IX rule.
October 13, 2023
AWIS signs letter of support for Dr. Bertagnolli to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
August 9, 2023
AWIS supports a new bill in Congress that will demand federal agencies collect better data on the financial conditions of postdocs and graduate students and help address them.
July 19, 2023
AWIS signs a letter on U.S. Supreme Court Ruling on Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. (SFAI) v. President and Fellows of Harvard and SFAI v. University of North Carolina.
June 13, 2023
AWIS signed a letter in support of Dr. Monica Bertagnolli as the next director of The National Institutes of Health.
June 2, 2023
AWIS signs a letter to reintroduce the LGBTQI+ Data Inclusion Act during the 118th Congress.
April 24, 2023
AWIS signed a letter urging the NIH to focus on creating an environment that balances reader access to published work with researchers’ ability to publish.
September 12, 2022
AWIS signed a letter to the Department of Education from the National Women’s Law Center supporting comments regarding Title IX.
June 30, 2022
AWIS signed a letter supporting the USICA/COMPETES Act for science funding (this led to the signing of the CHIPS and Science Act).
June 24, 2022
AWIS condemns the overturning of Roe v. Wade and announces its intent to establish an Advocacy Task Force.
June 23, 2022
Title IX at 50 – a report by the National Coalition for Women and Girls in Education (NCWGE) of which AWIS is a member.