"Arguably, OSTP just wrapped up its most influential eight-year period since the science adviser’s early days under Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy. (OSTP was officially formed by statute in 1976, though other similar offices preceded it.) Phil Larson, who focused on space exploration issues at OSTP under Obama for five years before leaving for SpaceX and now the University of Colorado, said the way Obama and Holdren emphasized science and technology left a mark on those who worked there. “Their time at OSTP specifically under President Obama and Dr. Holdren galvanized a whole new kind of passion from them, because they saw it being paid attention to at the highest levels.”
After Donald Trump’s election, though, it quickly became clear that science would not have such a prominent seat at the table after the self-proclaimed nerd left office. OSTP staffers decided to form a sort of phalanx of science- and tech-friendly experts and policy wonks. The coalition is informal — they stay in touch via Facebook and Google groups and lines of communication they established before heading out the door...
The former staffers aim to push forward on STEM — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — education initiatives, on specific research programs, on clean energy and climate efforts, and they consider themselves on call to help where needed.
“I can check in and say, ‘Here’s a little bit of a fire drill, who is interested?’” Garg said. His focus was on technology innovation and STEM education initiatives, and that portion of the new defense team now encompasses as many as 50 people spread out across the country. “That’s a very tight-knit group where I can call somebody and they can drop what they’re doing and help.”
The fire drills may involve helping out on Capitol Hill when congressional staffers need input on science-related policy issues, connecting experts with the government office or an NGO that needs them, or, importantly in the coming weeks and months, working on responses to the president’s and congressional budget requests."
FB: "Now that these battles are taking shape, one former OSTP staffer said many in the group are in touch with agencies, politicians, NGOs and advocacy organizations, “making sure all the groups are ready for what is going to be a pretty consequential budget fight.”"
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