The federal appropriations process for the fiscal year 2027 budget is underway. How does Congress set the budget for science agencies’ investment in research? And how is it changing under the current administration?
Understanding this complex, multistep process isn’t just for political reporters any more: In Trump’s America, science writers need to know how science agencies and studies are funded, and how scientists get paid.
Join CASW Connector for a lively virtual chat featuring:
Using the federal budget process as a framework, we’ll:
- Walk through AAAS’ R&D Appropriations dashboard with Zimmermann
- Explore how Kozlov turned budgetary negotiations into must-read reporting
- Hear and share advice for covering the ins and outs of appropriations
There will be plenty of time for attendees to ask questions and share their own tips and tricks. A tip sheet with various resources and advice will be shared with all registrants after the webinar.
In the meantime, check out the tip sheet from last year’s webinar on how to cover the science-funding chaos that can ensue even when appropriations have been made.
Speaker bios:
Virginia Gewin writes about how humans are profoundly altering the environment and undertaking extraordinary endeavors to preserve nature. She is the chair of the National Association of Science Writers Freelance Committee and has received fellowships and grants from Nova Institute for Health, MIT Knight Science Journalism and the Alicia Patterson program. Gewin earned an M.S. degree in environmental science from Washington State University and did an AAAS Mass Media Fellowship at the Oregonian.
Max Kozlov writes about life sciences in addition to budgetary issues. He received CASW’s Evert Clark/Seth Payne Award in 2025 for investigative stories about canceled grants and budget cuts during the Trump Administration’s disruption of federally funded scientific research. Kozlov earned a bachelor’s degree in cognitive neuroscience at Brown University and did an AAAS Mass Media Fellowship at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
- Entries are open until June 30 for the 2026 Clark/Payne Award. Entrants must be age 30 or younger. Enter here.
Alessandra Zimmermann collects information on federal science spending for the R&D Budget and Policy Program of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Previously, she was executive director at Proposal Analytics, a program manager for the Canadian Science Policy Center and a researcher for the National Science Policy Network. Zimmermann earned a doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Maryland.