The 2025 Dr. Keith Seitter Roundtable on the Role of Societies in the Scientific Enterprise will focus on the rapid changes occurring in U.S. federal policy for science and the role that AMS (alone and in partnership with other scientific societies) can play in shaping the future direction of the scientific enterprise.
The Roundtable will occur on Thursday, May 22, from 8:00-9:00 AM EDT, during the 2025 AMS Washington Forum and Summer Community Meeting.
Five recent efforts by the American Meteorological Society to meet the moment are described below.
We are including three initial questions to help tee up (but not constrain!) the discussion:
Q1: What are the roles, priorities, and needs of the private sector in meeting public interest given this ongoing period of rapid change in U.S. federal science policy?
Q2: How can AMS’ efforts for advancing the weather and climate enterprise(s) be enhanced or improved?
Q3: What additional partnerships, activities, and areas of focus might AMS use to be proactive in helping to enhance the success of our enterprise in the next decade and beyond?
As part of the AMS Policy Program’s ongoing weather enterprise study, which is a two year effort being conducted in partnership with the Commission on the Weather, Water, and Climate Enterprise, AMS released this special report detailing the foundational role the government plays in science and a related 2-page summary, which was adopted as a statement of the AMS.
In addition, AMS has reacted to current events with rapid responses on the value of the weather enterprise; in support of NOAA research; and the importance of science to our future prospects. More recently, AMS established a collaboration with AGU to continue progress on climate assessment following the administration’s decision to release the authors of the National Climate Assessment.
The American Meteorological Society convenes high-level strategic discussions; develops shared understanding of challenges and opportunities; provides neutral venues for airing of differences; helps establish relationships with key external partners; and contributes to the vision for the future of science and services and the pathways to getting us to that future.
We welcome and encourage innovative ideas from everyone!
About the Keith Seitter Roundtable Series
The Roundtable on the Role of Societies in the Scientific Enterprise was established with two purposes: 1) to enable the development and sharing of innovative ideas for the advancement of science and the benefits of science to the public, and 2) to honor Dr. Keith Seitter's commitment and ongoing service to the AMS community and the broader public.
The Roundtable offers a yearly opportunity to brainstorm and discuss provocative ideas and approaches for ways societies might better support the scientific community or help the public better understand science. The themes we focus on will change each year but will always be aimed at providing new ways to think about our changing world and the role scientific societies play in it.