Activate and
Engage 

Talking points for the people who know how important science is,
but need help getting organized and a nudge in the right direction.

Target Audience

This is a person whose politics are left-leaning and doesn’t need convincing of the importance of supporting a thriving scientific ecosystem. You can nudge them to action, help them pick a lane and stick to a plan.

Expectations

This person is not against science. But, they might be overwhelmed, not know where to start, or not know how to focus their efforts. You are bringing them onboard and showing them how to do it.

What to Say

  • In August, Representatives and Senators are in their home districts during Congress recess. We take action now at the district level, so they know that we, the people, demand that they defend science when, in September, they return to Washington to vote on the 2026 budget.

  • The Take Home Message: If you are fighting for science, you are fighting for democracy, progress, and equity.

    The Ask: Pick and commit to the lane of SCIENCE!

  • With everything happening all at once, it’s easy and normal to feel paralyzed and overwhelmed. Where to begin? What can I do to make a difference?

    Here’s how to get organized and get started:

    1. Pick an issue: Science!

    2. Follow Stand Up For Science

    3. Plan for regular, sustainable actions

    4. Do the daily actions

    5. Recruit your friends and family and keep each other accountable

    Best way to get organized and get started? Join Stand Up For Science’s 31 Days of Action — it’s not too late!

    You will receive daily prompts for small actions you can take to defend science in America. It’s so easy! By September, you will be a fully engaged activist speaking truth to power.

  • Self-defeating attitude towards action (there’s no point, it won’t make a difference)

    Every small action builds momentum and contributes to the fight. We are all constituents — and our opinions, our demands, and the issues that matter to us can and will influence decisions taken in Washington, DC.

    For example: The impact of NIH cuts on the constituents — and the 14 Republican senators who wrote a letter opposing funding cuts to the NIH.

    What about all the other issues that are important to me?

    The White House uses a “flood the zone” strategy to keep people feeling disorganized, overwhelmed, and isolated. It works by making it hard to pick one area of focus. But, if we all pick a lane and move in the same direction, we can fight back!

    Science is foundational. It keeps Americans (and the world) healthy, it is an engine of economic growth and jobs, it protects our environment, and it delivers new technology... for all Americans.