Vanderbilt joins Planetary Society’s Hill Day to champion federal science funding

Two Vanderbilt representatives, Stevenson Professor of Physics Kelly Holley-Bockelmann and graduate student Levi Schult, traveled to Washington, D.C., in October to participate in the Planetary Society's Day of Action . Led by Vanderbilt's Office of Federal Relations , they joined other advocates from across the country to emphasize to lawmakers how strong federal investment in NASA's Science Mission Directorate and the NSF sustains U.S. leadership in research and innovation.

In meetings with congressional offices, Holley-Bockelmann and Schult shared how NASA and NSF funding fuels discoveries in multi-messenger astronomy. They highlighted Vanderbilt's leadership in projects like the NSF's NANOGrav, NASA's contribution to LISA and even a project to put a gravitational wave detector on the Moon . They met with the offices of Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., BA'81, JD'84, Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn., and Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Ky., to urge continued support for these research programs in the FY 2026 budget.

"The partnership between universities and the federal government drives the breakthroughs that define U.S. leadership in science," said Heather Bloemhard , director of federal relations. "When lawmakers hear directly from the people doing the science, it helps them see how that investment translates into discovery and innovation."

The advocates stressed that proposed congressional cuts could limit progress and reduce opportunities for students and early-career researchers. Continued investment in NASA's Science Mission Directorate and the NSF ensures the U.S. remains a global leader in space exploration and scientific innovation.

"As a graduate student, my research and that of my peers is supported by the National Science Foundation or NASA. This work enables us to ask fundamental questions about our universe, the answers to which have yet unknown potential here on Earth," said Schult. "Space missions and research require collaboration and stability in funding, otherwise we will fall behind as a leader in science and technology."

By participating in events like the Planetary Society's Day of Action, Vanderbilt champions the importance of federal investment in NASA and the NSF. Through OFR's ongoing engagement with lawmakers, the university advocates for research that drives scientific discovery, supports students and early-career scientists and strengthens the nation's leadership in space and STEM fields.

Learn more about Vanderbilt's research advocacy priorities on the Office of Federal Relations website .