Committee on Astronomy and Public Policy (CAPP) Guiding Principles

1. CAPP will act on behalf of the whole of astronomy* to promote:

  • federal policies that advance the field of astronomy
  • the involvement of the community in advisory processes
  • the priorities of the Decadal Surveys in astronomy & astrophysics, planetary sciences, and solar & space physics
  • broad and diverse participation in the field of astronomy
  • public understanding of astronomy
  • the importance of effective STEM education
  • scientific peer review
  • processes involving community-based priority setting
  • academic freedom
  • open exchange of science information
  • an understanding of the value of the astronomical sciences to the nation

2. CAPP will select tasks that:

  • are appropriate to the AAS
  • are of the broadest interest to the astronomical community
  • align with existing priorities
  • consider the balance of principles outlined above

3. In executing tasks, CAPP will

  • communicate with and advise AAS leadership on policy issues
  • communicate the importance of policy making to the AAS membership
  • avoid positions on individual projects or special interests that alter established priorities
  • avoid conflicts of interest
  • do no harm

*The terms "astronomical sciences" and "astronomy" encompass a broad swath of the sciences including studies of the Sun, our Solar System, and the entire universe.

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Committee on Astronomy and Public Policy (CAPP)