January 16, 2026
Washington, DC
By MAA Communications
MAA Helps Lead #MathSciOnTheHill Advocacy Day
On January 8, following the 2026 Joint Mathematics Meetings, 293 mathematicians from across the United States gathered in Washington, DC, to participate in #MathSciOnTheHill, a coordinated advocacy day focused on federal support for mathematics research and education. Over the course of the day, advocates took part in 274 meetings with members of Congress and congressional staff in both the House and Senate. MAA leadership worked alongside partner organizations to help plan and coordinate the day’s advocacy activities.
#MathSciOnTheHill was organized collaboratively by multiple mathematical sciences societies, reflecting a shared commitment to sustained federal investment in research and education. Fourteen organizations co-convened the effort, representing the breadth of the mathematical sciences community.
As part of the day’s programming, the Mathematical Association of America led the organization of a midday briefing on Capitol Hill, held in the Senate Hart Building. The briefing was scheduled between morning and afternoon congressional meetings to provide shared context for advocates before they returned to House and Senate offices. Congressional staff from both chambers were invited to attend the midday briefing and were provided with materials to take back and share with their offices.
The briefing was sponsored by the office of Senator Todd Young (R-IN), who has consistently supported federal investment in research and education. The discussion focused on the role of mathematics across national priorities, including workforce development, artificial intelligence, agriculture, and national security, and emphasized how long-term federal investment has shaped the nation’s research and education ecosystem.
Moderated by Victor McCrary, Chair of the National Science Board, the briefing brought together perspectives from across disciplines. Rather than centering on a single policy issue, the conversation highlighted how mathematics underpins a wide range of scientific, economic, and security-related outcomes.
Left to right: Karen E. Willcox, PhD, Kiran R. Bhutani, PhD, Victor McCrary, PhD (Moderator), Skip Garibaldi, PhD, and Lea Jenkins, PhD
Topics addressed during the midday briefing included:
- The connection between mathematics research and U.S. competitiveness
- Workforce preparation and emerging technologies
- Applications of mathematics in national security and agriculture
- Sustained federal investment in research and mathematics education
The briefing also offered concise reminders of mathematics’s role in public life. As Skip Garibaldi of the Institute for Defense Analyses noted during the discussion, “Mathematics has shaped national security outcomes for decades, often behind the scenes.”
After the briefing, participants returned to Capitol Hill offices for additional meetings with House and Senate staff. Attendees were grouped with others from their home states, allowing advocates to speak directly about the local impact of federal mathematics funding in their districts. Meetings throughout the day reflected bipartisan interest in the role of mathematics in research, education, and innovation.
The MAA’s leadership in organizing the midday briefing complemented the broader, collaborative effort behind #MathSciOnTheHill. Together with partner societies, the MAA helped advance a unified message about the importance of mathematics to the nation’s future and expressed appreciation to the members of Congress and congressional staff who took time to meet with advocates during the day.
MAA members support the Association’s advocacy and government relations work on behalf of the mathematical sciences.