CRA Advocacy Tools and Services

The Computing Research Association offers multiple tools and services to allow our members to actively make the case for computing research.

CRAN

Computing Research Advocacy Network
 Join a mailing list to receive action items and email updates about what is happening in Washington.

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LiSPI

Leadership in Science Policy Institute
Where computing researchers can get educated on how science policy in the U.S. is formulated and how our government works..

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CVDs

Congressional Visit Days
We also provide resources for conducting meetings with Members of Congress and their staff, to advocate for computing research.

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Additionally, CRA is a member of multiple coalitions of organizations in Washington that attempt to influence policy. These coalitions range from the Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF), a group of over 120 organizations who advocate for increased NSF funding; to the Task Force on American Innovation, an alliance of high-tech companies, research universities, and scientific societies who are concerned about funding at NSF, DOE, and NIST. CRA works with these organizations to stay informed on pressing issues, to pool resources when necessary, and to hold briefings, exhibitions, and other events for Congressional staff on assorted topics.

If you have any questions concerning our advocacy tools and services, please contact Brian Mosley in the CRA Government Affairs Office.

Examples of CRA Advocacy Materials:

Below are many examples of the advocacy materials that CRA uses in our advocacy efforts.

  • Talking Points One-Pager

    A general talking points one-pager that can be used for a wide range of meetings and advocacy. It makes the case for federally supported computing research and why it should be continued.

  • Tire Tracks Chart with Explanation

    The “Tire Tracks Chart” is a timeline that tracks the growth of different sectors of the information technology (IT) economy. This is adapted from the National Research Council report “Continuing Innovation in Information Technology,” which links federal government research investments to nation’s leadership. While the Tire Tracks Chart is a useful visualization of the federally supported IT history, it does require some explanation in order to be used effectively, hence the need for a page of explanation.

  • All STEM Jobs and Newly Created STEM Jobs Comparison Graphs

    Two charts, both using Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections data, to demonstrate the annual growth of computing science STEM jobs. One chart compares the number against all STEM jobs and shows over half of the expected growth within STEM-related jobs will be in the computing fields. The other chart compares the number against just newly created STEM jobs, and shows that the vast majority of the expected growth within newly created STEM-related jobs will be in the computing fields.