Material Advantage Congressional Visits Day

The Material Advantage (MA) Congressional Visits Day event gives US-based MA Student Members an exciting opportunity to visit with legislators and congressional staff from their own states. The goal of the event is to educate Congress about the importance of research in materials science, engineering and manufacturing, and the need to increase federal R&D funding. Don’t miss this vital opportunity for you, the next generation of materials science and technology leaders, to emphasize the long-term importance of science, engineering, and technology through meetings with congressional decision makers.

2026 Congressional Visits Day

March 25-26, 2026

Registration is now open for the 2026 Congressional Visits Day! Join us in Washington, DC on March 25-26, 2026 for this unique opportunity to advocate for materials science and engineering research funding directly with your congressional representatives.

Apply by February 24 using our online registration form

The event begins with a welcome reception on the evening of March 25, featuring guest speakers and practice sessions to prepare you for your Capitol Hill visits. On March 26, you’ll meet with legislators and congressional staff from your home state to discuss the critical importance of federal R&D funding for materials science, engineering, and manufacturing.

Before the main event, all participants must attend one of two mandatory training webinars on February 24 or 25, 2026. These sessions will equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to make the most of your congressional meetings, including step-by-step guidance on how to schedule appointments with congressional offices.

Travel grants are available to help offset costs for eligible student participants. Grant amounts will be determined after all applications are received, and funds will be distributed following the event upon verification of attendance.

Space is limited, and registrations are processed on a first come, first served basis. We encourage you to apply early and start coordinating with other students from your university or region. Groups working together have proven most successful in scheduling meetings and supporting each other’s advocacy efforts.

Questions? Contact Nathan McIlwaine at foundation@ceramics.org.

Please note:

All participants must complete the application form to have the possibility of attending the event, including faculty advisors.
Applications will be accepted only from students who reside in, or are attending schools in the United States.
CVD opportunities are best suited for U.S. citizens and permanent residents; however, international students who are attending schools in the United States can participate if space is available.
Applicants must be a member of the Material Advantage student program to participate. Become a member!
A maximum of 5 students from any one university will be considered for a travel grant and will be eligible to attend the CVD event(s).
Registrations will be processed on an individual first come, first served basis based upon the criteria noted above.

Groups, whether affiliated by school or location, have been found to be the most successful in working together to schedule meetings and support each other’s efforts towards meeting with representatives.

The Material Advantage Student Program offers a limited number of travel grants to student registrants to help offset costs to Congressional Visits Day. The amount of travel grant funds will be determined once all applications are received. Each grant will be sent after the event upon verification that the student was in attendance. Faculty advisors are not eligible for travel assistance.

If you have questions about the event, contact Nathan McIlwaine at foundation@ceramics.org , the ACerS liaison to the Material Advantage student program.

What to expect

Set aside the dates noted below to be able to fully participate in this year’s event. You will also need to devote additional time to scheduling and preparing for your visits.

Review all items in the “Material Advantage CVD Toolkit”. These documents will help to guide you through the details of this process.

Be prepared to start the process of requesting Congressional appointments. Identify the individuals within your group (university and/or locale) who will begin requesting appointments. If there are no others within your university/locale, you will need to work on requesting appointments.

Attend mandatory webinar training session(s). On the webinar, CVD participants will be given preparation materials that have an emphasis on funding for the materials science and engineering field. The training will also include general tips on organizing your visits, rules for congressional meetings, and how Congress works. In addition to the prep materials, participants will be required to let the facilitators know who they have contacted and gotten a response from, what their congressional schedule is so far, and who is still pending.

Update the Meeting Scheduling and Inter-state Collaboration worksheet. Make sure to note: your home state “State of Constituent”, your District, and your university’s tab with any scheduled appointments/current status of appointment setting.

2026 CVD Schedule

Tuesday, February 24, 2026	2 PM – 3 PM Eastern	Mandatory* Training Session (webinar)
Wednesday, February 25, 2026	5 PM – 6 PM Eastern	Mandatory* Training Session (webinar)
Wednesday, March 25, 2026	4 PM – 7 PM	Opening Reception with guest speakers and group practice sessions
Thursday, March 26, 2026	All Day	Congressional Visits
Thursday, March 26, 2026	5 PM – 7 PM	MaterialsDC Student Night TBA