Certainly, while others within those agencies had ideas about what needed to be done, I did not have anyone telling me what I couldn't do. My experiences in both cases were entirely positive, and I'd highly recommend the experience to others. In fact, this brings me to my closing point. One good example is the U.S. Global Change Research Program, the responsibilities of which go well beyond research. In my mind, we need more members of our community who are interested in going beyond their own research to help represent the broader community at the above interfaces.
Opportunities do exist.
I would also like to urge those within the 'science establishment' - agency program managers, heads of international programs, and others, to reach out more broadly to the science community for support, and to help find 'new blood' so that we are able to broaden our base. Finally, I would be entirely remiss were I not to recognize the contributions of many students of mine over the years. We truly do stand on the shoulders of our students, and this award is really for their work. I have had the opportunity to work with a number of outstanding students, and I was very pleased to see many of them in the audience when the award was presented in San Francisco. While in no way meaning to diminish the contributions of my Ph.D. students over the years, of whom I am extremely proud, I do want to make a short comment about the Masters students, whose efforts may be less recognized.