Graduate student Anngely Leeds attended the 10th annual Catalyzing Advocacy in Science and Engineering Workshop in Bethesda, Maryland, organized by AAAS. She learned the importance of advocating for scientific research at local and national levels, and practiced these skills at congressional office visits – defending the need for sustained federal funding for science. Anngely will use these skills to communicate with legislators on the importance of conserving butterfly populations, especially the Baltimore checkerspot, which is critically declining in Maryland.