UC Irvine GPS-STEM

Graduate Professional Success for PhD students and Postdocs in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

Science Policy and Advocacy for STEM Scientists

 

 

Public Policy Prep (P3) Program of UC Irvine 

Science Policy & Advocacy Certificate Program for STEM Scientists

Thursdays at 3PM – 4PM(PST) 

Start date July 15, 2021 (10 modules)

Please direct your queries to SciPolUCIrvine@gmail.com

As the world is struggling to navigate the COVID19 pandemic and trying to find the best ways to contain the viral spread by developing therapies and vaccines, scientific research funding discussions are at the forefront. For the past several years, a large part of the federal budget has been allocated towards defense & war preparedness. As a result, science-related policies and associated funding used to tackle disease outbreaks, climate change, healthcare and education issues, has suffered significantly. 

Scientists must play a significant role in the post-COVID19 recovery process by educating policymakers and the public on the importance of evidence-based research, in order to ensure the development of comprehensive, effective and long-lasting policies. This can be encouraged by providing STEM scientists (PhD students and postdocs) with a better understanding of science policy and advocacy through specialized training. 

For the past two decades, we have seen increased collaborations between scientists and policymakers, however, recently, that trend is under progressive decline. As we plan to recover from the pandemic, we also need to develop effective and ethical policies to prepare ourselves in tackling its ripple effects, including a post-pandemic mental health crisis, a ramped up industrial production-induced climate change, a crippled and weak healthcare system, and a wounded educational system. 

To accomplish this, University of California, Irvine’s Public Policy Prep (P3) program is thrilled to unveil an online course in science policy and advocacy for STEM scientists (PhD students & postdocs) with a focus on learning basic skills and concepts, as well as identifying concrete ways to transition into careers in these areas. To showcase the value of science communication for STEM scientists in promoting effective policy change, this course is organized in conjunction with The Journal of Science Policy and Governance (JSPG)  and UCI’s Ridge to Reef program. Similarly, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) will provide strategies for effective communication by which STEM scientists can engage in public policy and advocacy. Overall, the course will incorporate lectures on various topics in science policy and advocacy, workshops for developing communication skills, and peer-to-peer learning opportunities to sharpen skills in these fields. 

Activities 

  • Listen to GPS-STEM Radio – Science Policy Podcasts to learn about science policy careers
  • Construct science policy pitch for policymakers
  • Write blog post on improving the research enterprise
  • Design advocacy one pager document for policymakers
  • Craft a power mapping plan on your topic of interest for policymakers

Outcomes

  • Build expertise in giving a science policy pitch to policymakers
  • Grow your network among peers and other science policy experts 
  • Perform informational interviews (GPS-STEM Radio-Science Policy Podcast) with science policy professional
  • Learn fundamentals of science policy and advocacy from various resources

 

Register here for July 15 2021 offering of the course. 

Certificate in Science Policy

  • Participate in competition for best policy pitch, written policy piece, blog post awards
  • Gain certificate in policy and advocacy (upon course completion & participation in activities)
  • Winners will have a chance to interview science policy professionals on Science Policy podcast of GPS-STEM Radio 

Syllabus & Schedule : Science Policy & Advocacy for STEM Scientists

Resources on Science Policy & Advocacy for Early Career Researchers (ECRs)

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Course Coordinators: Please direct your queries to coordinators via SciPolUCIrvine@gmail.com

Ria Deshpande, GPS-STEM Council Member, UCI

Klebea Carvalho, GPS-STEM Council Member, UCI

Melania Abrahamian, PhD., Postdoctoral Scholar, UCLA

Course Organizers:

Harinder Singh, PhD, Program Director, Graduate Professional Success in STEM at UC Irvine

Adriana Bankston, PhD, Chief Outreach Officer, Journal of Science Policy and Governance (JSPG)

Melissa Varga , Community Manager and Partnership Coordinator, Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS)

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the speakers and moderators, as well as our valuable partners, for agreeing to help train the next generation of science policy leaders by being part of this certificate program. We would also like to thank Melinda Gormley, Mark Bayer, Christopher Pickett, Shalin Jyotishi, Donovan Guttieres and Bernat Navarro Serer for their feedback on the course, as well as others who helped with suggesting or recruiting speakers, providing comments on the contents, and assisting with resource development. Additionally, thanks to JSPG’s Director of Communications, Saheel Mehta, and GPS-STEM multimedia director, Joanne Ly for the beautiful graphics.

Course Collaborators: 

Graduate Professional Success in Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math (GPS-STEM) program of University of California, Irvine, prepares PhD students and postdocs for a variety of careers within the S.T.E.M research workforce, and empowers them to become not only skilled researchers but also polished professionals. The program works to create, identify and support innovative approaches to broaden graduate and postdoctoral training in STEM. Visit https://sites.uci.edu/gpsbio and follow @BiomedGps on Twitter to learn more. 

The Journal of Science Policy & Governance (JSPG) is a nonprofit organization and open-access, peer-reviewed publication managed by and for students, policy fellows, and early career researchers in science, technology, and innovation policy. Since 2011, JSPG has provided students and early career researchers a vehicle to bolster their research and writing credentials in science policy. Visit sciencepolicyjournal.org and follow @SciPolJournal on Twitter to learn more.

Ridge to Reef (R2R) is a NSF supported Research & Traineeship in Urban Ecosystem Management program, which trains scholars with the skills to manage valuable natural resources in and around urban complexes. Graduate students are trained in the process of convergent science whereby engineers, scientists, and practitioners co-develop research priorities to solve common platforms. R2R trainees are equipped with the skills to inform or become practitioners who implement management solutions. Visit r2r.bio.uci.edu and follow @Ridge2Reef

Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) is a national nonprofit organization founded more than 50 years ago by scientists and students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. UCS’s mission is to use rigorous, independent science to solve our planet’s most pressing problems. Joining with people across the country, we combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future. Visit https://www.ucsusa.org and follow @UCSUSA on Twitter to learn more.