The past two decades have seen increased collaborations between scientists and policymakers. As these collaborations increase, so does the need for specialized training that will better prepare STEM grad students and postdocs for science advocacy and careers in public policy. UCI Public Policy Prep (P3), organized and funded by GPS-STEM (Previously, GPS-BIOMED), is designed to meet this need. This program incorporates: public policy seminars, communication workshops, trainee working groups led by local advocacy groups or campus partners, and visits to Sacramento & Washington D.C. Recently, the programming has moved towards building learning modules e.g certificate program (below).

P3 GOALS:

1. Increase knowledge of & experience with public policy processes
2. Increase knowledge of & experience with advocacy related to science policy
3. Develop the ability of trainees to communicate effectively with members in the policy arena

After the Burroughs Welcome Fund (BWF) grant, we are offering innovative ways to teach policy to junior researchers. One of the latest initiative is Science Policy Podcast series. The series is possible due sponsorship by BWF and bring students, postdocs involved in policy arena as well as policy professionals from all over the country. In 2020, we designed a mini-course (certificate program) in science policy & advocacy for STEM scientists (details below). This program offers in-depth knowledge, training, & networking opportunities for policy enthusiasts.

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Science Policy & Advocacy for STEM Scientists – Certificate Program

In 2020, GPS-STEM’s Public Policy Prep (P3) Program collaborated with the Ridge to Reef at UCI, the Journal of Science Policy & Governance and the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) to offer a Certificate Program in science policy & advocacy for early career researchers (PhD students & Postdocs).

The course was a mix of lectures, panel discussions with experts, peer-peer learning opportunities, power mapping plans & policy pitch building.

The course modules included –

• Introduction to science policy & advocacy
• Types of policy (Neuroscience, Cancer, STEM education, workforce development, environmental research)
• Effective advocacy strategies for policymakers
• Transitioning into policy careers
• Effective communication for public policy & advocacy
• Leveraging science policy training for industry careers
• Ways to get involved at your local level

Due to the high impact and great demand, we are offering 2021 Science Policy & Advocacy for STEM Scientists in flipped-classroom learning format, sponsored by Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) & Stempeers (connecting the STEM community).

YouTube Channel: Science Policy & Advocacy for STEM Scientists

twitter – @SciPolUCIrvine

LinkedIn

Sponsors

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Science Policy Podcast

This podcast series a part of the Public Policy Prep (P3) Program. In this series, we will introduce you to science policy professionals working on the frontiers of policy making, Science & Technology fellows, UCI alumni in policy circles and fellow students & postdocs actively engaged in the policy arena.

This podcast series emanates out of the Public Policy Prep (P3) Program supported by the Burroughs Welcome Fund (BWF). In this series, we will introduce you to science policy professionals working on the frontiers of policy making, Science & Technology fellows, UCI alumni in policy circles and fellow students & postdocs actively engaged in the policy arena.

Select from below or check out our full science policy podcast playlist.

Ep 1: Running for Office – From PhD Lab Bench to Science Policy ft. Tepring Piquado, PhD

Ep 2: Is Science Policy the Right Career? ft. William Pandori.

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2016 – 2018 Program APPROACH: We designed a three-tiered program, which fused learning and practice. Trainees chose their degree of participation within the following tiers.

• Tier 1 (Fall 2017): Trainees gained foundational knowledge and skills by attending a series of seminars and workshops.
• Tier 2 (W, Sp, Su 2018): Trainees applied newly gained information and skills by examining specific issues in small working groups. The groups were mentored by our community & campus partners including: Alzheimer’s OC, Cancer Action Network, RAND corporation, UCI MIND, UCI CNLM, UCI Environmental Health Sciences and UCI Community & Government Relations.
• Tier 3 (Spring 2018): Select trainees who showed outstanding dedication and teamwork met with legislators, staffers and policymakers at the local, state and federal level.

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P3 program members shared their policy journey via an opinion piece on “Science Policy for Scientists” in Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences (PNAS)

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Tier 1: Building a Foundation (Fall & Winter 2017)

Monday, September 25th: Program Overview & Alzheimer’s OC Call to Action (12-1PM, NS2-1201, lunch provided)

• Summary Materials: UCI P3_Program Overview_with notes
• Alzheimer’s Orange County policy project summary: AD-OC_leg info_pg 1; AD-OC_leg info_pg.2

Monday, October 2nd: Introduction to Science Policy & Advocacy (12-1PM, NS2-4201, lunch provided)

• Summary Materials: The policy cycle_pg.1; The policy cycle_pg.2

Monday, October 9th: Know Your Audience: Understanding the Politician (12-1PM, NS2-4201, lunch provided)

• Summary Materials: Know Your Audience Politician_P3_Slides&Notes_Gormley
• Supporting Materials: DoingSciPolicy_Gormley

**Friday, November 3rd: How Science Policy is Crafted & Career Opportunities for Scientists (12-1:30PM, NS2-4201, lunch provided)  **All attendees can network with speakers at a coffee chat (2-3:30PM) & happy hour (5:30PM) following the seminar 

• Summary Materials: Science Policy Careers
• Supporting Materials: CCST Science Fellows Brochure

Monday, November 6th: Effective Writing for Public Policy (12-1PM, NS2-4201, lunch provided)

• Summary Materials: Effective Writing for Policy_with notes

**Thursday, November 9th: U.S. Science Policy: Advocating for Science in an Era of Polarized Politics and Constrained Budgets (12-1:30PM, CALIT2 Auditorium, lunch provided) **All attendees can network with Toby at a coffee chat (2-3:30PM) & happy hour (5:30PM) following the seminar. 

• Summary Materials: US Sci Pol_Toby Smith

Monday, November 20th: The Impact of Science & Technology in Advocacy (12-1PM, NS1-1114, lunch provided)

• Summary Materials: UCI November Outreach_2017

Friday, March 23rd: History of the FDA & Opportunities for Trainees (12-1PM, NS2-4201, lunch provided)

• Summary Materials: Life Beyond the PhD at the FDA
• Summary Materials: FDA History_Past, Present and Future

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Tier 2: Experiential Learning Through Teamwork (Winter, Spring, Summer 2018)

Within Tier 2 trainees will engage in working groups focused on self-identified interests or activities of our advocacy partners, which include: Alzheimer’s OC, Cancer Action Network, RAND Corporation, UCI MIND, UCI CNLM, UCI Environmental Health Sciences and UCI Community & Government Relations. Prior to the formation of the working groups, trainees will participate in a networking event to facilitate the organic assembly of these groups. Once formed, groups must identify specific policy issues, devise talking points and decide on dissemination methods. These methods may include speaking with appropriate stakeholders, writing op-eds, and responding to Dear Colleague letters. A campus mentor or community partner will be assigned to each group to aid during this process.

A detailed schedule of Tier 2 can be found here: UCI P3_Capstone Project Meetings_CORRECT DATES

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Tier 3: Science Policy & Advocacy in Action (Spring 2018)

In partnership with UCI Community and Government Relations, select trainees will have the chance to meet with legislators, staffers or other policymakers who are directly linked to policy issues explored during working group research projects. These visits can occur locally, at the state capitol or in Washington D.C. Trainees who are selected will be highly engaged participants who show outstanding dedication, leadership and teamwork throughout their time in P3. **P3 will conclude with a networking & outreach forum bringing together trainees, UCI faculty members, community members and local policymakers. At this event, working groups will be encouraged to present brief overviews of the projects they worked on.**

UCI P3 was created by GPS-BIOMED & is funded by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund.

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Science Policy Symposium – 2019: P3 Program of GPS-BIOMED collaborated with SACNAS UCI Chapter to organize OC’s biggest Science Policy Symposium highlighting effective and meaningful communication for lasting interactions between scientists & policy makers. The mail goal of the event was to engage policy makers in a dialogue with scientists in understanding their needs and allow for exchange of information.

Keynote Speaker: Farrah N. Khan, Council Member, City of Irvine.

Panel discussion with basic scientists who ran for office : “I Ran for Office, Here’s what I learned“

Panel Discussions : Health Policy & Environmental Policy

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Capitol Hill Visit Day: On March 25, 2019, 3 active members of P3 program visited D.C and campaigned for effective NIH funding and STEM education policies.

Congratulations to Evelyn Valdez-Ward, William Pandori and Maria Montchal for being invited by American Institute of Biological Sciences to participate in discussions with policy makers in D.C.