Journal of Science Policy & Governance
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Volume 20, Issue 01 | March 28, 2022
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Policy Position: Science Policy Through a Local Lens: The Role of State-Level Advisory Groups in the 21st Century
Caroline L. Schuerger (1), Danielle F. DaCrema (2), Matthew A. Diasio (3), Ryan B. Dudek (4), Coleman R. Harris (5), Meredith N. Schmehl (6), Melody T. Tan (7)
Corresponding author: [email protected] |
Keywords: state-level policy; academy of science; evidence-based policy; policy advising; non-profit
Executive Summary
As new challenges arise in the 21st century, state and local governments play an increasingly critical role in science policy, contrasting the traditional focus on the federal government in this landscape. To meet these challenges, states require access to subject area expertise and evidence-based advisory resources as part of their policy toolkits. Many states have independent academies of science that have potential to provide scientific expertise to state governments. However, steps need to be taken to capitalize on these resources and integrate them with other key elements in the policymaking process. By prioritizing the development of relationships with state and local governments, academies of science and other state-level scientific entities could improve the utility of their advisory resources. We present case studies from Connecticut and Missouri, where such a model has allowed scientists to contribute to policymaking on state-level issues. We further discuss the benefits and limitations of this advisory model and explain how this approach can benefit states with different political compositions and legislative structures. By partnering more intentionally with state and local governments, academies of science can make more effective contributions to address the growing science policy issues of the 21st century and beyond.
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Background header image courtesy of Carol M. Smith from Library of Congress
Caroline L. Schuerger is a Biotechnology Research Fellow at the Center for Security and Emerging Technology at Georgetown University. She earned her PhD in Molecular Medicine at Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, where she researched epigenetic targets for non-toxic bladder cancer therapies to translate into the clinic. She was a 2020 Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy Fellow at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and was the President of the Case Western Science and Human Rights Coalition. Caroline received her Bachelor’s in biology and chemistry from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Danielle F. DaCrema is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Utah studying rare human disease genetics. Her PhD is in Cell Biology from the University of Virginia. Danielle co-founded and volunteers for the Commonwealth of Virginia Engineering and Science (COVES) Policy Fellowship, administered by the Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine. She is a former Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy Fellow at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine where she worked with the Committee on National Statistics. She received her BS in Biology and Chemistry from Christopher Newport University.
Matthew A. Diasio is a science and innovation policy advisor and previously was an American Chemical Society Congressional Science and Engineering Fellow in 2020-2021. He earned his PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Virginia, where he studied the production and characterization of colloidal dispersions. Matthew was the Community Outreach Chair of the Science Policy Initiative at UVA, where he led the initial study of a state-level science policy fellowship in Virginia and was a co-founder of the eventual Commonwealth of Virginia Engineering and Science Policy Fellowship. He received a BS in Physics from Rice University.
Ryan B. Dudek earned his PhD in 2020 from North Carolina State University, where his thesis focused on reducing the energy consumption and CO2 emissions of processes in the chemicals industry. He is a founding member of the Science Policy Pack at NC State, a student organization dedicated to providing training opportunities for NC State graduate students interested in science and education policy and advocacy, and served on the leadership team of the National Science Policy Network as a regional co-chair serving the Southern US. Ryan earned his BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Delaware.
Coleman R. Harris is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Biostatistics at Vanderbilt University. His research is focused primarily on issues arising from cell imaging data, including normalization and spatial statistics methods. He is the former Co-President of the Vanderbilt Science Policy Group, the current president of the Biostatistics Graduate Student Association, and is a co-founder of the Tennessee Scicommers organization. Coleman received his BS in Mathematical Statistics from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa—Roll Tide!
Meredith N. Schmehl is a PhD Candidate in Neurobiology at Duke University, where she studies how the brain links vision and hearing. She is the Public Engagement & Communications Chair of the National Science Policy Network, where she leads science communication opportunities and promotes the accomplishments of early-career scientists. She is also a writer and public speaker and has been an Early Career Policy Ambassador with the Society for Neuroscience, contributing writer for the Duke SciPol.org Writers Studio, podcast producer, and organizer for ComSciCon-Triangle. Meredith received a BS in Neuroscience and a BS in Cognitive Psychology from Carnegie Mellon University.
Melody T. Tan is an IEEE-USA / AAAS Congressional Science & Engineering Fellow working on health policy in the Senate. She previously earned her PhD in Bioengineering from Rice University, where she conducted research to improve oral cancer detection. During her doctoral program, Melody worked with Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy to address vaccine misconceptions in state legislative hearings and was a Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Melody is passionate about civic engagement and created several initiatives equipping early-career scientists and engineers to engage with policymakers.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Dr. Anna Hagstrom, Terri Clark, and Dr. Rachel Owen for sharing their experiences at CASE and MOST, and for reviewing the corresponding sections of this manuscript.
Danielle F. DaCrema is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Utah studying rare human disease genetics. Her PhD is in Cell Biology from the University of Virginia. Danielle co-founded and volunteers for the Commonwealth of Virginia Engineering and Science (COVES) Policy Fellowship, administered by the Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine. She is a former Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy Fellow at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine where she worked with the Committee on National Statistics. She received her BS in Biology and Chemistry from Christopher Newport University.
Matthew A. Diasio is a science and innovation policy advisor and previously was an American Chemical Society Congressional Science and Engineering Fellow in 2020-2021. He earned his PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Virginia, where he studied the production and characterization of colloidal dispersions. Matthew was the Community Outreach Chair of the Science Policy Initiative at UVA, where he led the initial study of a state-level science policy fellowship in Virginia and was a co-founder of the eventual Commonwealth of Virginia Engineering and Science Policy Fellowship. He received a BS in Physics from Rice University.
Ryan B. Dudek earned his PhD in 2020 from North Carolina State University, where his thesis focused on reducing the energy consumption and CO2 emissions of processes in the chemicals industry. He is a founding member of the Science Policy Pack at NC State, a student organization dedicated to providing training opportunities for NC State graduate students interested in science and education policy and advocacy, and served on the leadership team of the National Science Policy Network as a regional co-chair serving the Southern US. Ryan earned his BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Delaware.
Coleman R. Harris is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Biostatistics at Vanderbilt University. His research is focused primarily on issues arising from cell imaging data, including normalization and spatial statistics methods. He is the former Co-President of the Vanderbilt Science Policy Group, the current president of the Biostatistics Graduate Student Association, and is a co-founder of the Tennessee Scicommers organization. Coleman received his BS in Mathematical Statistics from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa—Roll Tide!
Meredith N. Schmehl is a PhD Candidate in Neurobiology at Duke University, where she studies how the brain links vision and hearing. She is the Public Engagement & Communications Chair of the National Science Policy Network, where she leads science communication opportunities and promotes the accomplishments of early-career scientists. She is also a writer and public speaker and has been an Early Career Policy Ambassador with the Society for Neuroscience, contributing writer for the Duke SciPol.org Writers Studio, podcast producer, and organizer for ComSciCon-Triangle. Meredith received a BS in Neuroscience and a BS in Cognitive Psychology from Carnegie Mellon University.
Melody T. Tan is an IEEE-USA / AAAS Congressional Science & Engineering Fellow working on health policy in the Senate. She previously earned her PhD in Bioengineering from Rice University, where she conducted research to improve oral cancer detection. During her doctoral program, Melody worked with Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy to address vaccine misconceptions in state legislative hearings and was a Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Melody is passionate about civic engagement and created several initiatives equipping early-career scientists and engineers to engage with policymakers.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Dr. Anna Hagstrom, Terri Clark, and Dr. Rachel Owen for sharing their experiences at CASE and MOST, and for reviewing the corresponding sections of this manuscript.
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ISSN 2372-2193
ISSN 2372-2193