Students, post-doctoral researchers, policy fellows, early career researchers and young professionals from around the world are invited to submit op-eds, policy position papers and other articles addressing foreign policy and national security challenges. These include articles addressing both the direct impact of new technologies -- such as information technology and biotechnology -- on national defense and the indirect impact of technology-driven changes that could increase or decrease the potential for conflict. Submission deadline: April 30, 2023. 

This Special Issue is supported in-kind by outreach partners from the American Physical Society Forum on Early Career Scientists (APS FECS) and the Schar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University.

“Rapid advances in information technology, biology, energy technologies, and many other areas have the potential to create new areas of conflict, and new solutions to global problems.” said Henry Kelly, Past Chair of the APS Forum on Physics and Society. “These require a fresh approach to a range of domestic and international policies including national security and intelligence policies, foreign policy, economic policy and approaches to international development. A clear understanding of the new threats and opportunities created by scientific and technical advances are an essential part of the solution.”     

“Topics relevant to science, technology and global security are at the forefront of the policy landscape internationally,” said Adriana Bankston, JSPG CEO and Managing Publisher. “JSPG is thrilled to partner with the APS Forum on Physics and Society on this call for papers to showcase contributions of the next generation to this special issue around national security and foreign policy topics.”

In addition to publishing in the special issue, accepted papers will be entered into a policy paper competition, where a committee of experts in the science policy-security interface will select the top three articles. First, second and third place article winners will have the opportunity to present published work at events hosted by the APS Forum on Physics and Society.

Leading up to the submission deadline, JSPG and APS FPS will organize a series of training sessions to provide prospective authors with opportunities to practice policy writing, and to inspire and empower them with expert perspectives on science-policy communication to inform their submissions to the Special Issue.

APS is a sponsor and is not responsible for the content of the special issue. 

About JSPG
The Journal of Science Policy & Governance (JSPG) is an international, open access peer-reviewed publication managed by and for students, policy fellows, and young scholars in science, technology, and innovation policy. JSPG publishes high-quality articles covering the widest range of topics in formats that are accessible to policymakers. Since 2011, JSPG has served as a vehicle for students and early career researchers to bolster their research and writing credentials in science policy. Visit sciencepolicyjournal.org and follow on Twitter @SciPolJournal to learn more. 

About APS FPS
The American Physical Society’s Forum on Physics and Society (FPS) is a forum of the American Physical Society, organized in 1971 to address issues related to the interface of physics and society as a whole. Founded in the late 1960s, FPS has been active in exploring policy issues such as nuclear weapons and nonproliferation, autonomous weapons, environmental challenges, and cybersecurity. It has also been active in exploring ways to encourage equity and inclusion in the physics community. Visit  https://engage.aps.org/fps/home to learn more.

About APS FECS
The APS Forum for Early Career Scientists (FECS) was established in 2016 to enhance APS's ability to meet the needs of early career scientists and promote career path development, as well as foster scientific communication and cooperation between early career scientists working in different fields all over the world. FECS is focused on serving scientists working in the early stages of their careers, especially recent graduates, postdocs, and junior faculty, but welcomes membership from all career stages. Visit https://engage.aps.org/fecs/home to learn more.

About the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University
George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government prepares undergraduate and graduate students to be leaders and managers who solve problems and advance the public good in all sectors and levels of government—in the United States and throughout the world. Located where policy happens—just 3 miles from the Pentagon, 4 miles from the White House, and 6 miles from the U.S. Capitol Building—students are connected to jobs, internships, networking, and experiences that can only be found in the Washington, D.C., area. Visit see: https://schar.gmu.edu and follow on Twitter @ScharSchool to learn more. ​

​We are proud to introduce our Ambassador Spotlight Series! Over the next few months, we will highlight each team of our inaugural JSPG ambassadors, starting with our Outreach team of ambassadors: Leila Chiddick, undergraduate at UCLA, and Dan Bui, an undergraduate at the University of Cambridge.

Q: What brought you to JSPG?
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LC: My major is Global Studies, but also looking into minoring in Public Health and Disability studies. I found my interest in science policy last year through UCLA Science Policy group. From there I’m still learning about science policy, and the difference between more the legal side of science and healthcare law. So that's where my interest in JSPG began and where my educational path is leaning right now.

DB: I spent a few months working with an NGO in Berlin working on digital technologies for healthcare access in rural Madagascar, during which I watched the process of academic research using the NGO’s findings from their trials. This research made me think about the limited opportunities for young scientists and policy professionals to publicize their research and I came to the JSPG from my enthusiasm about its ethos of the democratization of publication opportunities.
 
Q: What is your group’s current project? How do each of you work within your group?

DB: We work in outreach and our main goal is to raise awareness of JSPG, whether that be by encouraging fellowships and science policy groups to list JSPG on their resources pages on their websites or getting in touch with student societies and university faculties directly. Coming from the UK, I’m much more familiar with British and European university systems and the professional opportunities students here look for, so that’s where I’m concentrating my outreach work.
 
LC: Dan is in the UK and I'm in California, so we have weekly meetings with our advisor, and so those are separate between the two of us and because of that, a lot of our work is separate. But when we create projects or different panels. We'll come together, and we'll all attend if we can, and support each other. For current projects, we just had a panel for Johns Hopkins science policy group for their undergrads and graduate students.  I've been talking to a lot of undergraduate universities in the US so that they can provide an even better perspective for the students that attend these panels as well. We want to share who JSPG is, what this Ambassador program is, so they can do it in the future if they'd like to, and what science policy is. 
 
Q: What are some of the skills you have learned as part of your internship so far? How do you think you might apply these skills in a future role in outreach or science policy?
 
LC: I think that something I’ll take away is just learning how to communicate with people in different ways, based on who I’m talking to, whether it's students, professors, and even trying to speak and connect with people over platforms.

DB: Being persistent, finding the right people to contact, and not being afraid to chase people up (in a polite way!) My experience so far has really helped me to be familiar with what kind of organizations are interested in the JSPG’s mission so I can target outreach efforts more effectively. 
 
Q: How do you feel your group’s project will shape the future of outreach at JSPG?

DB: I’m reaching out to student societies in the UK, particularly at the University of Cambridge where I’m based. Hopefully there’ll be more interest in the JSPG on this side of the Atlantic in future and bring more submissions as well. 

LC: Following up with groups we communicated with and worked with in the past as new members come through these organizations, especially universities. We still want to connect even if we’ve work with them in the past to keep those connections strong.  
 
Q: What has been the most exciting task you’ve encountered as a group so far?

LC: For me, I’m working with a group called Science Rising focuses on trying to increase voter
registration and people getting out to vote, especially undergraduate students and younger people who are in STEM. It’s interesting to see how they're doing that and exciting to work with people who are in other areas of science policy

DB: Since a lot of our work has been individual instead of as a group, rather than an exciting task, when you get a reply from an organization that’s happy to spread the word about JSPG, it’s really uplifting.

The Ambassador Spotlight Series is written and developed by the Communications and Public Affairs Ambassadors. 

About the authors
Katherine (Kate) Andersh is a PhD candidate in Neuroscience at the University of Rochester. She previously received her BS in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science from the University of Arizona in 2017 with a minor in Psychology. Her current research is focused on the role of inflammation in vision loss and cell death in glaucoma, one of the leading causes of blindness in the world. She is a former Science Communication Training Fellow with the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). With this fellowship, she was able to communicate with both local and national legislators advocating for the importance of scientific funding as well as equity and inclusion efforts in STEM within the Rochester community. In addition, she has worked with many groups within her institution, including her time as vice president of the Alliance for Diversity in Science and Engineering, to advocate for the needs of underrepresented trainees and participate in larger university initiatives to support equity and inclusion. She is interested in pursuing a career in science policy and continuing to advocate for underrepresented voices in STEM and within the community.

Hannah LeBlanc is a PhD student in Biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Her research focuses on microbial RNA biology and regulation of gene expression in bacteria. They graduated from Mount Holyoke College with a B.A. in Biochemistry, where she researched bacterial RNA-protein interactions. Hannah serves as an Associate Editor at the MIT Science Policy Review, and is interested in policy and advocacy around healthcare access and housing. Outside of science, they enjoy rowing, weightlifting, and playing hockey.

Washington, DC (December 12, 2022) – The Journal of Science Policy & Governance (JSPG), the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY) are pleased to release Volume 21, Issue 02, of the journal, the Special Topic Issue on Open Science Polices as an Accelerator for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

“Early-career researchers and youth play an important role in driving the cultural shift towards open science, while carefully navigating the impact of evolving open science policies. It is, therefore, crucial to encourage and empower young researchers to participate in decision-making that can shape the future of science and ensure that their voices are heard by other decision-makers. I hope that this special issue can amplify the voice of those young researchers who have recognized that open science policies can serve as an accelerator for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals," Ms. Shamila Nair-Bedouelle, Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences, UNESCO. 

In the cover memo, Ms. Shamila Nair-Bedouelle noted that the open science movement has been driven by researchers who want to share, collaborate and engage with other researchers and with society, highlighted the recommendations put forth in the issue articles by early-career authors, and acknowledged members of the Major Group for Children and Youth and of the Global Young Academy (Open Science Working Group) for their contributions to the issue. 

“We are very proud of the contributing articles that encourage the use of open science policies as a catalyst to achieve the goal of creating a more equitable global society. The ideas presented in the articles will help shape the future of global scientific practices, cast light on the need for increased access to scientific knowledge, and push for the attainment of the sustainable development goals. Early-career scientists and engineers can have a meaningful role in the creation of innovative open science policies and their implementation. It is crucial to act on this now, seeing the clear need for increased sharing of scientific knowledge and collaboration across the globe,” Ona Ambrozaite and Barbara Del Castello, Co-Platform Coordinators, Science-Policy Interface, Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY). 

The Special Topics Issue competition, judged by an external review committee, aims to provide winning authors of the top 3 publications with opportunities to present in UNESCO and MGCY events on open science. Information on the competition winners will be released at a later date. 

“The breadth of articles in this issue showcase the innovative ideas from the next generation in transforming both the practice of open science and applying principles of open science to address important societal problems,” said Adriana Bankston, JSPG CEO & Managing Publisher. “JSPG is proud to partner with UNESCO and MGCY on this special issue and we look forward to future collaborations showcasing early-career views in science policy.”

This Special Issue is supported in-kind by outreach partners from the Global Young Academy Open Science Working Group. 

About JSPG
The Journal of Science Policy & Governance (JSPG) is an international, open access peer-reviewed publication managed by and for students, policy fellows, and young scholars in science, technology, and innovation policy. JSPG publishes high-quality articles covering the widest range of topics in formats that are accessible to policymakers. Since 2011, JSPG has served as a vehicle for students and early career researchers to bolster their research and writing credentials in science policy. Visit https://www.sciencepolicyjournal.org/ and follow on Twitter @SciPolJournal to learn more.

About UCL STEaPP
The Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy (STEaPP) is part of the Faculty of Engineering Sciences at University College London. Its research encompasses several policy issues, including digital technology policy, urban and infrastructure policy, and energy and sustainability policy. It also focuses on science advice to governments, expertise in international organizations and science diplomacy. Its vision is to transform, through strong partnerships and communities, the relationship between science, technology, engineering, and public policy to ensure that new knowledge fully benefits society. Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/steapp/ and follow @UCLSTEaPP on Twitter to learn more.

About INGSA
The International Network for Government Science Advice (INGSA) is the leading global platform for policy exchange, capacity building, research and collaboration on the mechanisms and practices at the evidence-to-policy interface. Through workshops, conferences and a catalogue of tools and guidance, the network helps structure and strengthen these social, political and scientific interactions to improve the potential for evidence-informed policy formation at sub-national, national and transnational levels. Visit https://www.ingsa.org and follow @INGSciAdvice on Twitter to learn more.

About the European Union (EU) Science Diplomacy Alliance
The EU Science Diplomacy Alliance is a collaborative initiative launched in 2020 by a group of EU-funded science diplomacy projects to sustain and grow the networks, impact and momentum. The activities of the Alliance aim to further develop, maintain, and organise joint research projects, capacity building and training activities (such as open online courses, summer schools, trainings, etc.) on the topic of science diplomacy. Visit https://www.science-diplomacy.eu and follow @SciDipAlliance on Twitter to learn more.

About the GYA Incubator Group on Science Diplomacy in the Americas
Recognizing the gaps in scientific development and collaborations between North America, Central America, South America, the Caribbean, and Commonwealth countries, the Global Young Academy (GYA) Incubator Group on Science Diplomacy in the Americas aims to promote openness to scientific partnerships and to gain an understanding of current science diplomacy initiatives in the region. The Global Young Academy is an independent science academy of 200 outstanding early- to mid-career researchers from six continents who are selected from across disciplines based on their academic excellence and commitment to engage with society. The mission of the GYA is to provide a voice to early-career researchers across the globe. Visit https://globalyoungacademy.net/activities/science-diplomacy-in-the-americas/ and follow @GlobalYAcademy on Twitter to learn more. 

Washington, D.C. (July 13, 2022) — The Journal of Science Policy & Governance (JSPG) is pleased to welcome the inaugural class of Ambassadors, as well as two new staff members to manage the Ambassador Program. 

The Ambassadors are undergraduate and graduate students from around the world. They will provide support for promoting the calls for submissions, published work and events, help further the mission of JSPG, and gain professional development opportunities in science policy. Read the ambassadors’ bios. 

• Kate Andersh, Doctoral student, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
• Dan Bui, Undergraduate student, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
• Leila B. Chiddick, Undergraduate student, UC Los Angeles, LA, USA
  
• Seerat Kang, Recent college graduate, UC Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
• Bipin Kumar Badri Narayanan, Master’s student, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, Canada
• Hannah LeBlanc, Doctoral student, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge MA
• Gabriel Medianero, Undergraduate student, Universidad de Panamá, Republic of Panamá 
  
• Emma McMullan, Undergraduate student, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
• Sofia Pineda, Micro-Master's student, Wagenigen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
• Nabila Riaz, Doctoral student, Dartmouth College, Dartmouth, NH, USA
• Aashna Sahni, Master’s student, University College London, London, UK

We are also excited to welcome two staff members who will manage the new JSPG Ambassador Program. Read the staff’s bios. Learn more about the program here.

• Matt Martin, Master’s student, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
• Patience Kiyuka, Postdoc, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya

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“Our mission as an organization extends beyond publications to elevating early career work in science policy across a number of platforms,” says Adriana Bankston, JSPG’s CEO. “I’m excited to offer additional opportunities for trainees to engage with JSPG and to promote published work through our new Ambassador Program.”

During their ambassadorship, trainees will gain knowledge of science policy topics and understanding of journal operations, learn skill sets applicable to a variety of science policy careers, obtain exposure to working in teams and interact with science policy professionals, and work with JSPG leadership on projects to advance the journal's mission.